You could entitle the first chapter of St. Mark “What a week with Jesus.” He begins his preaching ministry calling for repentance, He calls the first disciples, he heals those who are sick, he attracts vast crowds. That last experience seems to have worried him a bit. He told the cured leper, “See that you tell no one anything.” Jesus was concerned that he was becoming a celebrity. He knew how shallow celebrity culture was. Was the crowd following him after seeing the miracles simply in the expectation that they would get something from him? The point of his preaching and gathering of disciples was to promote a changed heart in the crowds, a heart dedicated to loving God not one seeking their own benefits.
