Thus far in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus' ministry has been dedicated to making practical his teachings about God's kingdom being at hand. The people have responded exuberantly, but not so the authorities. Perceiving the threat to their religious traditions, they have already determined to get rid of Jesus. But news of him continues to spread, creating further divisions among those who hear.
3:7-12 Shifting his focus from the religious establishment with whom he has already had many conflicts, to ordinary people, Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. Huge numbers of people flocked to him from all over Palestine when they had heard what great things he did.
The chaotic scene has people crowding around him so that he asks that a small ship should wait on him ... lest the multitude should throng him. These people were not testing him nor hoping for a misstep. They had come for healing, and they pressed upon him.
