When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
- KJV Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
- NKJV And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
- NASB Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.
- NLT When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Seeing the great crowds, Jesus orders his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. He withdraws from the press of the multitude to continue his mission.
Overview
Matthew records Jesus' decision to depart amid surging crowds, leading into the calming of the storm and the deliverance of the demoniacs. The move shows Jesus directing his own ministry rather than being driven by popular demand. It also sets the stage for two further demonstrations of his authority over nature and the powers of darkness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 8:22One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.
- Luke 4:42–43At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.
- Mark 4:35When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
- John 6:15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
- Matt 14:22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
- Mark 8:13And He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.
- Mark 5:21When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.
- Mark 1:35–38Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
- Matt 8:1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
- Mark 6:45Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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