THE THING ABOUT CROWDS – AND JESUS

It is interesting and telling that the Bible mentions the word CROWD or CROWDS, in relation to Jesus, 143 times in the New Testament (NASB version).

THE CROWDS GREW and followed Jesus everywhere. Here are just a few examples from the 143 mentions of crowds following Jesus:

“Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:25.

“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.” Matthew 5:1.

“When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;” Matthew 7:28.

“When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.” Matthew 8:1.

“But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:8.

“After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Matthew 9:33.

“And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.” Matthew 13:2.

THE DYNAMICS OF THE CROWDS

The second thing interesting and telling about the crowds that followed Jesus is the dynamics.

There are 16,435 sermons on the subject of CROWDS at sermon central.  One message struck a chord with me.  The speaker described crowds, to include gangs.  He spoke of why and how crowds form, the intentions of crowds, the makeup of crowds, the psychology of crowds, the effect of crowds and the different types of crowds.

Toward the end of the message, the speaker remarked, “And Christianity is one of the largest CROWDS in the world.  In fact, it is almost like a “GANG”.

You see, “GANG members” have their own titles, their own logos and symbols they wear.  They have their own music style, their way of dressing and acting.  And, sometimes, GANG members can be intimidating, just like Christians.

“But, Christians have even more.  They have their own buildings, artwork, radio and televisions and broadcast stations and satellite networks.  They have their own banking systems, clothing lines, banks and religious centers.”

INTERESTING AND TELLING

After I read these passages, I wondered.  “HAVE I BECOME A GANG MEMBER?  Or part of the CROWD?”

After you read this letter, I’ll ask you, also, “Have you become a gang member?  Or part of a crowd?

Watch carefully as the Crowds in the Bible, who followed Jesus around, go from

• Inquisitive to
• Amazement and
• Adoration, and then become
• Angry – every time.  Every time.

THE THING ABOUT CROWDS

I am giving just a few examples here, how crowds acted and reacted to Jesus following the pattern of Inquisitive to Amazement & Adoration, to and then Angry:

INQUISITIVE

Matthew 4:23, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.  (v24)  The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.  Verse 25.  Large CROWDS followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

AMAZED.

Matthew 7:28, “When Jesus had finished these words, the CROWDS were amazed at His teaching;

Matthew 8:1, “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large CROWDS followed Him.

Matthew 9:8, “But when the CROWDS saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 14:19, “Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the CROWDS, verse 20, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

Verse 21. “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

ADORED.

Matthew 21:9, “The CROWDS going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

ANGRY.

John 6:24 So when the CROWD saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.

Verse 51. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

Verse 53. “So, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

Verse 54. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Verse 55. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

Verse 66. ” As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

Matthew 26:55, “At that time Jesus said to the CROWDS, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

Matthew 27:20, “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

What has been your pattern while following Jesus, so far?

• Were you, initially, INQUISITIVE?
• Have you come to be AMAZED by Him?
• Do you ADORE Him?

BEWARE:  The next step in this pattern is ANGER.  It doesn’t flare up all-at-once.  It is gradual and progressive.  As long as you think you are getting what you expected, you are full of wonder and amazement, showing adoration for God.

But then, perhaps the music at church, has become less than what you expect, and you become annoyed.  Maybe the sermons aren’t ‘feeding you’ just right, so you have become dissatisfied.  Maybe the sermons are too ‘hard’ or about Bible subjects you don’t like, such as sin or hell, and they bother you so you miss a Sunday here and there.  And maybe, on one of those missed Sundays, nobody from the church called to see about you, and you feel neglected or ignored, so you get angry.  Yep.  ANGER sets in and the patter is complete.

Now, you should ask yourself, are you following Jesus as His disciple?  Or, are you just following Him around – as part of the CROWD?

This is what can happen when you become part of the CHURCH CROWD.

Jesus did not call us to be THE CROWD.  He called us to BE THE CHURCH and to BE HIS DISCIPLES who go and make other disciples.

We are NOT to be part of the church gang, following after the conferences, the church programs and becoming just a weekly attendee of the religious services (aka, worship services).

Finally, regarding the dynamics of these crowds of people who were following Jesus is that when Jesus began to make clear that there is a difference between just following Him around and actually FOLLOWING HIM – the crowds began to thin.

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Matthew 4:19.

“And another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:21-22.

“And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:38.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21.

And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me”. Mark 1:17.

“Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62.

It was becoming clear, to many, that there is a cost associated with following Jesus as a disciple – the crowds began to thin.

Matthew 14:15 – crowds

Matthew 14:19 – crowds

Matthew 14:22 – crowds

Matthew 14:23 – crowds

Matthew 15:30 – crowds

Matthew 15:39 – crowds

Matthew 19:2 – crowds

Matthew 21:9 – crowds

And in the end, when the pressure to follow Jesus in any circumstance, it came down to one:

Matthew 14:22, “Immediately afterward He compelled the (twelve) disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. Verse 23. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. Verse 24. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. Verse 25. And in the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea. Verse 26. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. Verse 27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Verse 28. “Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Verse 29. And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:29 “And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

After all the crowds of people saw Jesus and saw the miracles, only ONE believed enough to take the risk and get out of the boat!

I ask one last time: “What has been your pattern while following Jesus, so far?”

Were you, initially, INQUISITIVE?

Have you come to be AMAZED by Him?

Do you ADORE Him?

Do you believe Him?

Will you actually follow Him?

BE the ONE and answer His call.  Turn this world BACK upside down in Jesus Name!  BE THE ONE – Now, go and rescue just ONE.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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