Smoodock's Blog

A peculiar habit Jesus had was avoiding the crowds of people who followed him. He was a press agent’s nightmare. When he healed the leper, he told him to tell no one, what he had done for him (Matthew 8:4), but the leper published Jesus’ good work throughout the region, so that it was difficult for Jesus to enter any town or village in Galilee, without immediately drawing crowds of people (Mark 1:43-45). He also did the same when he healed the blind (Matthew 9:27:30), but once again they told everyone they could, and Jesus’ fame increased all the more (Matthew 9:31).

So, after he healed Peter’s mother-in-law and a great many others after sunset, the very next day the crowds came looking for him. When he was told so many looked for him, he told his disciples they should avoid the multitudes and preach the Gospel elsewhere (Matthew 8:18; cp. Mark 1:35-39). I have to wonder what modern day evangelism would look like, if the evangelist tried to avoid the crowds. The Kingdom of the Presence of God simple doesn’t operate like the world does. The world seeks the crowds, and needs to pack in the crowds for their next rally, so their fame doesn’t wither away. Thus, Christian evangelism, today, seems to operate more like the world than like Jesus. Just a thought!

Therefore, when Jesus saw the great multitudes who sought him, he gathered his disciples and left that place by boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:18). As they prepared to do so, a certain scribe told Jesus that he would follow him anywhere (Matthew 8:19). Nevertheless, there must have been something in the manner the scribe had taken that revealed that he expected to be treated well, wherever he went with Jesus, because Jesus told him that foxes have their holes and birds have their nests, but the Messiah has nowhere to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).

Upon reading this many have assumed that Jesus had no physical residence, that he was poor etc. Yet, on the day he was crucified Roman soldiers parted his garments among themselves, and cast lots for his valuable outer attire (John 19:23-24). Who among us would do such a thing upon the death of a homeless person today? Jesus’ point was that he had no place in this world, where he could rest, where he would be truly welcome, where others thoughts and ways were the same as Jesus’ thoughts and goals (John 3:19; cp. Isaiah 55:7-8).

This scribe was probably following Jesus, because he saw the miracles. It isn’t said in the text, but perhaps a page can be taken from modern evangelism. If a great deed is done, perhaps a healing takes place, crowds are impressed, and advantage could be taken of their generosity under those circumstances. A religious person can become rich in goods by following Jesus. Was this would-be follower of Jesus in this frame of mind, when he said he would follow Jesus anywhere? We don’t know, but we do know human nature, as it is displayed in modern evangelism. Wealth seems important to some folks.

Another of Jesus’ would-be disciples, perhaps after hearing what he had said to the scribe, told Jesus he wished to follow him, but he wanted first to bury his father (Matthew 8:21). What did he mean? Well, it doesn’t appear that he meant he was given word that his father had died and he wished to make provision for his funeral, because Jesus attended funerals and raised the dead (Luke 7:11-15; cp. Luke 8:51-56 and John 11:39-44). Therefore, it seems that this man, perhaps understanding that some folks would reject and despise Jesus, wished to stay with his father until he died, so that his inheritance wouldn’t be put in jeopardy!

Jesus replied that the dead, vis-à-vis the spiritually dead who don’t understand and reject Jesus’ teaching, can bury whoever is spiritually dead. However, if he is spiritually alive enough to understand and know that Jesus is truly the Messiah, he needs to continue to follow him (Matthew 8:22). This world’s goods are useless to advance the Gospel. While wealth can rent a stadium for an evangelist, or provide for the needs of a missionary, money is useless in getting folks to repent and return to God. Only God is able to open a man’s mind and heart (Psalm 146:8; Acts 26:15-18; cp. Acts 8:20).

Jesus doesn’t’ condemn wealth. It provides for one’s physical necessities. What Jesus wished to convey to folks was that following him is not without hardship, rejection or contempt. The disciples of Christ can expect to be treated as Christ was treated by his family (cp. Matthew 12:46-47; John 7:5), by his neighbors (cp. Luke 4:22, 28-29) or by religious authorities (John 12:36-43). Not all of Jesus disciples are ostracized and persecuted, but some are and the threat is there for everyone to consider.