Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-10
Jesus speaking: …and some of them have come from far away. (Mark 8:3b) According to both Matthew and Mark (if they were writing chronologically) Jesus and His disciples are on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. So I wonder about those who … have come from far away. I first thought of Galilean Jews who would have had to walk the perimeter of the Sea or sailed across the Sea to get to Jesus. They would have “come from far away”. But I also imagine Gentiles from other cities and villages in the region of the Decapolis. They might have lived closer than the Galilean Jews, but still would have “come from far away”. But I wondered at their coming at all. The Galilean Jews had a reason to follow Jesus, having seen all that He had done and possibly seeking more healing or more teaching.
But Gentiles…? What’s the point? Another “magician”…? Another “sorcerer”…? Another “scheister”…? Or none of these…? Gentiles genuinely seeking this Man who was accomplishing great things…? I would like to believe this last item, especially today, that people would come to Jesus from “far away”. And “far” not necessarily in miles, but possibly in heart. Far from God because they had wandered so far away. People who grew up with the truth, then sought after other gods? Our friends? Our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, nephews and nieces…??!! Jesus knows that some of these could “come from far away”. He would like our help in bringing them closer.
See also: June 1 / Matt. 15:32-39; June 2 / Mark 8:1-10
Yes, coming from a distance into the desert to hear and be healed by Jesus, that shows a hunger and need! Jesus must have been exhausted as you say, Fred.
My Bible notes are that this is primarily a non-Jewish group, in gentile territory, though no doubt there were some Jews. Mark was writing to the church in Rome, so they must have been encouraged that Jesus traveled and ministered beyond Jewish areas.
I just think how quickly I think I can’t do something for others because I am looking only at my own resources or ones I know of. I so often forget that God is in charge of all this, great and small! It helps to remember that the apostles who were right there and saw miracles did this too. Keeping God in the center of everything is hard!