Sermon # 47 - The Chosen Few Series

For our meditation today we will look at Luke 14:25, “Now a great number of people went with him.” (BBE)

There was a multitude of people who followed Jesus while He was here on earth. Though these people were from various vocations, they set them aside, to follow Jesus as He travelled and preached in various towns and cities. The reason for this was that Jesus spoke and taught with authority. Also Jesus did so many wonders and miracles that attested who He was, and the crowds followed Him eagerly to witness them.

The cost to follow Jesus

To such a large crowd Jesus looked back and declared these words as recorded in Luke 14:26, “When you follow me as my disciple, you must put aside your father, your mother, your wife, your sisters, your brothers—yes, you will even seem as though you hate your own life. This is the price you’ll pay to be considered one of my followers. (TPT)

A very surprising statement as generally, leaders want to have a huge following, and therefore they will only say those things that would appeal them, and cheer them on to follow. However, Jesus was forthright to pronounce to his followers that if anyone wanted to be His disciple, they were to have total commitment, failing which they were sure to flounder along the way.

Jesus did not say that they would have to literally hate all their earthly relations, but that they were called to love Him more than any other relationship that they held dear. Though there was a multitude that followed Him, Jesus was still looking for those few who were willing to be totally committed to Him.

There are many who claim to follow Jesus today, but the Lord is still looking for those few who are willing to surrender to Him. The reason for this is that Jesus wanted to continue His mission of saving mankind through these committed people.

In many occasions we find Jesus teaching his chosen twelve disciples, and training them in private. These He chose to be with Him so that after His resurrection they would proclaim the good news that there was no more need for mankind to live in sin, be crushed by its effects, and remain under its curse, for the Lord Jesus atoned for all of it on the cross of Calvary.

Let me explain this to you through an incident in the Old Testament.

The Israelites cried out to the Lord

We read in Judges 6:6, “And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD.” (ESV)

The Israelites were opposed by the Midianites who were a powerful lot. Moreover, the Midianites belittled the Israelites and terrorized them. Many of the Israelites were filled with dread and hid in caves and mountains for fear of these Midianites. Whenever, the fields of the Israelites were ripe for harvest the Midianites would invade the land, and would dispossess them of all that was duly theirs. In the midst of such atrocities, when the people of Israel felt helpless and weak they cried out to the Lord.

There are many who are in such a state, and if we cry out to the Lord, He will surely have mercy and save us.

The great number that responded to the call

When the people of Israel appealed to God, the Lord raised for them a leader from among the people whose name was Gideon. He accepted God’s call to deliver the Israelites from this tyranny. As Gideon gave a call to the men of Israel to join him for battle against the Midianites, 32,000 men responded to that call. It was a remarkable response to his call.

Generally when there is something novel, many want to be part of it. When such a huge group responded Gideon was elated that he had a huge battalion who could fight and overcome the Midianites.

The group that parted out of fear

However, this is what happened in Judges 7:3, Announce to the troops, 'Whoever is scared or frightened should leave Mount Gilead and go back home.' "So 22,000 men went back home, and 10,000 were left. (GW)

God seemed to say to Gideon that while Gideon considered the outward appearance of the men who had gathered, God could perceive their hearts and He saw fear in it. God therefore asked Gideon to announce that those who were filled with fear were to leave, and go back home. It is interesting that 22,000 men left to their homes which left Gideon with just 10,000 men.

There are many who have decided to follow after Jesus, but sadly there is fear in many a heart. The fears are pertaining to their families, society, their future, their children’s future and the uncertainties of life. God’s word reminds us that perfect love will cast out fear. Do not be afraid for those are God’s word of assurance to those who are fearful. If we continue to live in fear everything pertaining to our Christian life, church attendance, worship, and this life of faith becomes a mere tradition. Let us claim God’s word to get rid of any sort of fear that may grip our hearts. If we too do not get rid of our fears quickly, we will find that these fears will surely cripple our lives.