CROWDED CONDITIONS AND THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Glenn Armstrong, D.D. Pastor

________________________________________________________________________

Jerusalem is crowded. It is now and it most likely has been that way for most of its existence.  The last time Fran and I were there we couldn't get into the old city because of the shopping crowd. However, there was a short period of time when Jerusalem was both crowded and out of control. It began at the triumphal entry or our Lord into Jerusalem and ended at the resurrection of our redeemer. 

Actually, things most likely did not settle down until following the rapture of Christ back into heaven. Even then, excitement continued when the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles and gave them the ability to witness in the temple courtyard in seventeen languages. These were languages they did not know but on Pentecost they were able to witness miraculously in them. They were common to the different language groups present for the feast of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-13.

The first time I went to Jerusalem to study God's Holy Word at the various sites where the events took place, I remember one of the lectures given by our guide --JERUSALEM, THE PLACE CHOSEN BY GOD OF REDEMPTION OF HUMANITY. Why God chose this city in this little land we just don't know.  He could have chosen any place on earth, but Jerusalem was the place Christ came to and the same place He will return to rule in peace.

The following Bible study is a look at the crowded conditions in and around Jerusalem where the Lord spent the last of His life on earth. There are thirty- seven major events in the life of Christ that can be listed as Jesus' days in Jerusalem prior to the Passion Week. Another thirty- five texts talk of His last days in Jerusalem leading to His death on Calvary. Since some of these events took place on the same day as others, the list is not equal in number of events and number of days.

While the closing of the Lord's life took place in and around Jerusalem, we often get the impression that this city was the center of His ministry. It really wasn't. Much of what Jesus did and taught took place in the northern area of Galilee and really on one side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus did not spend much time in Jerusalem and may have never spent a night there. The scriptures talk of Him leaving the city and going to the Mount of Olives or Bethany for the nights.  Yet, Jerusalem still stands as was a witness to the closing life of our Lord. It did then, it does now and it will always be a worldwide witness to God's offer for free pardon from the penalty, power and presence of sin. There is an obvious lack of a crowd at some of the vital closing ministries of our Lord. As you read the gospel accounts it is noticeable that many followed our Lord looking for a handout, a miracle, or something exciting. Jesus never "played to the crowd." In fact He condemned people who followed for that purpose. Also obvious is that the closer the Lord came to the Cross the smaller the crowd. When Jesus preached about the high cost of the cross the crowd  cleared out. It did then and it will now.

I. THE CONDITIONS AT THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY, Mark 11:1-11

" many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches…they that followed, cried Hosanna; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord"

Many thousands of people make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem  for the Passover celebration. Because the housing was very limited, much of the people camped out up and down the Kieran Valley and on the Mount of Olives. Jesus made a clear offer to become King when He chose to leave the Mount of Olives and ride to the temple area on a colt.

The Gospel of Mark chapter eleven begins the last week of our Lord's life on earth. From this time on events leading to Calvary happen rapidly. About one third of Mark's Gospel recorded these headlong events.

Jesus knew the cross was just ahead and prepared His close disciples by taking them aside and telling them of His coming death and resurrection, Mark 10:34,35. It is most obvious the disciples did not believe the Lord. In fact, they began to argue over which of them would be the greatest, sitting on the right and left hand of Christ in the kingdom, 10:35-45. Like many today, they wanted rights without responsibilities, rulership without discipleship, power and privilege without persecution, sainthood without suffering.

When Jesus rode downhill on a curving trail into Jerusalem He knew He was headed  to a cross, not a throne. The last time Fran and I were in Israel we left the group traveling with us at Bethany and walked down the same trail Jesus took at the Triumphal Entry. The hills and the valley were empty, of course, but in our minds we could clearly see the crowds wanting to crown Christ King!  We also knew the rest of the story. The same crowd would soon change their cry from, "Hosanna the King", to "crucify Him-the criminal".  An unconverted, uncommitted crowd is a contradiction to Christianity even when it gathers in the name of Christ the King!

II. THE CONDITIONS AT THE PASSOVER FEAST, Mark 14: 12-26

" …and they made ready the Passover… Jesus said, Verily I say unto one of you which eateth with me shall betray me…Jesus took bread and brake it and said this is my body….he took the cup and gave it to them and said this is my blood…."

All over Jerusalem the faithful were celebrating the most sacred religious and national feast of the year. They were looking backward remembering their miraculous deliverance from Egypt under Moses leadership, Exodus 12. This annual feast could only be properly celebrated in Jerusalem. Because of the vast crowd of pilgrims, Jesus and His disciple had to search for a suitable place for their celebration. 

Mark included several events between the Triumphal Entry and the Passover that changed the climate considerably. Jesus cleansed the Temple of religious crooks who made gain from the gospel, cursed the fig tree for being unproductive, mentioned the widow’s mite as vastly superior to any easy offering given in the "Court of the Women" at the temple site. Giving out of poverty is more honorable to God than giving out of one's prosperity. The widow could only give a mite, the smallest offering allowed  to be given.

Mark also records the plot to kill Christ, 14:1,2. Jesus left the temple for the last time, having completed His public teachings. The disciples were amazed at the beauty and costly construction of the temple. Jesus said it would all be destroyed and not one stone left upon another. The prediction of the destruction of the temple and the fall of Jerusalem were not what people wanted to hear. Equally, they did not want to hear Him teach about His own second coming.

Prosperity, profitability and peace within an evil world were not subjects Jesus presented to His following crowd. The crowds followed wishing for Jesus to promise them what they wanted. People haven’t changed. They still want to hear what Jesus refused to preach.

