You Have to Push Through the Crowd

And a great crowd followed [Jesus] and thronged about him. (Mark 5:24)

You know what big crowds are like, don’t you? What word or phrase comes to mind when you think of a “great crowd” of people? Unruly? Exciting? Noisy? Impatient? Unpredictable? Pushy? Hard to navigate? Whatever the word, get that buzz and vibe in your mind. That’s our scene in Mark 5.

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. (5:25-26)

Imagine being that woman. Imagine the loud, excited, chaotic throng of people in every direction. Imagine the desperation. Imagine everything you’d have to do just to avoid losing ground, being pushed and pulled farther away from Jesus. Imagine how hard it must have been to get anywhere near Jesus on days like that day. And yet, somehow…

She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. (5:27-29)

Can you imagine?

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (5:30-34)

Let’s make this personal. Every day of your life, a great “crowd” can easily form between you and the Son of God–a throng that is constantly pulling, pushing, distracting, and interrupting you.

If you’re not intentional and deliberate, this “crowd” will easily and aggressively fill the space between you and Jesus… today… this week… this month… this season… this year… for the next few years… If you simply go with the flow, this “crowd” will keep you from Jesus as long as you live.

You know what that means? You have to push through the crowd. You have to recognize your need. You have to feel the desperation. You have to be hungry and thirsty. You have to set your eyes on your Savior. You have to push.

I’m guessing it’s a busy day, in the middle of a busy week, in the midst of a busy season of life.

Don’t lose sight of him.

You need to hear him. You need to talk with him. You need to walk with him. You need to be refreshed by him. You can’t snap your fingers and make the “crowd” disappear, but you can push through the crowd. Prioritize, purge, sacrifice, deny yourself, do whatever you have to do to maintain consistent, authentic contact with him. Why? It may be inconvenient. Sometimes, it’s going to be really, really tough. Is it worth it?

It is if you believe he still recognizes the determined touch of faith.

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed.”

Push through the crowd today.