"Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Jesus." (Matthew 4:25)
Well, let's talk about this wonderful verse that appears before the account of the teaching of the Beatitudes.
There were large crowds following Jesus around... I'm trying to imagine what it would be like if 1500 people were to show up at our church- every service, every prayer meeting, every class offered. At this point, there's no way we could handle that many people at Bronx Bethany. We'd have to just all go outside and do the teaching outside.
Jesus went up the side of a mountain, sat down, and taught the people... but what people? Was it the big crowd, or the smaller group of disciples? Jesus was the popular teacher, the radical rabbi, the guy with the healing ministry. When He was around, things happened... and therefore the crowd wanted to be around Him: not for His words, but for the prospect of witnessing the sensational. And then, here and there in the big crowd, one might find a few true disciples who longed to hear and obey the word of life being brought by this One who was like no other.
I can guarantee you that if the news agencies reported that profound physical healings are taking place at Bronx Bethany, then lots of people will show up in church: not because they want to be healed, not because they want to hear the word of God, but because they want to see what else might happen. I believe the correct word to describe them is "spectators". Oh, the great danger is to be a spectator when God has called us to be full participants in His kingdom agenda.
As we come to the end of another week, let's take time to pray that we will be true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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