Within Jesus’ close associates, the disciples wanted privileges and rank without work. Jesus only offered reward for those who put everything in their hands and then offered it all to Him to be used through His divine guidance. At Simon's house the greed of the group was revealed when one lady poured costly ointment on Jesus in anticipation of His death and burial, Mark 14:1-9. While all the disciples were indignant about the loss of gain from the eventual sale of the ointment, Matthew, 26:8, Judas took the displeasure to the point of arranging the sale of the Lord Himself, Mark 14:10-11. 

By the time Jesus instituted the Lord's Table, Judas had left the meeting. He had every right to be at the Passover Celebration, but no meaningful purpose at being present when the Lord presented His body and His blood as a fulfilling replacement for the illustration of the Passover lamb. Judas left to arrange the details of the Lord's betrayal.

III. THE CONDITIONS AT ARREST AND TRIAL , Mark 14:43-15:15

Positive pleasing preaching draws a crowd. Add to that an entertaining miracle, and it is hard to predict the number of people who will follow a leader. Jesus never used His powers for the purpose of pleasing a crowd, and when he refused to perform they turned on Him with a vengeance. He even refused to meet with Herod, to amuse him, Luke 9:9.

The crowd that followed Jesus for popular appeal became obvious for their absence during the arrest and trial. Only the disciples were present at the arrest, and they slept through the prayer meeting with the Master! One of the saddest sites to visit in Israel is the Rock of Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here our Lord needed a crowd of believers to support Him as He was being arrested. Alone our Lord prayed and alone He  face the enemy that came to arrest Him. True, Peter made an attempt to protect the Lord with his two-edged sword. He got the ear of the high priest's servant. Not bad swordsmanship. However, doubtless, Peter was planning on whole head.

After sleeping at the very time the Lord needed friends the most, the disciples all forsook the Lord and fled, Mark 14:50. Peter later followed the Lord, but from afar, denied three times that he knew the Lord and even did so with a curse, 14:71. Peter is often picked on because he failed the Lord three times. I wish it could be written that most of us today only failed three times.

The trial took place at the House of Caiaphas, the High Priest, along with assembled priests, scribes and elders. This is the same group that had already agreed to appease Rome and that it was better for one to die than to have the Romans come and take their country.  They condemned the Lord to death, and still the Romans came and took their country! Compromise for convenience is always unchristian and counterproductive to the work of the church.

Later a crowd assembled to hear Pilate offer them Jesus or Barabbas, a murderer. They chose the murderer and rejected Jesus with the cry, "Crucify Him". The same crowd early wanted to make Him king. Few were really willing to have Christ rule over them, and even fewer are ready now. Keep in mind those who rejected Christ as creator/king were religious, monotheistic and even believed in the right God! Christ is often rejected as creator in the pulpits, Christian religious organizations and seminary classrooms. The same groups fail to mention Christ's promise to return and establish a kingdom of righteousness.       

IV. THE LACK OF A CROWD AT THE CRUCIFIXION, Mark 15:16-24

Crowds are opportunistic. They assemble and dismantle on emotions, interest, excitement, etc. Often they are not present when important matters are taking place. They were present when they wanted a political king, but not present when they needed a theological Savior.

Few assembled at the cross. Even the disciples, with the exception of John, were absent. Some ladies were there in support of Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother. Others passed by on their way out of town. Noticeably, no crowd assembled at the major event of all eternity. Joseph of Arimathaea witnessed the crucifixion at least long enough to request the body of Jesus for a proper burial.

Most of the witnesses of the crucifixion were likely people who were assigned to carry it out, protect the event as it took place and stand guard. Most likely the majority of observers were unbelievers! Where were all the thousands that Jesus had miraculously fed? The hillside of people who heard Him teach the Beatitudes? Those He had healed? The families who had received their dead brought back to life? Where were the friends?

Clearly, the closer Jesus came to the cross the smaller the crowd became.

The cross was a sign of social rejection, condemnation by the courts and death.

By the time Jesus went to the cross many had gone back into the world and followed Him no more, John 6:66. The cross of rejection and self-denial is precisely what Jesus taught had to accompany anyone who wished to be a disciple – close follower, Luke 14:24-33. When he taught this to a “great multitude” He also taught that while salvation is free and universally offered, discipleship is costly and highly restricted. Three times in the passage He said some, “cannot be my disciples.” 14,26; 27;33. They could not because they would not!

V, THE LACK OF A CROWD AT THE RESURRECTION, Mark 16:1-20

Just as few assembled at Christ’s crucifixion, even more obvious is the lack of people present at His resurrection. These two events, are the greatest moments in human history. Add the birth of Christ to these two events, and it is very surprising to read the record – almost no one cared enough to be present!

Perhaps no one witnessed the resurrection with the exception of the soldiers who were assigned to make sure Jesus stayed dead and in the tomb. Jesus’ greatest action, bringing Himself back to life, was witnessed by unbelieving men. They was the angels roll back the huge stone that covered the whole face of the tomb and they saw the Lord step out of the tomb in all His eternal glory! They were trained to fight, but they fainted, fell to the ground and trembled in uncontrollable fear at the sight of the resurrected living God.

Maybe our Lord is still looking today for people who will follow Him because of who He is and not because of what they can get from following. Maybe it is time to adjust our message from people-centered preaching to a Christ-centered message. Maybe, but then who is ready to lose their crowd?   

GAA/ 3/2007 (f)