Apples of Gold

A great amount of time and energy is spent by many in church leadership today trying to figure out how to draw a crowd for their ministry. Some have resorted to giveaways and gimmicks to lure people into services or events.  I have recently seen everything from large screen televisions to a car being offered up as an incentive to come and “check us out”. Although I understand the intentions are probably good, this doesn’t strike me as a wise practice. My husband likes to say: “If you use Mickey Mouse tactics you will end up with Donald Duck christians”.  I think he might have swiped this from one of our Bible College professors. 

Crowds tend to like flash, sparkle and free stuff in general. John chapter six tells us that a huge crowd followed Jesus wherever he went because they saw miraculous signs. They were wowed by the healings. They were intrigued by the bread and fish. Conspicuously missing is any mention of the crowds coming to hear the message of serving others, dying to yourself, living for God. Rather than stroll through the crowd fist pumping and enjoying the accolades of the thronging mob Jesus’ response was quite intriguing:

When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. John 6:15

The next day Jesus did not head back to the crowd but rather went away with his disciples.  The crowd once again hunts him down. Jesus is not basking in the attention of this multitude. Rather than tiptoeing carefully in an attempt to keep from offending anyone, Jesus seems to take the opposite approach. He cuts to the chase and begins challenging his audience. 

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Who believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.” John 6:35-36

You can almost hear the crowd begin to whisper, “Wait, where’s the food?” Discontent begins to spread through the camp. This wasn’t what they had signed up for. Notice Jesus doesn’t disperse the disciples throughout the crowd to quell the murmuring in an attempt to retain the crowd. Instead he goes further:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.” John 6:51-54

The crowd that had gathered, hoping to see a miracle, maybe to even get a free meal was not expecting to hear this. This was not fun and exciting anymore and verse 66 tells us:

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 

Notice it doesn’t just say many from the crowd left, but many of his disciples. The Greek word used here is mathetes and it means a learner, pupil or disciple. These were not first-time visitors but rather people who had been following Jesus and learning from him. 

Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” John 6:67

Here are a couple things to think about in light of this passage:

Our culture screams “bigger is better” and unfortunately many churches and believers fall for it. A large church is a successful church. A speaker that draws a crowd must be anointed. Popularity signifies power. While there certainly are large churches and powerful speakers who draw crowds, it seems more often than not, the crowds are attained and retained by displaying the shiny and exciting things while skillfully avoiding the hard sayings that divide the serious followers of God from those who are just hoping to be entertained. Jesus spent a lot of time pouring into twelve men who in turn, turned the world upside down. 

Another thing to consider is this: When you are facing the tough things, and there is no miracle in sight, will you stay or will you go? The temptation to give up, to feel sorry for yourself, to wonder why your heart’s desire by-passed you and went to someone who wasn’t even looking for it, can hit hard at times. God’s plans often differ from ours. The path he puts us on frequently takes unexpected turns that can knock us off our feet. The challenge is to wipe our tears, stand strong, and echo Peter’s words-“Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”