We read in Matthew 4:25, “Large crowds followed him. They came from Galilee, the Ten Cities, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.” (GW)
Great multitudes of people followed after Jesus while He was here on earth, and there were several reasons why they did so. As we study the following passages given below, they will give us a vivid understanding as to the various reasons they thronged after Him.
The multitudes followed Jesus because…
• He had power to heal all their sicknesses
We read in Matthew 4:24, “The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and he cured them all.” (GW)
When people brought to Jesus those who suffered with all sorts of disease or sickness, they found that He had the power to cure all of them. Jesus spoke or touched the sick, as a result of which many were healed from every form of infirmity, and delivered from demon possessions.
Hence, there was this large group that followed after Jesus whose sole purpose was to receive healing.
• He performed miracles and wonders
We read of an incident in Matthew 9:33, “Jesus forced the demon out, and the man was able to talk. The people were amazed and said, "We have never seen anything like this in Israel." (ERV)
In the above mentioned incident in Matthew 9:33, there was a man who was unable to speak, and when Jesus cast out the demon from the man, he was healed, delivered and began to talk. Often we perceive sickness as just a physical ailment, and fail to realize that these afflictions are the work of Satan. When the people saw this miraculous deliverance, and healing they were amazed in wonderment, as they had never seen anything like this being done in Israel ever before.
We also read in Matthew 9:8, “The people saw this and they were amazed. They praised God for letting someone have such power.” (ERV)
For a background to the above mentioned verse, Jesus had healed a paralytic, forgave his sins, and the man immediately got up, and walked. When the crowds saw this, here again they were amazed and praised God for the demonstration of such power through Jesus.
Here was a second group of people who followed Jesus, mainly to see the wonders He performed, and pursued after Him in amazement.
• He met their physical needs
In John 6:26 Jesus replied to them, "I can guarantee this truth: You're not looking for me because you saw miracles. You are looking for me because you ate as much of those loaves as you wanted.”
When Jesus performed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish to feed more than five thousand, there was a large crowd that followed Him simply because they had witnessed this astounding miracle of provision. When they came looking for Jesus later on, Jesus was forthright, and told them that they were pursuing Him only because they had their stomach’s filled.
We observe that this third group which followed after Jesus, did so only to have their physical needs met.
• He had power and authority
We read in John 6:15, “Jesus knew that the people planned to come get him and make him their king. So he left and went into the hills alone.” (ERV)
There was this group of people who when they realized that Jesus had divine power and authority, wanted to take him by force, and make Him their king so they wouldn’t have to be under the Roman rule. They did not seek his approval or God’s will, but wanted to force Jesus to become a king, so that they could use His divine powers for their own benefits.
This was a fourth and dangerous group of people, whose motive was completely selfish or self-centered.
However, there was a small group of followers whom Jesus specifically called to be His disciples. His invitation to his disciples was “follow me” and this call extends to all of us as well. Sadly, even today many people are still following Jesus, for healing, for the wonders he performs, to have their physical needs met, and often for their own selfish gain. All of these are also bondages that one must be set free from.
It is essential that we should live our life here on earth comfortably, be debt free, have good health, have our daily provision of food and water met, and have the Lord to be our helper. However, if we follow the Lord for the above mentioned reasons alone, we are the most pathetic people.
There’s a story told of a king who was so filled with mirth one day that he decided to call his ministers, and grant them whatever they wished for. The first man came and asked the king that the path to his house be laid well as it was rugged. His wish was granted by the king. The second man requested the king to get his house repaired, which the king also gladly did. The third man asked the king for some silver coins which was also readily given. The fourth man however, humbly told the king that he only desired that the king come and stay with him in his house for a week. The king was so overjoyed at the request of the fourth man, that he sent his servants to get the house of this man ready and fit for him to stay. What happened as a result was that the king’s servants set the path to the fourth man’s house in order, got his house furnished to host a king, gave him all the money he needed, so that he could entertain the king as he should. By desiring the presence of the king, the man not only got the king, but along with him received all the blessings that he brought as a result of him being invited.
Like that man in the story, if we will truly seek the Lord, and yearn after Him with all our heart, everything else will follow suit. That is why Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:33 that we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that everything else will be added to us as well.
To those who follow Jesus for the wrong motives, and use His name for their own gain here’s the Lord’s shocking response as found in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?' Then I will tell them publicly, 'I've never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.'” (GW)
On the last day when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ, many will call on God saying “Lord, Lord.’ They will list out to God all the wonderful deeds they carried out in the name of the Lord, but the Lord will deny even knowing them, simply because though they performed all these acts in His name, they were not in alignment to the Lord’s divine will. The Lord is indignant with such, and rebukes them as evil people who should get away from His presence. He goes further on to say that He does not even know them.
For all of us who use the name of the Lord, but do not fulfill His will we are just ‘fans’ who follow after Jesus. The Lord is not looking for a ‘fan’ following, but He is seeking those who will be His true disciples. The ones who are just fans of the Lord are always on the receiving end, and want the Lord to give them all that they need and desire. We might have heard of many of the cine stars who have fan clubs. The sole selfish motivation for these fan followers is to await the next movie to be released, so they can watch and enjoy it. A disciple on the other hand is one who loves the Lord, gives to the Lord, and is motivated to serve the Lord.
What does God expect of us as His disciples?
We read in Matthew 7:26, “Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it” and in Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:” (NKJV)
A disciple is one who knows the will of God, and fulfills it in total obedience. On the other hand a ‘fan’ is someone who hears the word, but does not obey it. Jesus refers to a person who hears and obeys His word as a wise man who builds his house on the rock, which can never be shaken. Contrarily those who hear the word and do not obey it are referred to as foolish people, who build their house on the sand, which cannot withstand any calamity.
