“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.” Matt 8:18 NLT

Jesus did the opposite of what many modern-day evangelist would do. Most love to gather a crowd. We would advertise big-name speakers, put up posters, and use social media to promote outreaches.

But when Jesus saw the crowd coming around Him, He made arrangements to cross the lake. He wasn’t there to please the people or whip the crowds up into a frenzy. He didn’t seek to be the centre of attention.

Instead, He listened carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t so overwhelmed by the crowds that He missed the gentle prompting that came to Him to cross to the other side of the lake.

The centre of His being was focused on God. Nothing would move Him from this position: no crowds or flattery or adulation. Jesus was moving in a dimension that the thousands who followed Him were unaware of.

And so it was, when He crossed to the other side of the water, that miracles happened, and souls were changed forever.

The Good Shepherd had left the ninety-nine to search for lost sheep. The deep soul-searching cry of two men had reached His spirit. On the farther shore, He found the two in a terrible state.

‘When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”  Matthew 8:28,29 NLT

Jesus had left the thousands, crossed the lake, and taken control of a violent storm to answer the cry of two men. Before long, they were set free and at peace.

Never forget no matter how troubled a soul is, if they desire to be free, He will hear their cry and come to their aid.

No street pastor, big-time evangelist or even kindly neighbour was involved, but because these men wanted help, Christ came and found them and healed them of all their sickness and disease. He knows our hearts and will respond quickly if we sincerely desire to be changed.