Luke 8:40
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes that the crowd "gladly received" Jesus because they were "all waiting for him." This wasn't just a casual encounter; they actively anticipated His return, showing a deep hunger for His presence and teaching.
Jesus has just returned to the western side of the Sea of Galilee after encountering a herd of demons on the eastern shore. As He steps back onto the land, a large crowd eagerly receives Him, having been anticipating His return. This moment sets the stage for two significant events: the healing of a woman who had been ill for years and the raising of a young girl from the dead.
Have you ever felt the buzz of a crowd eagerly anticipating something? That's exactly the scene Luke paints when Jesus returns.
The people's reception of Jesus wasn't passive; it was active and enthusiastic.
Eager Anticipation
The original Greek word used here can mean more than just 'received him.' It suggests a willing acceptance, a positive embrace. Why were they so eager?
Reasons for the Rush
Jesus had been teaching and performing miracles. His presence brought hope, healing, and a sense of the divine. People were drawn to Him not just out of curiosity, but out of a genuine need and expectation for what He offered. They were 'waiting for Him,' implying a conscious and hopeful expectation.
Jesus' ministry was gaining momentum, and this moment shows the peak of that popularity. But what does it tell us about His purpose?
This scene is more than just a snapshot of Jesus' popularity; it’s a crucial point in His ministry.
A Rising Tide
The commentary notes suggest that Jesus' teachings and miracles had created a real 'enthusiasm' and 'appetite' for more. He had just crossed the Sea of Galilee, and His return was eagerly anticipated by the people waiting on the shore.
The Purpose of the Crowd
While the crowd was excited, Jesus wasn't just there for a popularity contest. He was about to perform two powerful miracles: healing the woman with the issue of blood and raising Jairus' daughter. The expectant crowd sets the stage for these significant acts of compassion and power, demonstrating His mission to bring life and healing.
Understand the original words
ochlos · Greek Noun
A large gathering of people; in the Gospels, they frequently represent those who seek Jesus for teaching or healing, often revealing a variety of spiritual responses to Him.
The people's eager anticipation of Jesus' return underscores the immense popularity and impact of his ministry in Galilee during this period. They were not just passively observing; they were actively waiting, hoping for his presence and help.
Early to mid-1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering a large following. His popularity grew significantly, drawing vast crowds who were eager to hear him and witness his miracles.
Early to mid-1st century AD
Jesus' Journey Across the Sea of Galilee
Jesus and his disciples took a boat trip across the Sea of Galilee, likely to escape the crowds or for a period of rest. This event included a dramatic storm that Jesus calmed, astonishing his disciples.
Early to mid-1st century AD— this verse
Return to the Western Shore of Galilee
After a brief time on the eastern side of the lake (the Decapolis region), Jesus and his disciples returned to the western shore, presumably near Capernaum or Bethsaida.
Early to mid-1st century AD
Healing of the Woman with Hemorrhage
As Jesus made his way through the crowds, a woman who had been suffering for years touched his cloak and was instantly healed. This occurred just before Jesus reached the house of Jairus.
This passage shows a similar public reaction to Jesus, where the crowds want to make Him king after He miraculously fed them, revealing a deep hunger for Him and His power.
Matthew 13:14-15Jesus quotes Isaiah here, explaining that the people's eager reception is mixed with a spiritual hardness, meaning their outward enthusiasm doesn't always reflect a true, receptive heart.
Acts 15:4The verb used to describe the people receiving Jesus ('apodecomai') is also used in this passage to describe the apostles being welcomed and hearing about God's work, highlighting a shared theme of positive reception.
Luke 9:11This verse describes a similar situation where crowds follow Jesus after He returns, and He welcomes them, teaching them and healing those in need, reinforcing the pattern of eager crowds seeking Him.
barnesLuke 8:40: "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him."
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 9:18-26 , and Mark 5:21-43 .
clarkeLuke 8:40: "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him."
Gladly received him - This is the proper import of the word απεδεξατο; therefore our translators needed not to have put gladly in italics, as though it were not expressed in the text. Raphelius gives several proofs of this in loc.
The text emphasizes that the crowd "gladly received" Jesus because they were "all waiting for him." This wasn't just a casual encounter; they actively anticipated His return, showing a deep hunger for His presence and teaching.
Jesus has just returned to the western side of the Sea of Galilee after encountering a herd of demons on the eastern shore. As He steps back onto the land, a large crowd eagerly receives Him, having been anticipating His return. This moment sets the stage for two significant events: the healing of a woman who had been ill for years and the raising of a young girl from the dead.
Jesus has just returned to the western side of the Sea of Galilee after encountering a herd of demons on the eastern shore. As He steps back onto the land, a large crowd eagerly receives Him, having been anticipating His return. This moment sets the stage for two significant events: the healing of a woman who had been ill for years and the raising of a young girl from the dead.
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Early to mid-1st century AD
Raising of Jairus' Daughter
Jesus went to the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader, to heal his dying daughter. Upon arrival, he found the child had already died, but he raised her back to life.
"Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him." — The text emphasizes that the crowd "gladly received" Jesus because they were "all waiting for him." This wasn't just a casual encounter; they actively anticipated His return, showing a deep hunger fo…
