“Who Are You In The Crowd?”

“Who Are You In The Crowd?”(Lk.11:29-32).
On Day Eighteen of Lent 2023 let us reflect concerning crowd pulling. Any “event, person, or display that attracts a large audience is crowd pulling.”
Are you a crowd puller in what you do? Do you feel elated by the crowd? Well, it seems that positive impact is not necessarily generated by the crowd, nor does it come from the crowd.
The Lord Jesus Christ was a top crowd puller; but he was never enthausiastic about the crowd. In moments when he needed spiritual strengthening he always went to solitary places to talk to his Father, whom he has made our father.
The crowd is deceptive. Yesterday we reflected on the incident where a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth…” Jesus replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
After this interuption, and “as the crowds increased,” Jesus expressed his disappointment with them. As we know from various sections of the gospel, some were following him because of food miracles he performed which fed them. Some followed him as “monitoring spirits” so as to find fault with him. Others followed him for deliverance from sicknesses and demonic attacks. Some followed him because of his power of oratory which always mesmerized them. Some followed him because in him they saw the person who could lead them to regain their kingdom from foreign domination.
Some followed him because idle people feel at home in any crowd. And some followed him because in him they saw the Messaiah promised of old! But even so, among this last category, it was not very clear to them what the Messaiah should be or what salvation actually meant.
My friend, are you a crowd puller like Jesus and may be more than Jesus because of the superfluity of ICT and Social media? Does it boost your ego to think that you are making giant strides in expanding the kingdom of God?
And to you my other friend, “Why are you in the crowd?” Are you there to hear and obey? Or are you there to be fed, or to receive healing, or to be entertained, or to fill the gap of idleness, or as a monitoring spirit? Again, “Why are you in the crowd?
On his part Jesus was not impressed by the increase of the crowds. He saw before him *a “wicked generation” asking “for a miraculous sign.” But he was not ready to give them any sign other than that: as Jonah was in the belly of a big fish for three days, so will he be in the belly of the big earth for three days and then resurrect.
On judgement day the queen of Sheba will condemn this generation because she reponded to Solomon’s wisdom positively. In the same way the Ninevites listened to Jonah and repented. But the *”worst than Thomas”* generation have listened to Jesus Christ, who is greater than Solomon and Jonah, but do not want to repent.
My friend, our Lord does not minimise the crowd. The crowds may have come for any reason whatsoever; but he knows that among them are those who will hear and obey. They will believe in him and become heirs of the kingdom. He assures:“…whoever comes to me I will never drive away”(Jn.6:35-37). Do not ask for miracles before you believe. The word of God is enough; trust and obey it.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me daily to believe without requiring any miraculous sign; for my life is God’s daily miraculous sign. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.