Which group of people do you belong to today – the disciples or the multitude? II
Welcome, my dear friends, to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”! I believe that through these daily messages you receive the necessary encouragement and inspiration.
Yesterday we talked about two categories of people that can be distinguished among Jesus’ followers: the multitude and the disciples. Not all believers are the disciples of Jesus because there are different levels of commitment. The multitude follows Jesus not so that He can change their character, but to improve their lives.
In the following passage Jesus said to the multitude that they sought Him because they ate and were filled:
«..when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, „Rabbi, when did You come here?” Jesus answered them and said, „Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, no because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him» (John, 6:24-27).
As long as Jesus was feeding the people, healing them and speaking pleasant things, everything was alright. But as soon as Jesus started calling people to commit themselves and pay the price, the multitude stopped following Him. The disciples are committed to follow Jesus Christ. This type of commitment is what changes and transforms the life of a believer. There is no growth and development without commitment to God. It is not church attendance or listening to sermons that helps us change; it is our commitment to God and following Jesus.
We also discussed that following Jesus means to imitate Him and go only where He goes. To follow Jesus means to watch Him carefully so that you do not miss the way that He takes. We read about it in the following passage:
«Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls» (Hebrews, 12:1-3).
The way that Jesus will lead us on won’t always be smooth and easy. The Bible tells us that Jesus Himself endured the hostility, the cross and the shame. It means that Jesus will also lead us through the valleys of death and tears; this way is not pleasant and desired, but it is good for us, because God only knows what we need. The disciples followed Jesus not only when He spoke pleasantries, but also when He rebuked or corrected them. They followed Him even when they did not understand the true meaning of His words. The simply trusted His wisdom.
It happened more than once that the disciples did not understand Jesus’ words. For example, they did not understand what He meant when He spoke of drinking His Blood and eating His Flesh. His saying did not seem logical, but they still followed Him. What did the multitude do at those moments? Usually when something was hard, uncomfortable or incomprehensible, they left. The people of the multitude would take offense at Jesus and leave Him (see John, 6:31-71).
True disciples do not leave when it get hard, because they have died to themselves and their desires. True disciples of Jesus take up their cross and follow Jesus.
Every one of us is free to choose which group of people he wants to belong to – the multitude or the true disciples. But the fullness of blessings and Kingdom living belongs to those believers that faithfully follow Jesus.
I wish you God’s abundant blessings!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