There are more fans who follow after Jesus, who love Him, but are not willing to walk in obedience to His word. Jesus had twelve disciples, and when He gave the great commission before his ascension, He commanded his disciples to go into all the world, and make disciples of others, those would hear the word, living every day in obedience to God and His word.
That is why Jesus said in John 8:31, “So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;” (GNB)
Who is a disciple of Jesus?
We read in Luke 5:11, “Simon and his partners brought the boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.” (GW)
When Jesus first called His disciples, at his behest they obeyed, threw their nets into the deep, and had an enormous catch of fish. Having witnessed this astonishing miracle, when Jesus gave the invitation to his disciples and said, ‘follow me’ they willingly left their boats on the shore along with everything in it. The boats and nets they left back were not empty, but full and brimming with a great catch of fish. Peter came from a family of fishermen, where fishing was his livelihood, his income, his everything. When Peter recognized Jesus as the Lord, without a moment’s hesitation, he gave it all up, and went after Jesus to become His disciple.
The question we need to ask ourselves today is, ‘What are the things that we have given up for the sake of Jesus?’ Maybe some would say I gave up some friends, the traditions that my family held on to, relationship with my relatives who hindered me from following Jesus, but there are still a majority who are living a fruitless Christian life, because they are unwilling to give up what the Lord is calling them to let go of. A true disciple is someone who is willing to give it all up to follow Jesus.
What did the Apostle Paul give up?
We read in Philippians 3:7, “These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ.” (GW)
Paul explains his past in Philippians 3:5, “I was circumcised on the eighth day. I'm a descendant of Israel. I'm from the tribe of Benjamin. I'm a pure-blooded Hebrew. When it comes to living up to standards, I was a Pharisee.” (GW)
In Philippians 3:8 we read, “It's far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I'm much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It's because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ.” (GW)
When Paul encountered the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, there was such a transformation, that he considered everything else worthless when compared to having Christ in his life. There was no one who was more qualified than Paul. He was a pure-blooded Jew, a Pharisee, who had done everything that the law required him to do. However, in Philippians 3:8, Paul says that in order to gain Christ, he discarded everything that he prided himself in earlier, and considered all of it as totally worthless.
There are many who have been Christians for many years, but still are obsessed with their caste, family, education, ancestors, and take pride in them. A true disciple is one who comes to a point in his life where God becomes everything, and all other worldly things (money, relationships, caste, family, tradition, idolatry etc.,) become totally worthless, when compared to Christ. We must be willing to let go of all the things that do not please God, and are contrary to His word.
When Jesus comes into our life everything that He considers rubbish must be discarded from our lives, just like Paul did, if we truly long to be a disciple of Jesus. To illustrate this let me explain it this way. If a young child were to ask his or her parent for a cell phone, and the parent purchased for them a feature phone instead of a smart phone, the child would be completely disappointed, and consider it worthless or trash. What the child wanted was a smart phone with all modern features, but what he or she got in their hand was a feature phone which is of no value to them.
So also, if we were to compare God with the things of this world, the possessions, the position, the tradition this is how we too should feel, that everything else is rubbish, when compared to having Jesus as our Lord. If for some reason or reasons this is not so, then it is a clear indication that we have not yet become a disciple of Jesus, but are still a ‘fan’ of Him. If we wish to follow Jesus, and be His disciple there is a price we must be willing to pay. It is to let Jesus be the topmost person, our number one priority, our greatest treasure that we hold on to, and value in our lives.
A disciple will give up everything in order to gain Christ, just like Peter who willingly gave up everything with no questions whatsoever. If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, we will most certainly have to give up those things in our lives that are not in line with His will.
What did Jesus teach about discipleship?
In Luke 9:59-60, He said to another man, "Follow me." But that man said, "Sir, first let me go back and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God." (GW)
In the above mentioned verses when Jesus invited a man to follow him, he excused himself by saying that he had to go, and bury his father. Basically he was more concerned about the traditions, and his family ties. He was overly anxious to have everything settled in his home, before he ventured out to follow Jesus. What did Jesus mean when he replied him, ‘let the dead bury their own dead.’ Jesus was referring to all those who are dead without knowing who Jesus really was. His call to this man was that since he had received eternal life, it was his duty to now go, and proclaim to others about the kingdom of God. By so doing he would then bring those who are dead back into the kingdom of God, so that they too can truly live.
A disciple is one who will leave behind all those things that he needs to, and is one who will faithfully do the will of the Lord in his life. It was the twelve disciples of Jesus who turned the world upside down, and it was because of Thomas who was one of them, that the gospel came to our country. The sad thing is that we have not let go of so many things in our lives that displease the Lord, and have also not shared the gospel with those around us. The ones who hear the word of God, and are willing to allow His word to transform their lives are the true disciples of Jesus. Let us not be content to be ‘fans’ of Jesus. Many who came to Jesus initially did so because they had a need, but when they recognized who Jesus was, they were completely altered to become true disciples of Jesus.
As a disciple of Jesus, our obedience is not to be selective, wherein we obey the Lord only when it suits us, but our obedience must be total and complete. To be a disciple of Jesus we must be ready to give up everything that He wants us to give up, and do everything that He expects us to do.
Let’s conclude with the great commission of Jesus as found in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (NKJV)
The Lord did not ask us to go into all the world, and make more converts to Christianity, He asked us to go and make disciples who are in total obedience to His word, who will live in accordance to His will. It is a life of total surrender to the Lord, and a willingness to give up everything that hinders us from following Jesus. Part of the great commission is to obey the Lord by entering the waters of baptism. Baptism is an act of obedience, whereby one declares to everyone that they have become a disciple of Jesus. If our lives are built in total obedience to the word of God, just like the house that is built on a rock, we will be unshaken for nothing that comes against us can prevail or overcome us.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
