Beyond the Crowd

Following Jesus into Commitment, Not Just Excitement

Why do you think Jesus would send his disciples across the lake upon seeing the crowd?

Hold on to that question for a moment—and then notice what Jesus says in response to a couple of people who want in on it all.

One man declares, “I’ll follow you wherever you go!” It sounds like the kind of enthusiasm most leaders would love. But Jesus doesn’t reward it. Instead, he replies with unsettling honesty: I don’t have a home. I don’t have a bed. Following me will not make your life easier.

Another wants to wait—just for a little while, just to handle a family obligation. Jesus, again, is abrupt. Let the dead bury their own dead.

And then Jesus gets in the boat and leaves the crowd behind.

This is not the behavior of someone looking to build a movement by modern standards. He doesn’t work the crowd. He walks away. Why?

Because Jesus isn’t trying to build a crowd. He’s seeking disciples.

Crowds are easy to gather—especially when there’s healing, power, charisma. Slogans, rally cries, and political platitudes are easy enough. But discipleship isn’t built on excitement. It’s built on commitment. It doesn’t thrive on momentum; it requires surrender. And Jesus is constantly filtering out those who are curious from those who are ready to follow—really follow.

It’s one thing to shout all we want on social media about the horrors of politics. (And some of it is indeed horrifying.) But ask yourself where Jesus is in the midst of it? Is he raising his voice? (Maybe.) But he is certainly serving with and alongside those who are actually suffering and in harm’s way. Jesus’ call isn’t to a loud voice, but to a steady and active hand. Both demonstrate solidarity, but the latter is Christlike.

So then he gets in the boat. Not to escape the people, but to teach the ones who’ve already said yes. And then a storm comes—not as punishment, but as part of the lesson.

You want to follow me? Then trust me—in uncertainty, in fear, in chaos.

Jesus doesn’t promise calm seas. He promises presence. And with just a word, he reminds them—and us—that discipleship may not be easy, but it is never abandoned.

Matthew 8:18-27

Now when Jesus saw the crowd, he ordered his disciples to go over to the other side of the lake. A legal expert came and said to him, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head.”

Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

When Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. A huge storm arose on the lake so that waves were sloshing over the boat. But Jesus was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, rescue us! We’re going to drown!”

He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you people of weak faith?” Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the lake, and there was a great calm.

The people were amazed and said, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the lake obey him!”

Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11

God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.

“That’s enough! Now know that I am God! I am exalted among all nations; I am exalted throughout the world!”

The Lord of heavenly forces is with us! The God of Jacob is our place of safety.

Prayer

God,

Amid the clanging noise, keep my ears attuned to Jesus.
Amid the disturbing images, keep my eyes fixed on his example.
Amidst the bantering, badgering, and belligerent belly-aching, keep my hands and feet moving in his direction,

Always toward compassion,
ever bound in love,
constantly soaked in his Spirit.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.