Jesus drew a crowd, but focused on the called. Based on Mark 3:7-21 and the rest of the Bible, I believe that most people who call themselves Christians are ‘crowd’ and not called.
The crowd is many; the called are few.
In Mark 3:7-21 we see that “a great crowd followed” Jesus (verses 7-8). The crowd was so great that it could have crushed him had he not arranged an escape boat (verses 9-10).
The word translated “great” in verses 7 and 8 is also used in Matthew 7:13-14, there translated “many.”
13“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Many take the freeway to destruction; few take the dirt road to life. If you add the many and the few together, the many takes up most of the space. They are not just a large sample of a larger pool of people. They are most of the people.
But who is Jesus talking about? Does he mean most humans are on the freeway, or most who claim to be God’s people? There’s a helpful clue a few verses later:
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Based on these verses, here is the profile of those on the freeway toward destruction:
- They call Jesus Lord.
- They expect to enter the kingdom of heaven.
- They have ministry resumes.
Therefore, Jesus must be saying that most of those who claim to be Christians are on the freeway to destruction, not the dirt road to life. Or, to bring it back to our primary passage, most church folks are ‘crowd’ and not called.
The crowd is attracted by the ‘doings’ of Christ; the called are attracted by the calling of Christ.
When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. (Mark 3:8b)
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. (3:13)
Both groups came to Jesus, but for very different reasons. The great crowd heard that he had been teaching with astounding authority, healing sick people, casting out demons and engaging in public conflict with the religious authorities–and so they came to him. The called heard Jesus’ own voice calling them, and so they came to him.
Most come toward Christian doings; few come toward Christian calling. This is why more church members come to a potluck than a prayer meeting. The closer a church gathering gets to just the people and Jesus, the fewer are interested. An open Bible in a quiet room for prayerful fellowship with him is unappealing to most who call themselves Christians. That’s why pastors experience such pressure to “build excitement” (a phrase I have grown to hate) around church gatherings. If we don’t dress our Lord and Savior in gimmicks, few will come to him.
You might think more doings might attract a crowd who can then become the called; but I don’t think it works that way. There is no evidence that any of the twelve listed in Mark 3:16-19 came from the crowd. Jesus called most of them while they were at work. They were fishing and Jesus called from the shore, “Follow me.” And they did! Matthew was counting money at his tax collection desk as Jesus walked by. “Follow me.” And he did! He left his money sitting there and followed Jesus! Do people still just simply follow plain old Jesus? I believe so. But they are few.
The crowd is attracted by its desire; the called are attracted by Jesus’ desire.
When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him… for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. (Mark 3:8b, 10)
13And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. (3:13)
The crowd’s experience of Christianity is driven by its desire. It’s about them getting what they want. They want to touch Jesus and be blessed in some way so they can go on about their lives.
The called experience a whole different Christianity. Their relationship with Jesus is driven by his desire. He gets what he wants in their lives, things which often contradict their own desires.
It’s not bad to want a blessing, but there is more to Christianity than the pursuit of blessings alone. The 12 were swept up and appointed, named apostles (which means ‘sent ones’), drawn into close relationship with Jesus, then commissioned and authorized to go out on behalf of Jesus, preaching and casting out demons.
Not all are called to be apostolic demon punchers. But all called ones are commissioned and authorized to minister as part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27-28). They are deputized into active service, teaching, praying, administrating, etc.
Conclusion
Are you the crowd or the called? Are you on the freeway or the dirt road? Are you attracted by the doings of Christianity or the calling of Christ? Are you driven by your desire or Jesus’ desire for you? Are you awaiting a blessing only, or have you also been appointed, commissioned and authorized to minister in Jesus’ name?
Discussion Sarters
- Read Mark 3:7-12, and then 3:13-19. Brainstorm together as many differences between the great crowd and the twelve as you can.
- Why did Jesus leave the crowd and turn his attention to the twelve? Did he usually operate this way? Can you think of any other examples of Jesus relating to crowds and to his twelve?
- Read verses 10-11. Why did Jesus silence the unclean spirits? What other scriptures can help us understand this?
- Does Jesus still initiate the calling of disciples today? Or was this just how he operated back then when he was here? What scriptures can help us understand this?
- What lessons from this passage can inform the way we go about following Jesus and being the church?
- Pray together.
Pictures by Jonathan Kos-Read and rabiem22.
