Why?

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, people flocked to Him for various reasons. Sometimes it was the simple fact that He fed them or talked with them; other times it was because He healed them, but regardless of their reasons, Jesus gave hope to people. Therefore, it was natural that He would have a following. Jesus did many things that led them to follow Him, but He wanted something from them that was different than what they wanted from Him.

Where was Jesus leading them? What was His ultimate goal? How were they supposed to respond to the many miracles and teachings Jesus offered? All these questions pointed to a bigger question — why? Why lead them, give them hope, or do miracles?

John ends his gospel by explaining why all the miracles and teachings were done, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God…” (John 20:30-31). Believing in Jesus is more than just mentally acknowledging His existence; it is trusting in Him as Lord! He has all authority, and Jesus wants His followers to trust that. 

At some point, His goals for them and their purpose for following Him ran askew. When the people’s commitment and allegiance were challenged, they began to abandon Him. How deep would the rejection go? How many of His followers would quit when Jesus was so close to fulfilling His mission and inaugurating the kingdom in a visible way?

As the people left, Jesus asked His closest followers, the twelve disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” His candid question is one that we have to ask ourselves when the pressures of the world weigh on us. Jesus was demonstrating authority over all His Creation, and He wouldn’t stop until it was “finished” (John 19:30).

Peter’s answer resounds throughout the centuries as a statement of total surrender, dependence, and reverence. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69).

This is why “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-5) so that we would believe in His name and follow Him faithfully to the end. After all, as Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” 

Why do you follow Jesus?

The Significance of Jesus' Eating with Sinners

Jesus made it a point to spend time with the people He came to save -- sinners! There weren’t any areas off limits in that quest. Jesus found that the sick of society (not necessarily the lame, blind, and leprous) were the ones that need healing first. This is similar to a coach and trainer needing to get an injured player healthy as quickly as possible so they can get out and make a difference in the game.

It’s important to realize the very first command by God to mankind (Adam) is found in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…” This is not a command to exploit and oppress, but to bring life (just as God had done) and make things “good” (Ephesians 2:10). The sick in society represent those that need help the most. Jesus' involvement with them is an example to all people of what God intended by that first command; to “rule over '' the earth wasn’t about domination but about bringing good to all living things.

When the “sick” are taken care of, that removes a level of fear from the community. No one wants to get sick; no one wants to mess up so badly that they are cast out from friends and family. Therefore, Jesus’ outstretched hand to help those in the most distraught situations was a huge message of hope for all people (Romans 5:1-11). By eating with people who had been rejected for whatever reason, He demonstrated that they were important to Him (and to God). 

An important example from the Old Testament is found in the actions of King David after he became king. He sought out those he could show favor towards. Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson, and David did something very uncustomary of a king -- he gave him a perpetual invitation to eat at the king's table! (2 Samuel 9:10). The customary thing to do was to kill any remaining heir to the defeated king to ensure no one would try to exact revenge, but David’s unwarranted act of kindness actually brought a deep sense of loyalty to the “outcast.”

The kingdom of God brings a new level of peace that is unlike any other kingdom. A scene mentioned in several ways in Revelation. Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” The invitation to join King Jesus at the table is being sent out now, and it’s our privilege to join him there. John 3:17, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Regardless of our past, we have been offered an invitation of grace that changes how we live if we choose to accept it. Will you? 

Multiplicity in Ministry

2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear…”

This timely advice from Paul is the motto of many ministers. Even in spite of the growing unpopularity of Christianity in our culture, people still need to hear the good news; and this requires a multiplicity of ministers!

Paul described his work this way in 2 Corinthians 6:6-8, “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.”

While the task of ministry can be daunting, the job still needs to be done. This is, after all, what’s at the heart of the Great Commission, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Ministry was never intended to be done alone. While not everyone will fill the role of preacher, we each have a place in the body of Christ that contributes to ministry (Romans 12:4-8). In Jesus’ ministry, He called people to “Come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22; Matthew 4:19), a call that brought on plenty of challenges, as the apostles commented on (Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:28). Perhaps that’s why Jesus sent them out in pairs (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1) — for encouragement and support!

Paul wrote to Timothy and begged him, “Please come as soon as you can!” Why? Because he needed encouragement. 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.” As we make efforts to reach out more boldly in our community, let’s never forget the power of multiplicity in ministry!

Remember the Alamo

"Remember the Alamo!" The words of General Sam Houston on April 21, 1836, as he led 800 Texans soldiers to victory against Santa Anna's Mexican force of approximately 1,500 men at San Jacinto in under 20 minutes. The lesson for us: Sometimes the memory of sacrifice for a cause encourages you to stand strong in your own battles.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Our memories can drive us to amazing obedience, or they can paralyze us with fear, or even cause us to become obstinate to any kind of change. But just as Paul reminded Timothy of the gift he’d been given (which was all possible through what Jesus did on the cross), we too should be reminded of what fills us now. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

Jesus wanted us to remember His sacrifice on the cross and how that act could motivate us to unity within His body. Before His arrest, Jesus prayed, “I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me” (John 17:22-23). Later Paul would remind us how what Jesus did on the cross would help us be unified. He said in 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, “For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, “'This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.'”

Jesus, “the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29), gave His body so that we could have a new body IN HIM. The power of that memory motivates us, or it should, to do everything in our power to honor the will of the Father. Having that powerful memory of God’s unwavering love can be the strength we need to keep going in life.

Romans 8:39, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”