John 6:2-3 -- A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples.
As I was reading back over the first part of this chapter verses two and three caught my attention. More specifically two words jumped out. "Crowds" and "Disciples".
The word used for crowds in the Greek is ochlos and means: a casual collection of people, a throng, a multitude.
The word used for disciples in the Greek is mathētēs and means: a learner, pupil, one who follows one's teaching.
So, this throng of casually collected people were following Jesus because of all the miracles He was performing on the sick. Also, the word "following" in the Greek is an imperfect tense verb, which means it's a continual action. So, this large crowd was continually following Him because of His miracles. Not because of who He was, but because of what He could do. Big difference.
Now, us humans tend to assess, judge, and assign things into categories very quickly. So, it'd be easy to say, crowds are selfish people who only want what Jesus could give them, and disciples are selfless students following Jesus for who He is. Dangerous ground to tread. There is evidence we can see, but regardless of "crowd" or "disciple", we do not have access to their true intentions or hearts, only God does.
Our inclination to judge and assign can quickly create a haughty, holier than thou mentality of Disciples are better than Crowds. It was a mentality that was already established in their culture back then with Pharisees and religious authorities clearly holding themselves over others and working hard to show they were better. Jesus said this in Luke below.
Luke 18:11-12 -- The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
We see Jesus giving an example of a zealous religious Pharisee who holds his works up as proof he is better than others. You see this Pharisee focused on himself, not on God. His works and deeds were good. He was better than the tax collector. No mention of God at all, other than to tell God to take notice of how good he is.
Oh, how destructive and how violently this shoves people away from the Kingdom of God. Away from Jesus! We are all sinners. We've all fallen short (Romans 3:23). There is no person righteous enough (Romans 3:10). I've fallen short in my life and definitely don't have any righteousness on my own. If it weren't for Jesus, I honestly can't say what or where I'd be today.
Christian, be incredibly careful not to place more trust in yourself, your title of "Christian", in your church attendance, in your good deeds, in your pastor/preacher/teacher, than you do in Jesus Christ. Christ is all, and in all (Colossians 3:11). We were once part of the crowd and its only Jesus who changes things. Not you or me.
This doesn't mean as Christians we accept and agree with everything of the world. NO. We are to stand on His truth always, no matter the cost. However, we'd better not make too much of ourselves because apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5). Apart from Him there is no hope. God's heart is none shall be lost, and all be brought to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So, we'd better make sure we're in alignment with God's will and not allow ourselves to become roadblocks to His heart for the crowds.
That's all for today. I woke up feeling not so good, throw in a dash of no smell and very little taste and that means I'll be taking a covid test later. Hoping it's just a sinus infection but regardless I'd appreciate your prayers.
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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