Matthew 4.23-25

Let's read this passage:

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,  Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.


Here we see Jesus drawing large crowds to him because of his miraculous signs. And who wouldn't make sure to come out and see the miracle worker doing some crazy stuff? This is a fact that is very true about Jesus, people were drawn to him.


Crowds, thousands were drawn to him. 


And who wouldn't be?


This guy healed people with all kinds of diseases. He healed people who had severe pain, the demon-possessed, the paralyzed and this who had seizures. They would come to Jesus sick, and they would leave healthy, cured.


It was MIRACULOUS!!! 


So what does Jesus do?


He creates a lot of programs and builds a big building so that everyone can fit and be happy and comfortable. He starts a large organization that has a ton of staff to run these programs and put on a good show so that everyone is entertained week in and week out. He exhausts himself and his "staff" by making sure everyone is happy, that they don't make anyone upset. He makes sure that he writes thank you notes and encourages everyone for helping out in the slightest amount so that they don't feel "put out" by having to serve at the church for an afternoon. 


If you look at chapter 5, this is NOT what Jesus does. 


He doesn't worry about trying to please everyone, he doesn't concern or exhaust himself with trying to make everyone stick or stay, he sits down and teaches, and pay attention to what it says in Matthew 5.1, he teaches his disciples. 


Matthew 5.1-2 says this: 


¹ Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them, saying:


He preaches a sermon. 


Being a preacher, I like that a lot!!!!


But in all serious, he preaches a very hard sermon. He says things like:


"Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."


and


"But I tell that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart."


And 


"Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"


And 


"If you do not forgive men when they sin against you your heavenly Father will not forgive you"


And 


"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"


and


"If someone strikes on the right cheek, turn to him the other also, and if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, give to him your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you and do not turn from the one who wants to borrow from one."


Jesus preaches a very hard sermon on discipleship, on what it means to follow him. 


This is very common in Jesus' ministry. He travels around, serving the outcasts and the hurting and the downtrodden, healing diseases, having these amazing debates and showdowns with the Religious leaders, yet when he opens his mouth he says things that tend to cause the crowds to leave.


He invites everyone to come by his actions, but teaches the hard truth about what it means to follow him. 


And what it means is this...you have to give up everything. 


So here is my question to you today: Are you a crowd member or a Disciple? Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus?