Text: “And immediately His fame spread throughout the region around Galilee” (Mark 1:28).
What does it mean to gain fame or become famous?
To gain fame or to be famous means attaining a state of great reputation, recognition and to be widely known.
How many of you fit that definition or in other words, how many of you are famous or have gained fame?
Our President has gained recognition and is widely known, so he must be famous. Bill Cosby is famous because he has gained recognition and is widely known. Hollywood has brought many people to the screen and these people have attained fame. Nashville has unleashed a multitude of country singers, many of whom have become successful and widely known.
When we think about fame, we also think about money which brings big estates, fancy cars, airplanes and many other worldly possessions. People who are famous have all that the world has to offer. By the same token, some people who have all the world has to offer are often unsatisfied and empty in their heart.
Why did Jesus’ fame spread throughout the country around Galilee? I believe there are a number of reasons He gained popularity and recognition during His ministry.
Let’s look at some of those reasons we should follow if we are to be His disciples.
Jesus was very active in His ministry.
Jesus went to the people.
Jesus went to where people were working.
Jesus went to where people were worshiping
Jesus went to people who were in need.
1. How was Jesus active in His ministry?
Jesus’ ministry began after His baptism and after the temptations brought about by Satan. Scripture records three temptations that are well-known to us, but in reality, Satan attacked Jesus many times during His ministry just as he attacks us on a daily basis.
Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
Temptation was very painful and hurting to Jesus because He had no sin, but was tempted for our benefit. His example of overcoming temptation is the guide we should follow.
Every temptation we will ever have, Jesus already had. In this way, Jesus is able to empathize and sympathize with us. Scripture says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus active ministry was powered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. His ministry was set in motion when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. Jesus continued to preach the message started by John which was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
John’s message attracted the attention of many people and many people came to him for water baptism. Once Jesus appeared and was identified by John as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” people began to migrate to Him. In fact, two of John’s disciples were the first to follow Jesus.
Soon after Jesus called His disciples, the group began to move throughout Galilee preaching and teaching the Gospel message. Jesus and the disciples wasted no time taking care of the needs of the people. As the needs of the local people were met, word spread which increased His following.
This is what happens today in our churches. Churches that are preaching the Word and meeting the needs of the local people are the churches that are growing. Where there is positive activity there is positive growth. Where there is fellowship without regard to race, color, creed, clothes, hair, looks, occupation, wealth, etc. but instead, is centered on the presence of the Lord Jesus, there is growth.
Jesus’ ministry was very active because He was not concerned about worldly things, but He was concerned about the souls of people and the saving of those souls. People migrated to Him because He was interested in their issues and their conditions. Jesus wanted to spread the Message in an active way and that active way was to meet the needs of the people
2. Jesus gained fame because He went to the people.
He did not set up a tent with a sign out front that said, “Jesus is inside waiting for you.” Jesus walked along the shore of Galilee to meet people. He went to Capernaum because it was the largest fishing city around the Sea of Galilee which meant there were many people living there.
Luke tells us that “Jesus went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). Jesus knew there were people everywhere who needed to hear the Word, so He traveled about like a circuit preacher.
There are ministries today that actually go to people. We have people who walk the streets and preach the Word to those who take time to hear. We have people who take the Word into the prisons. There are people who share the Word in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities where people are confined. We have military chaplains who take the Word to those who are serving their country.
Missionaries give up the luxuries of home to teach the Word to those in remote and foreign countries. There are evangelists who travel preaching the message to people living in distant or isolated parts of this country of ours.
A missionary was asked what compensation he had found in his work for all the sacrifices he had made. He took from his pocket a letter, worn with much handling, and read this sentence from an Oriental student: “But for you, I would not have known Jesus Christ, our Savior. Every morning I kneel down before God, and I think of you and pray.” (Darby Fulton, in Earnest Worker)
People can’t always come to the preacher, so the preacher has to go to them. Jesus didn’t stay in one area and expect everyone to come to Him. Wherever Jesus went, people in that area gathered around to hear the Word.
3. Jesus went to where people were working.
Matthew tells us: “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen” (Matthew 4:18).
