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?

Why? I’m not sure. For my friends and I there was a magnetic attraction that was impossible to deny or resist (much like God’s grace). Creeks meant freedom and fun, two concepts often found as fellows.

When my family lived in Reece City, AL (outside of Gadsden), there was a creek that ran close by my yard. It was (and still is as far as I know) a bit dark and snaky. There were critters and small fish all about. It was muddy and mucky water. There was a large tree on the bank and my friends and I, obviously because of our superior intellects, climbed this tree and jumped out of it into the 4-feet or so of water.

One of my friends was brave (stupid) enough to climb up extremely high into that tree and dive off into the shallow water. As I recall the murky water was blended with crimson blood there for a moment or two.

My parents were nowhere in sight and nobody else’s were either. We might have needed them to call an ambulance, but we never did and they never did. I realize that this is not always the case with pre-teen boys playing in dark creeks. So I do not want to pretend like we should let our children run and do whatever they want whenever they want. Nor am I naive to the realities of child predators who take their sin natures to an extreme, snatching away youthfulness and innocence.

That said, today I went outside to find Noah (nearly 10) who had been outside awhile. I was just curious as to his location and safety status. As I was walking around our apartment campus I noticed Noah’s familiar laugh and the shared laughter of three other boys – his friends: Garrett, Bailey, and Corey.

I followed the sound of boyhood. Where did it lead me? To the creek. Where else? Yes, there is a mini-creek that runs right next to our apartments. Like boys of every era these boys were magnetically drawn to the water. After all, critters lurk there. The fulfillment of boyhood desires ripple with the shallow waves as the water snakes slowly by: hypnotic, mesmerizing, full of mystery.

Noah made an apologetic for his presence. He seemed to know intuitively that he was in trouble. Interestingly, nothing within me felt anything like anger or parentally angst. Instead the memories of my own creek experiences surfaced along with a fairly large smile on my face.

I left him to play with his friends in the creek. So far he has survived.

It was much more entertaining than intellectually vigorous though from time to time he actually said something (or wrote something) that made sense.

Unfortunately Hitchens was so committed to his naturalistic presuppositions that he never truly considered the possibility that theism is true. Apparently when he died on December 15, 2011, after his fight with cancer, he was still committed to the same illogical presuppositions.

A Walking Contradiction

As a Christian I (‘m not the only one who) was intrigued by Hitchens. But he seemed to me to be something of a walking contradiction. On the surface he portrayed himself as a rather miserable person who didn’t smile or laugh much. He didn’t seem to like people much. Sort of the quintessential Grinch.

That part of Hitchens I can understand. It does make logical sense for naturalistic atheists to be rather miserable sad creatures. They have embraced a worldview that is miserable and that leads to misery. Why not be miserable?

The part of Hitchens that seems contradictory was his willingness to fight for causes that he believed in. For example, the last several years of his life was dedicated to killing God. Ok, that is my phrase. To be fair and accurate, he wasn’t out to kill God since he did not believe – at least publicly – that God exists. But he was out to kill religion (all of it), since he saw it as basically dangerous to the human race.

He also wrote extensively on moral issues, promoting an idea of what he believed to be right and what he believed to be wrong.

In both of these crusades (to kill religion and promote his moral views) Hitchens seemed to be a walking contradiction. How can a person on the one hand blatantly deny any objective grounding for morality and on the other hand promote his own morality to the culture? To assert that there is no God is to assert that morality is an opinion rather than an objective reality. And yet Hitchens believed religions to be (apparently) objectively immoral.

In many debates Hitchens was called out on this contradiction, and though I’ve not seen every reply he has given I have never seen him give anything like a satisfactory answer. Usually he simply changed the subject or threw out some red herring in order to distract listeners. Of course I pitied Hitchens (and other naturalistic atheists like him) since there is really no answer that can be given. They are simply holding to an illogical, untenable position and must live with it.

