Joining the crazy gang

We read of at least two groups of people who followed Jesus:

The Disciples:

19 And he said to them,(Andrew & Peter) “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. - Matthew 4:19 & 20

The Crowds:

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. - Matthew 4:25

Being in the crowd following Jesus would have been amazing thing. Listening to great teaching. Seeing incredible healing's. Eating miraculous food. Witnessing the unexpected conversations. Smiling as the religious elite were put in their place. It would have been a wild ride.

But then there were those called his disciple. They had a ring side seat at all of the above. The message found a home in their hearts and being part of a crowd that witnessed the spectacular and smiled at his teaching was not enough.

To them it was not something to enjoy as a spectator from a safe distance but a person to get to know. They had to know the man behind the mystique.

When the crowd wished to hear the word of God, the disciples wished to receive it.

Jesus was not first and foremost looking for a crowd. He was looking for radical, sold out, sell the business, leave the house, bring it on no matter what followers.

So he challenged the crowd to leave the safety and anonymity and to pledge their hearts to the cause.

The invitation is not, “Give Me thine head.” The invitation is, “My Son, give Me thine heart.” –John G. Lake

So today Jesus keeps calling us to leave the crowd and join the crazy gang. Often it makes no sense but it really is the only way to live.