What does it take to attract a crowd? Presidents always seem to draw a crowd. So do movie stars, popular musicians and well-known athletes. What is it about these various personalities that people are so attracted to them?
An interesting “character” in the New Testament Gospels is the crowd. Jesus Christ always seemed to be attracting a crowd on one hand, and yet we see him scattering the crowd on the other hand. What was it about Christ that led to this interesting phenomenon?
For a simple answer read this passage:
Matthew 7:28-29 When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
According to this passage the crowds gathered around Jesus were simply “astonished” at him. The word translated astonished from the Greek is (interestingly) in the Imperfect Tense. A writer would use the Imperfect when he wanted to describe a past event that was experienced in a repetitive fashion, almost like waves hitting a person wading out into the ocean. This means the people crowding around Jesus felt a sense of awe and astonishment at him in waves, hitting them over and over again. They could not cease being amazed at him!
What is it about Jesus that draws a crowd?
Two things according to this passage: (1) His “sayings” and (2) His “authority.” These two things were the cause of the waves of astonishment the crowds were feeling.
His “Sayings” Drew a Crowd
The word “sayings” and the word “teaching” indicate that Jesus had a body of doctrine that he taught regularly. To use our common vernacular, he had talking points that he was constantly reiterating as part of his teaching. The Sermon on the Mount brings together many of his major talking points and shows us how he put them together into a larger sermon format.
But it was these words, these “sayings,” that had such an attractional impact on folks, leading to a crowd around Jesus. They loved hearing him give a speech, and were often overcome at the power of what he said.
In our day, people are willing to pay outrageous amounts of money to hear the “sayings” of certain individuals. Former president Bill Clinton, for example, is paid enormous sums of money just to come to an event and talk awhile:
Clinton received $10.7 million for 52 paid speaking engagements last year, a sizable increase from the 36 paid speeches he delivered in 2009 for a total of $7.5 million. The most the former president had previously earned in one year was in 2006 when he earned $10.2 million for 57 events. His 2010 speaking fees were detailed in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s annual financial disclosure report released Monday. [Link to CNN Blog]
Think about that for just a minute. He just talks for a few minutes and is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars! Clinton is a person whose “sayings” matter to lots of people. His words hold a great deal of value and people will pay great sums to hear him utter those words.
This is the way the crowds felt about the “sayings” of Jesus Christ. His words captivate them. His teachings hit them as true and helpful and wonderful. They wanted his words and were willing to loose a day of work, or several meals, in order to be with him and hear him speak.
What was it that Jesus was saying that so captivated the crowds? Consider these words from the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:21-24 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
To these First Century Jews, this teaching sounded much different than what they were used to. They were total captivated by these seemingly new ideas, and the son of a carpenter who spoke them.
To all who are willing to listen, the words of Jesus still captivate today. When his words are spoken and understood, people continue to be filled with amazement. His words are true and powerful, and when we hear them we know that if we were to obey them they would improve our lives dramatically.
His “Authority” Drew a Crowd
But it wasn’t merely the “sayings” of Jesus that allured such large audiences, it was also his “authority.” The people were astonished (wave after wave) with the innate power of Jesus as he spoke and ministered to them.
Some people just simply have an air of authority. Most would say that being in the presence of the president of the United States has this type of feel to it. There is a sense of major authority there.
Those who work for Donald Trump typically say the same thing.
But what exactly is authority?
Doesn’t it seem sort of strange that some people seem to have it while others do not? For example, we don’t usually think of the popcorn vendor at the movie theater as someone with a lot of authority. If we have a problem (say we are overcharged for our candy, corn, and coke), we usually try to find someone else – perhaps the manager – to confront about the issue.
Authority is felt from people who have been given positions of power. CEO’s have authority over their companies (as Steve Jobs did for Apple and Bill Gates does for Microsoft).
Coaches have (or should have) authority over their teams. Bobby Cox, long time manager of the Atlanta Braves, seemed to possess enormous amounts of authority over his players, even though he never seemed to come across as a power-grabber. The authority was there, even if he did not act like an authoritarian figure.
When Jesus Christ spoke to the crowds they got an enormous feel that they were dealing with an authority figure the likes of which they could not comprehend. They knew he had more authority than their other religious leaders – the scribes and Pharisees.
In reality, of course, the reason they felt authority oozing out of Jesus (even though he served them, even touching the leper to bring healing) was because they were dealing with the Son of the living God, divine just as the Father is divine.
Jesus Christ emanates with authority because he is the Creator of heaven and earth and he is eternal and he is holy. Whether he was swinging the carpenter’s hammer or preaching perfect words (his “sayings”) the authority of Almighty God came pouring forth from him.
No wonder he drew such enormous crowds!
What is it about Jesus that scatters a crowd?
But then in the Gospels we read that Jesus very often had the opposite affect on a crowd of people. Instead of coming in close to him, they would often turn and leave him behind. But why?! The answer is a bit surprising:
His “sayings” Scattered a Crowd
That’s right! The very words of Jesus, his incredibly true and helpful teaching, are the very words that many, many people could not accept. Many today are exactly the same as those scattered crowds. The teachings of Jesus becomes rather repulsive to them and offensive. Look at this passage to get the point:
John 6:52-54 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This teaching was totally repulsive to many of the Jews in Jesus’ day. In fact, as he taught this message over and over again (throughout John 6), the crowds became more and more frustrated with his “sayings.” It got so bad that the vast majority of the crowd was scattered, turning their backs on Jesus and his words, which they could not digest.
John 6:66-67 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
The very words of Jesus that attract so many curious folks are the exact same words that repel many far from the Lord. Amazing!
What do you make of the words of Jesus Christ? Do they attract you, fill you with hope, and give you eternal life? Or do his words turn your stomach, make you grimace, and send you off in the opposite direction?
Here is a reminder from Jesus about what is really going on here:
Matthew 13:14-15 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.
His “authority” Scatters the Crowd
The very same authority of Jesus Christ that drew thousands to come see him is the very same authority that thousands find repulsive. Authority can be amazing, but it can also be troubling to many. A person who wants to be the authority of their own life, who does not want to bow down to any master but self, will have a lot of problems with Jesus.
The person who wants to bow down to the authority of the State (a government that has undue power over the lives of its citizens), will also have major problems with Jesus.
Jesus commands absolute attention and full focus and devotion:
Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
When people hear Jesus expressing this kind of authority they often turn and run. When they hear him say things like this…
Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
…They often find themselves disgusted with the carpenter from Galilee.
Conclusion
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Therefore when his authoritative words are accepted and obeyed he brings enormous blessing into life. Many crowds gather to hear more of his words and glorify him.
On the other hand, the authoritative words of Jesus are very often refused and disobeyed. When this happens, the crowds scatter and go their own way. The end result of those who turn their back on him is recorded in these powerful words of Christ:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
And
Matthew 7:26-27 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
As for me, Lord Jesus, pour your “sayings” powerfully into my life. Help me obey your perfect and holy authority. And let me be part of the “crowd,” your Church, mentioned in Revelation 7:9.
What about you?