Reptile Allure

That said I, like many others, liked Hitchens. He had something of a charm about him akin to the kind of charm snakes have in the reptile department at the zoo. When people go to the zoo where do they want to go? (This is probably not true of everyone). People very often want to go see the snakes. Why? They are venomous, often dangerous animals that have a tendency to freak people out. Yes, but they also have a charm. A sort of dangerous, appealing charm. No wonder people want them as pets. They move slyly and with hypnotic deliberateness. They seem to be very aware of their surroundings – with an in-control attitude even when they are being threatened – and I envision them with a deceitful half-smile, a manipulative, knowing grin.

Our trip to the zoo is not complete until we see them. Something within us wants to (just like Eve) is magnetized by their scales and tongues. They are dangerously attractive.

Hitchens possessed just such a charm. Miserable though he seemed, people, including me, were drawn curiously to him. His words – almost always filled with dry wit – captivated audiences wherever he went.

Amazingly his alluring, reptile-like attractiveness did nothing to buttress his weak naturalistic, atheistic arguments. He spewed the venom until the Lord decided enough was enough.

Mary of Nazareth, the chosen and lowly mother of Jesus Christ (the Son of the living God) composed a beautiful song to celebrate and commemorate the occasion of Gabriel’s informative visit to her as well as the overwhelming reality that Jesus the Savior was coming soon.

I’d like to analyze a small portion of her beautiful and magnificent song:

Luke 1:51-55 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

People who genuinely believe the reality of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ should live like it. Anytime we hold a belief we are holding to a proposition that we believe is actually true, and if true it is only wise that we shape our lives (to the degree we can control this shaping process) around the reality of the truth.

In these few verses (Lk 1:51-55), we find at least 3 ways in which followers of Jesus can labor by God’s grace to shape our lives with the truth of what Jesus accomplished in his Incarnation:

1. Kill Pride (51-52)
2. Be Fed (53)
3. Find Help (54-55)

Let’s think through how each of these ought to be reality in our lives based on the Incarnational accomplishments of Christ.

Kill Pride

The song of Mary seems to be a reflective mediation on her part regarding the plan and purposes of the sovereign God of the universe. Apparently Mary took some time, after she had been informed of her coming baby and the way in which he was conceived, to reflect and write down the wonder of what was taking place in her life and in the world.

As she does this she remarks of God that, “He has shown strength with his arm.” God is powerful, strong, and mighty beyond human attempts at description. Mary recognized this even as (perhaps) the baby within her womb kicked as babies do. The plan to save guilty, rebellious, turncoat sinners through the death of the eternal Son of God is a plan that only our mighty God could have brought to fulfillment.

Since God is Almighty and powerful, and this power is demonstrate clearly in the incarnational accomplishments of Jesus Christ, then people should see this and be willing to humble ourselves in his sight. He “scatters the proud in the thoughts of their heart.” There is no standing in his presence. It is the high point of insanity and irrationality to think that a human being has the chance of opposing God with success. Pride is the chief mark of rebellion and God, in his great strength and purposes, takes prideful people and scatters them as chaff in the wind.

Christmas Pride

It is amazing how Christmas time ironically draws out the poisonous pride in people. “Look at how much people love me! See all the gifts they bought for me! I must be something special!” Or “Wow, look at how much money I have and generosity I have. I buy the best gifts for others and they appreciate me so much!” Or “Can you believe those pathetic lights on that house? Ours are much more sophisticated and upper class.”

These are just a few of the millions of manifestations of rebellious, self-centered pride that comes venomously seeping from our “thoughts” and into our speech. Furthermore, if you think (even for a moment) that you are free from the sin of pride, no more prideful thought could go through your mind than that one.

