“Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.” – Matthew 5:1

I’m just beginning delving into a deeper study on The Sermon on the Mount. Truth be told, I completely overlooked this verse until I listened to this sermon which drew my attention to the distinction between the crowds and the disciples.

The entirety of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was directed to His disciples, not to the massive crowd that was following Him simply to receive healing (Matthew 4:23-25). Unlike the disciples who came to Jesus and followed Him to the top of the mountain, the crowds waited down below and once Jesus came down, they then again followed Him. (Matthew 8:1)

It almost seems as though Jesus purposefully went up the mountain. We read “Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain…” He saw the crowd and after seeing them, decided to trek it up the mountainside. It’s almost like Jesus wanted to sift out those devout followers from the crowd just as when He turned to the crowds and told them that they must hate their mother and father and even their own lives in order to be His followers (Luke 14:25-34). Or like when He told the crowds that to be His true followers and gain eternal life, they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:53-55). After saying these things, many turned back and no longer walked with Him (John 6:66).

Why does Jesus so often do this? Why would He give such hard and strange teachings while so many were there to listen? Why would He trek up a mountainside while so many were there with Him?

Because He desires true followers. He desires true believers. Simply following Him for what He can give is not the way to eternal life – believing Him is (John 6:47).

So Jesus, amidst the crowds, climbs up this mountain and calls to Himself those whom He desired (Mark 3:13). Those willing to make the journey, to endure the upward climb to meet Him at the top of the mountain.

This got me thinking, How can I distinguish myself from the crowd? How can I embody the characteristics of a true follower of Jesus?

What are the characteristics of the crowd?

• The crowd followed Jesus as He grew in fame (Matthew 4:23-25)
• The crowd followed Jesus for healing (Matthew 15:29-31; Luke 6: 18-19)
• The crowd followed Jesus to be fed (John 6:22-26)
• The crowd followed Jesus for “Fear of Missing Out,” wanting to see and hear for themselves what Jesus’ fandom was all about (Mark 3: 7-8; Luke 11:29; John 6:2)
• The crowd was unwilling to face discomfort in order to follow Jesus (Matthew 8:18-22)
• The crowd turned on Jesus once He faced persecution (Matthew 27:15-25)

Crowd followers follow Jesus for what they can receive. They want to be fed, they want to be healed, but they aren’t willing to trek up mountains to follow Jesus, they aren’t willing to leave prior engagements behind. They go with every wind that blows, following Jesus when it is favorable (Matthew 21: 8-11), but abandoning Him and even persecuting Him when following Him becomes unfavorable (Matthew 27:15-25).

Of course, the crowds also followed Jesus to listen to His teachings (Mark 3:32-34; Luke 5:1), and members of the crowd would also respond to his teachings and go on to become His followers. There still exists, however, a distinction. The disciples were vastly different than those who were part of the crowd.

• Disciples ask Jesus questions. They desire to learn and understand the meaning behind and the implications of Christ’s teachings and they are given, by Jesus, the ability to do so. (Matthew 13:10-11)
• Disciples abide in and remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings (John 8:31)
• Disciples show love and are full of compassion and good works (John 13:35; Acts 9:36)
• Disciples receive from Christ and then go out and share what they have received ( Matthew 14:19; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:20)
• Disciples share intimacy with Christ ( Matthew 17:1-8; Luke 22: 14-20; John 13: 1-17)

Disciples go the distance, following Jesus up the mountain, carrying their cross, and counting the cost of following Jesus. They ask questions, desiring to know and understand the essence of Christ’s teachings. Disciples are devoted, sharing all that they have received from Jesus and following Him, even to the point of death.

So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” – John 11:16

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

This stark comparison between the disciples and the crowd challenges me to assess my reasons for following Jesus and my level of devotion to Him.

Do I, like the crowds, turn from Jesus’ teachings when it is too hard to follow?

Do I abandon Jesus when faced with persecution?

Do I withdraw from Him when I do not get my way– when He gives me bread but not the type of bread I was looking for or expecting to receive?

At the end, the crowds responded. But let us, as Christ’s followers, do more than just respond at the end of a good message. Let us continually come to Him, sit at His feet, listen to His teachings and obey Him, going out to all the world, representing Him in season and out of season, when it is both favorable and unfavorable.

Lord, help me to be like those willing to endure and to climb to where you are rather than remaining in my comfort at the bottom of the mountain. Continue to distinguish me from the crowd. Make me into the type of follower You truly desire, a true disciple who will go the extra mile to come to You, walk with You, learn from You, and follow You. Help me to obey You, no matter how hard Your teachings may be, no matter how much obeying Your word challenges me to change and to sacrifice. Set me apart from the crowds and bring me into deeper intimacy with You.