GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 3:7
Strategic Retreat
There is the English phrase “strategic retreat,” which shows up in other languages as well. The phrase describes stepping back from a situation in order to reassess, regroup, or calculate a different approach. When a project starts to face too many hurdles, workers might decide on a strategic retreat to revise their approach. Or in an argument, one might choose a strategic retreat to let things cool down. So, withdrawal does not equate to defeat but a prudent, intentional change of plans.
In St. Mark’s account of his ministry in Galilee, Jesus executed a strategic retreat: “And Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great number from Galilee followed, and from Judea.” (Mark 3:7) Mark does not locate the synagogue where Jesus healed the withered hand and confronted the Pharisees and teachers of the law, but it doesn’t appear to be near Capernaum or the Sea of Galilee, for Mark said Jesus left the synagogue with his disciples, and they went to the sea. The chief city in Galilee was Sepphoris, which Herod Antipas had made his capital. Josephus, the Jewish historian, described the city as the “ornament of Galilee.” It was located about 4 miles northwest of Nazareth and is today an archaeological park. There would likely have been a large number of Herodians in that area, the people with whom the Pharisees conspired to destroy Jesus.
The synagogue Mark described could have been in or near Sepphoris. Wherever the synagogue was located, Jesus left the dangerous situation. His “strategic retreat” was not through fear, nor was it out of fear of facing the consequences, but his hour had not yet come. He still had much to do and much to say before the time of final conflict.
So “strategic retreat” is not defeat, but exercising the wisdom to revise the approach and come back stronger.
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