Mark 3:7-12
There’s a moment in Mark’s Gospel that, at first glance, looks like success. The crowds are growing. People are coming from everywhere. Jesus is no longer hidden—He is known, talked about, and actively sought after. Mark tells us they came because they “heard of all that He was doing.” They had heard about His power, His miracles, and His ability to change things, and so they came.
But as you read more closely, something deeper begins to surface. They were drawn to Jesus, but they did not yet understand Him. They were interested in what He could do, but not necessarily submitted to who He is. And that reveals something that still happens today.
There’s nothing unusual about being drawn to Jesus. People come to Him because they are hurting, searching, and in need of help. That’s exactly what we see in this passage. The crowd isn’t casual—they’re desperate. They press in, trying to reach Him, hoping to be healed. Their need is real. Their suffering is real. But Mark helps us see something beneath the surface. They are coming for relief, not repentance. They want something from Jesus, but there is no clear indication yet that they want to submit to Him.
That distinction matters more than we often realize. It is possible to come to Jesus for what He can do and never truly come to Him for who He is.
And that’s not just a first-century issue—it’s a modern one. You can sit in church for years. You can hear the Word, agree with it, even appreciate it. You can pray when life becomes difficult and turn to God in moments of need. But if you step back and look honestly, there may still be areas of life that remain untouched by His authority. Decisions made without Him. Priorities set without Him. Patterns of life that don’t reflect His rule.
In those moments, Jesus becomes the one you go to when you need something instead of the Lord you actually live under. And those are not the same thing.
Mark takes it even further. The only voices in the passage that clearly identify Jesus are not the crowds, but the demons. They declare, “You are the Son of God.” They are completely right in what they say, yet they do not belong to Him. Which means it is possible to be right about Jesus and still not belong to Him. Because saving faith is not just knowing who He is—it is surrendering to Him as Lord.
When you step back and look at the whole passage, you see three responses. Some reject Jesus. Some are drawn to Him. Some recognize who He is. But none of those, by themselves, equal saving faith.
So the question becomes very personal. What is it that draws me to Jesus? Is it what He can do for me? Is it because I need something from Him? Is it because I agree with truth about Him? Or am I actually submitted to Him as Lord?
It is possible to be near Jesus and still miss Him. To be around Him, drawn to Him, even able to speak rightly about Him, and yet not truly belong to Him. Because being drawn to Jesus is not the same as belonging to Him.
Reflective Question:
Am I coming to Jesus mainly for what He can do for me, or am I truly living in submission to Him as Lord?
