This verse, Mark 3:9, is quite straightforward:
"He spoke to his disciples...": Jesus is addressing his close followers, the disciples.
"...that a little boat should stay near him...": Jesus wanted a small boat kept readily available, close to where he was.
"...because of the crowd...": The reason for the boat was the large number of people gathered around him.
"...so that they wouldn't press on him.": The crowd was so large and eager to get near Jesus that they were physically pushing and crowding him. The boat would give him a way to retreat to a slightly more protected space if the crowd became too overwhelming or dangerous.
In essence, Jesus was using the boat as a safety measure to avoid being crushed or injured by the enthusiastic crowd. This suggests his popularity was growing rapidly and the need to manage the crowds was becoming increasingly important. It demonstrates a practical aspect of Jesus' ministry; he wasn't just focused on teaching and healing, but also on ensuring his own safety and the safety of those around him.
The little boat might also have allowed him to address the crowds from a slightly elevated position and possibly provide a bit of separation to allow the audience to hear him more clearly.
This verse, Mark 3:9, is quite straightforward:
"He spoke to his disciples...": Jesus is addressing his close followers, the disciples.
"...that a little boat should stay near him...": Jesus wanted a small boat kept readily available, close to where he was.
"...because of the crowd...": The reason for the boat was the large number of people gathered around him.
"...so that they wouldn't press on him.": The crowd was so large and eager to get near Jesus that they were physically pushing and crowding him. The boat would give him a way to retreat to a slightly more protected space if the crowd became too overwhelming or dangerous.
In essence, Jesus was using the boat as a safety measure to avoid being crushed or injured by the enthusiastic crowd. This suggests his popularity was growing rapidly and the need to manage the crowds was becoming increasingly important. It demonstrates a practical aspect of Jesus' ministry; he wasn't just focused on teaching and healing, but also on ensuring his own safety and the safety of those around him.
The little boat might also have allowed him to address the crowds from a slightly elevated position and possibly provide a bit of separation to allow the audience to hear him more clearly.