Crowd (Christ)

 . . . we are afraid of the crowd. 

 - From Matthew 21

The Chief Priests and the Elders (formal elders) in the time of Christ, were not particularly courageous. They have put so much stock into their property, and appearance, that they are loathe to do anything to sully themselves. They are into things staying in order. They're like Dr. Smith on the classic TV show, Lost in Space. They are all talk, as long as nothing endangers them directly. And they cover their tracks well, lest they place themselves into a precarious situation. 

Jesus was one Man that threatened the existing order; and this is why He had to go. 

But they feared the crowd. They were not willing to stir the crowd up, unless it was stirred up against Jesus. 

There is never a good reason to stir up an angry crowd. And never a good reason to encourage the angry crowd. 

Some sermons and scriptural lessons are more memorable than others. Over the course of a lifetime, you may be lucky enough to have had a few be so noteworthy, that you remember them in detail. 

So it was in the fall of 1982. I was an MBA student at Texas Christian University; but I did not want to be studying business. I felt that I should be in ministry, and spent every moment that I could, involved in youth work and music at the Pleasant Hill Advent Christian Church in Southlake, Texas. I attended Sunday and Wednesday services, any time I could. The pastor was Donald B. Wrigley. 

One Sunday night, brother Don did a lesson that he called "The Circles of Discipleship." It started with a discussion about the hundreds, even thousands of people that followed Christ around, in His ministry. From there it went down to the hundred or so, that assisted Him in activities like handing out the loaves and fishes. From there, down to the Circle of Twelve, which of course, were the Twelve Apostles. These were there in His private moments. They heard His most profound teachings and had them explained to Him. 

From there, it went down to the Circle of Three. Peter, John, and James . . . the three that were present at the Transfiguration, and that accompanied Him to Gethsemane. 

Finally, The Circle of One - - - John, "the Disciple Jesus Loved." The one that made it to the Cross. The only one that died a natural death. Of course, Simon Peter can make the claim to being "The Circle of One."

This struck me. The closer you get to Christ, the fewer people that are present. 

I've always had a hearty level of distrust against crowds of any kind. Even crowds that are not assembled to do harm: sporting events, music concerts, serve no truly needful purpose. It's entertainment, that's all. 

In our times, we need more people breaking away from the crowds, to go off and pray. To reflect. To fast and experience want from a positive experience. To cultivate dependency on God, and not on human government. 

By the same token . . . beware of leaders that seem too willing to please a crowd. They are no better than Scribes and Pharisees.