But one of the major incarnational accomplishments of Jesus was to bring together eternal power and lowly humility. As he lay in the manger, the most awesome power in existence was in the form of a helpless baby who was unable to do the most simple of tasks for himself. Paul reflects on this conjunction of power and humility when he writes:

Philippians 2:6-7 [Jesus Christ], who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Having done this he has also killed all pride within the lives of his followers. How can we (smaller than the trees as we are) ever be comfortable with an arrogant, haughty attitude when our Savior demonstrated this kind of humility to rescue us from sin? We must kill pride. But how do we do it? Here are a few suggestions:

• Pray on your knees
• Be generous with money
• Never judge others (Mt 7:1 – does not mean be gullible but does kill our pride. Obviously, this passage needs to be understood well before applied)
• Cultivate a thankful heart

These are just a few of the ways you can consistently kill pride in the thoughts of your heart and live in light of the incarnational accomplishment of Jesus Christ.

Be Fed

As Mary continued to ponder the power of God in the Incarnation of his Son, she also reflected on the goodness of God to fill “the hungry with good things.” The prideful and rich are sent away empty, but those whose stomachs’ ache with emptiness will be satisfied with the richness and love of God.

With the same power he scatters the pride he also fulfills the poor and hungry. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is a vivid reminder that spiritual nourishment and food is readily available to those called to enjoy it.

In Matthew 5, Jesus makes a Kingdom declaration regarding his intentions in the lives of those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” stating they will be blessed. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are not the “good people” (like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day) of the world who have it all together. Nor are they the ones striving to be good. No, in context these people are those who broken, mourning, poor, and spiritually lacking. These people are truly hungry! They lack and need righteousness in their lives. Our Lord Jesus delcares to these that food is readily available.

The Hungry Eat Best

After all, it is the hungry who know how to eat the best. People who are always full of food don’t really understand what it means to feel deep hunger that leads to desperation. If a person is held captive for 3 days without food or drink, and is teetering on the brink of death as a result, and finally is brought a plate of ribs, fried okra, baked beans, and potato salad, then that person knows how to eat! The food will be inhaled and not a crumb will remain upon the plate. Desperation eats very Well!

Mary, the mother of Jesus, writes in her song that the mighty God who scatters the proud also fills up the hungry with good things. Perhaps when she composed that song she did not realize that in approximately 3 decades, she would witness the most excruciating event imaginable when her son would become the broken bread and spilled wine. She witnesses his very body being torn to pieces that God’s people might eat and live:

John 6:53-55 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. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

How do we live in light on the incarnational accomplishments of Jesus Christ? We eat. To do anything else is dishonoring to him and his mission. To say, “I’m full, I don’t need to eat,” is to shun the only hope any of us have for life. To harken back to the previous point, refusing the bread and wine of the body of Christ is pure human pride and rebellion. To eat is to say, “I’m needy.” To eat is to say, “I’m poor.” There is no place for pride here.

Find Help

So far we have seen that we should kill pride and be fed as ways of living in light of the incarnational accomplishments of Jesus Christ. He scatters the proud and he feeds the hungry.

As Mary continued to reflect on the accomplishments of Almighty God in the Incarnation she also concluded that people can truly find help in him. “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,” she sings.

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in light of his rescue mission for us, we should always and only run to him for help. Where else should we go? God alone has the words of eternal life!

It is important for us to understand that this help offered by God to his people is not merely theoretical, make-you-feel-better help. No, it is powerful, how-to-live-life help that actually allows us to live life the way he designed it to be lived.

Do you need help raising your children? The Lord helps his servants with parenthood. Do you need help with your marriage? The Lord helps his servants learn how to love their wives and respect their husbands. Do you need help dealing with your co-workers? The Lord helps his servants learn how to be missional at their places of work. Do you need help handling your finances with wisdom? The Lord helps his servants be wise not only with their money but with all their resources, teaching them how to glorify God with everything they have and everything they are.

