Great Multitudes Followed Him

“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him” (Matthew 8:1).

Jesus had just finished His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). In that powerful and poetic speech, Jesus challenged the people with teaching that calls for a change in people from the inside out. People’s behavior changes because their attitude and thinking changes.

What is amazing is that the changes called for in His teaching were demanding and accomplished only through great dedication and sacrifice:

• spiritual versus material focus
• embracing of suffering
• a yielding spirit
• standing separate from the world
• care what God thinks, not people
• unconcern for material things
• diligently pursuing truth and right

Jesus set a moral standard of excellence:

• no violence, not even cursing
• no adultery, not even lust
• no lying, no deceit whatsoever
• no revenge, not even resistance
• love others, even your enemies

After reading the entire speech (Matthew 5-7), one might wonder why multitudes followed Him. “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).

Maybe you should look more closely at Jesus’ teaching. You might follow Him, too.  Let me know if I can help you follow Jesus.