The Sermon from the Boat
Being endangered by the Pharisees, Jesus withdrew once more to the seashore in Galilee, where probably His popularity made Him secure. During this, His second year’s ministry in Galilee, He began to teach in parables, more or less obvious of application. The first recorded day on which He thus addressed His followers was that of the “sermon from the boat” when, seating Himself in a boat to keep back the multitude as once before He had preached from Peter’s fishing smack, He addressed those gathered on the shore. On this day He told of “the sower,” of “the tares and wheat,” of the “mustard seed” and the “light under a bushel.” His disciples, unused to this mode of teaching, listened in perplexity.
There must also have been many women listeners, especially one group, who, during this second year followed Christ to minister to Him and His apostles. One of these was wealthy and prominent. She was Joanna, the wife of King Herod’s “steward,” whom some suppose to have been that noble of Capernaum whose son Jesus had saved from disease. Doubtless Joanna alone could have provided funds for the modest needs of all the party. Then also there was Mary Magdalene “out of whom went seven devils,” whom some connect with the woman of sin who had bathed Jesus’ feet. Others also attended Him.
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