It must be understood that all this help from God is freely given because of his grace and mercy. He sees us flounder in our sin, making horrible decisions, and facing the consequences in our lives of our decisions, and he mercifully gives us help. He teaches us in his word how to live life successfully (as he defines success) and he provides us with the Holy Spirit to illuminate his word to us and wake us up to its power. All this help is given by his mercy.

It must also be understood that God gives us an even greater kind of help than the how-to-live-life help. He gives us the prior-needed salvation (repentance and faith) which causes us to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He helps us live and teaches us how to live.

CONCLUSION

Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God, son of Mary. This amazing Savior accomplished so much in his Incarnation. As his followers we must strive to live in light of his incarnational accomplishments. To do this we must kill pride, be fed, and find help.

May we pray for the ability to carry out all three of these imperatives. There is no better way to celebrate Christmas than this.

The desire for fairness, for a healthy individualism that leads to a voluntary (only) collectivism, and for the prosecution of criminals that matches the crimes committed, all seem to allude those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt 5).

A jury is hung because the police force in the small town overlooked details and skipped major steps in the investigation. As a result the drug-drenched man who murdered (and each juror knows it) walks free and will likely harm again.

Many politicians steal money from citizens (overwhelming taxes/manipulated donations) in order to line their own pockets and buy future votes. Taxpayers loose large portions of their income while the politicians ascend in fame and power. And they walk free to harm again.

Religious leaders engage in the same criminal actions only clothed in religious garments. Trusting parishioners, afraid to face God without at least some effort, write the checks (in the name of Jesus) while the thieves smile on the drive to the bank.

God’s Wise Law

Here we need the wisdom of the Law of God. Though people are not and can not be saved by this wise Law, nonetheless those who meditate on it and desire to follow it will be blessed with its genius. They will also (perhaps eventually) find what they long for in terms of true justice.

Just after God had given Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments, He unfolds to Moses some of the cultural applications of those Ten Commandments. In particular, He raises some of the applications of “Do not steal.”

In Exodus 22 He discusses property rights and what to do if and when they are violated. Getting specific He deals with the issue of asking a neighbor to watch over a piece of property and what to do if it ends up dead (in the case of an animal) or missing (in the case of an inanimate piece of property or sum of money).

Exodus 22:8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.

It is possible that a third-party thief stole the property, but if no thief is found, it is certainly possible that the one who was watching over the property actually stole it. If that is the case, they are pronounced guilty.

Now someone may raise the question: Why should the owner of the house suffer loss or be pronounced guilty in this case? After all, this neighbor was simply watching out for a piece of property that belonged to someone else.

But you see the neighbor is under no obligation to look over the piece of property. He could say no:

“Hi neighbor. Just wondering if you could watch over my donkey for a week while I’m out of town?”

“I wish I could but I will not be able to. Sorry.”

See, the neighbor can say No. If the neighbor says Yes and agrees to keep the donkey, he is taking on the responsibility for that donkey. This is an individualism that leads to a healthy and voluntary collectivism. In order for justice to be maintained, the neighbor who agrees to watch the property must also agree to take responsibility for the property if something were to happen to it.

Shall Come Near to God

According to the passage if something happens to the piece of property and no third-party thief is found, then the owner of the house who agreed to watch the property must “come near to God.” When this happens the implication is that the truth of the situation will be revealed.

Amazingly the presence of God exposes truth. Nobody can maintain a lie in the presence of God. He is the ultimate lie detector test.

People obviously know this and that is why we promise (and sometimes swear) to God. Or we say, “With God as my witness.”

Much can and should be said about the implications of this reality for social justice but let me conclude by simply challenging readers (even as I challenge myself) to confess to God the reality of what is in our souls. If you don’t you will run from Him for you know that in His presence the truth will come out. But you can’t run forever. Eventually you will stand face to face with Him and justice will be served fully and completely as you and I are brought near to Him. Confess now and let the truth flow like the Nile and perhaps the Law of God will not condemn you but will rather be sweet and delightful as honey (Ps 119:70).