These men had already met Jesus according to John 1:40-42. Since Jesus knew them, He obviously knew they were fishermen, so He went to their place of work, which was the Sea of Galilee. Jesus went to them and said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Jesus continued His walk along the Sea of Galilee and came upon two other brothers who were mending their nets with their father and some hired hands. They too, were fishermen and were working as they did every day. Jesus called them and they left their father and hired hands to follow Jesus.
Jesus didn’t expect people to come running to Him and asking to be fishers of men, but instead Jesus went to where the people were doing their work. Some people have the idea that Jesus is only in the church building on Sunday morning, but in reality, Jesus is everywhere.
If we are to follow Jesus and continue His ministry, we, too, must go into the workplace where people spend a good part of their life. As we enter the workplace of others, we can project the love of Jesus by the way we present ourselves.
People will know we are different by the way we talk; the way we act; our helpful manner; the sparkle in our eyes; our positive attitude; the smile on our face; and the willingness to listen as they pour out their hearts to us.
When we are standing in line at Wal-Mart or K-Mart or the grocery store with a smile on our face, we are in the workplace of the cashier. As someone in front of us is being nasty to the cashier, we have the opportunity to project the image of Christ to the cashier.
As our turn comes, we can smile and say something pleasant to the cashier. We never know what a person is going through or what is hurting them. Jesus never said unkind words to anyone, but was always there to uplift them. We can follow His example.
Do you remember where Jesus found Matthew? Luke tells us that “Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (Luke 5:27). Levi or Matthew was a tax collector and Jesus went to his workplace where He found him collecting the tax money.
Tax collectors made a very good living because they charged people more than was required and put the extra in their own pockets. When Jesus went into Levi’s workplace and called him to follow, there was no question as far a Levi was concerned. “So he left all, rose up, and followed Him” (Luke 5:28).
Our reflection upon people can be positive or negative depending on the image we reflect. If we reflect the image of Jesus we are more likely to get that person’s attention, interest, and respect. A negative image will most like place a barrier of distrust and dislike between us and the other person. A word of encouragement can make a world of difference in an individual’s life.
Story: “Cheer Him, Boys!”
There was a fire in the big city, and the firemen flung their ladders together, and went up in their brave fashion to the very topmost story to rescue the people that were trapped. One after another was rescued by the brave firemen.
All had been rescued, it seemed, No! As the firemen looked up they saw a white face at the most upper window. They wrapped something about one of their firemen, and, breasting the fierce flames, he went again to that window, and put a robe around the little woman and started down.
Then they saw him tremble as the fire raged around him, and it seemed that he would fall with his precious burden, but the fire chief cried to his men: “Cheer him, boys! Cheer him boys!”
And they cheered him with words of encouragement as he came down with the precious life saved.
---George W. Truett
You and I are to shout words and cheers of excitement to a world in need. People do not need to be beaten down; rather, they need to be lifted up. Everyone works to maintain a worldly life and during those working hours, words of support must be exchanged between the workers.
Jesus was in favor of good honest workers, such as, fishermen, tax collectors, sailors, merchants, etc.
He walked among them extending love, compassion, understanding and speaking words of concern and encouragement.
One night Simon Peter and some of the disciples went fishing and when morning came they had caught no fish. Jesus stood on the shore and called out to them, “Children, have you any food?” (John 21:5) and the answered Him, “No!” This event occurred after the resurrection and it took place on the banks of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus appeared standing on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize Him, but He appeared in their workplace. Their workplace was fishing from their boat in the Sea of Galilee. When the disciples responded that they had caught no fish, Jesus said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). The disciple’s eyes were opened.
Jesus went to working people then and He wants to go to working people this day and every day. He can do that because you and I can carry Him into every workplace we enter. Through us, Jesus will continue to gain recognition because of our witness. One witness can make a world of difference for Jesus. Listen to this story:
Story: “Only One boy”
One missionary to China tells of a boy who “prepared the way” for Jesus in a certain village. The missionary had never visited this village before. “Are there any Christians in your village?” he asked a man. “Only one boy,” was the answer.
The missionary walked on, and stopping at house asked for some water. “Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ?” he asked as he took the water.
