Jesus knew that the Pharisees were conspiring to kill Him and withdrew with His disciples to the Sea of Galilee.
Many followed Him who were from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem and Idumea, including crowds that were from beyond the Jordan and those around Tyre and Sidon.
Jesus healed all those who were sick and diseased but told them not to speak of it in order that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.
Again, it was Isaiah the prophet who said,
“Look at my servant who I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will declare judgment to the Gentiles.
He will not strive, nor cry aloud, neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking wick he will not extinguish, until the authoritative announcement of the divine purpose and will is sent out and has advanced to its final triumph.”
The crowds were very large and pressing in on Him. Jesus asked His disciples to arrange for Him to have a boat waiting on shore so He could escape the crush of the crowd.
At that time a demonically possessed man fell down before Jesus and cried,
“You are the Son of God.”
Jesus continued to tell them not to speak. The sick, and even those with plagues, pressed from every side in order to get close enough to Jesus to touch Him.