“Oh, yes,” was the answer, “there is a boy here who is always talking about Him. He wants me to give up idols, but I dare not do that. But I sometimes think he is right. He is so changed. He used to be selfish and bad-tempered. Now he is unselfish and good-natured, and it is Christ who has made the change.”
This woman and many others afterward became Christians because of the boy. Like John, he turned many to the Lord God.
---Earnest Worker
4. Jesus went to where people worshiped.
Matthews tells us that “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom….” (4:23).
Luke tells us that it was Jesus’ custom to be in the synagogue every Sabbath day. On one occasion, in the synagogue, He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah….and read: “The spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19).
Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah and set forth His ministry. This is the ministry that has been passed on to every Christian. Jesus words filled the minds of many with wrath and hatred, to the point they led Him out of the city to a hill from which they were going to cast him down, but He merely passed through their midst and went His way. He was not welcome in His home town of Nazareth.
Although some didn’t agree with Jesus and were opposed to Him, many became followers because of the work of helping people by acts of love. His words were different than any they ever heard. His actions were above and beyond the usual. When He spoke to groups of people, He spoke from the heart.
People had never seen the temple cleaned as Jesus cleaned it. They failed to realize what was going on in the temple until Jesus opened their eyes. They knew about water baptism but they did not know of “spiritual rebirth”. People did not understand the love of God until Jesus explained and demonstrated it to them.
Jesus explained to the people what real worship was. He told them that true worship was worshiping “The Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
Many people began to understand and were eager to hear more. Multitudes of people began to follow Jesus and thus His fame spread.
5. Jesus ministry and fame increased because He took care of the needs of people.
When we do good things for people, they tend to like us and speak highly of us. We may not become famous to many people, but the people we help become our friends and tell others about us. This is what happened to Jesus and this is one of the reasons His ministry increased and His fame spread.
Jesus healed all kinds of sickness and diseases among the people. Matthews recorded words are: “Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them” (Matthew 4:24).
Jesus had a powerful ministry that made Him popular and recognized. Multitudes of people began to look to Him and follow Him. People were coming from distant places to see, hear, and be with this Man who did such marvelous things.
“Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” Jesus had the opportunity to talk to these great multitudes of people. When Jesus taught, He taught with great authority and the people were astounded.
After preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus came down and was met by a leper. “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2). Jesus cured the man of leprosy and told him not to tell anyone, “He went out and began to proclaim it freely” (Mark 1:45).
The result of the leprosy-free man’s comments was that people from all around came to seek His help. As in this day, people who gain popularity lose their freedom of ordinary life they once had. Popularity had its drawbacks. Special protection becomes a part of their life.
Once when Jesus was preaching in a house in Capernaum, a paralytic was lowered through a hole in the roof of the house. The four men who brought the paralytic knew that if they could get to Jesus, the paralytic would be healed.
One woman had so much faith in Jesus that she said if she could only touch the hem of His garment she would be healed. This woman had a bleeding issue that lasted twelve years and she had spent all her money trying to become healed. “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment” (Mark 5:27) and she was healed immediately.
Jesus was on his way to restore the life of a little girl whose father was Jarius. He was a ruler of the synagogue. Jarius told Jesus his daughter was at the point of death.
When someone gives us news of this nature, we get geared up to get to the source in a hurry. When we have a death in our family or someone is sick, we make it our business to get there in a hurry.
Jesus was never in a hurry and He was never late. Most of us are always in a hurry and we are usually late. Jesus always had time to tend to the needs of all those who came to Him for help. We never seem to have time to listen to the needs of others let-alone help them with their need.
Jesus said to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34).
Jesus met the needs of many people. He healed the deaf mute (Mark 7:35); He opened the eyes of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:25-26); He fed five thousand with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish (John 6:9); He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44), and He taught people how to live the righteous life.
Conclusion:
Is it any wonder why Jesus gained fame? He is still gaining fame today because He lives within our hearts. As His witness, we follow in His footsteps.
We remain active in His ministry; we go to people and share with them what He has done in our life; we permit His light to shine through us as we work along side of fellow workers; we praise Him and honor Him during times of worship, and we lend a helping hand to those in need.
Amen.
