Disciple
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Not long ago, I heard the Lord say, “the church sees what I did but do they see who I am." At the outset of the Sermon on the Mount, we see where Jesus had many people with Him. We can imagine this to be the church today, all over the world; many gathering in His Name.
However, it seems that only His disciples had ears to hear what Jesus taught in this sermon. That only His disciples truly followed Him up this spiritual mountain. Yes, the multitudes came to hear Him and to be healed of Him as they pressed against Him. And, there were probably those within the multitudes that heard Jesus for the first time that became His disciples. Yet, to me, it does not seem that the multitude truly came to our Lord; that hearing, they heard not. Though, they had faith in what He could do, and were even healed of their diseases.
Luke 6:19
And the ‘whole multitude’ sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.
Maybe they were too distracted by the things of this world and the cares of this life to truly be present beyond the healing, beyond the provision, beyond their physical need. That seeing, they did not perceive our Lord going up to higher ground to deliver a higher calling to those who received not just what He did, but Who He is. A spiritual place where He reveals more of Himself to those who have ears to hear; who follow Him wherever He goes.
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Matthew 5:1-2
And seeing ‘the multitudes,’ He went up into a mountain, and when He was set, ‘His disciples’ came unto Him: and He opened His mouth, and taught ‘them,’ saying
Luke 6:20
And He lifted up his eyes on ‘His disciples,’ and said, “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”
As Jesus and His disciples were gathered in ‘this’ place, He taught them spiritual principles of FAITH, humility, meekness, self-control, peace, forgiveness, mercy, LOVE (Matthew Chapters 5-7). The way of this life through faith in His Name, whereby we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
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Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
After which, He concluded the Sermon on the Mount by saying:
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”
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After Jesus concluded all that He instructed His disciples on ‘this’ mount, it seems that the multitudes, though there, rejoined Him.
Matthew 8:1
When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth, the will of My Father which is in heaven.”
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Beloved, Jesus is so worthy of our devotion. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Let us gaze upon the beauty of the person of our Lord and Savior, the Lover of our souls.
Two thousand years ago, He left His Father’s side in eternity and came to this hostile fallen world to redeem His creation by dying for our sins on the cross. But Jesus is so powerful and perfect that death could not hold Him. On the third day the Son of God was resurrected.
Now, two thousand years later, faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means everything. Through faith in His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through faith in His resurrection, we receive power to become the children of God. Though we were once dead in sin, we receive life everlasting. Wherein we ourselves are raised from the dead, from our old nature, from the ways of this fallen world. His Holy Spirit comes to reside in us, to empower us, to lead us as beloved children of God.
Nothing was able to keep Jesus from you. Do not let anything keep you from Jesus. Whatever it is in this world that has kept us from surrendering to our Lord with all our hearts, let us behold our risen Savior and repent of these things.
Let us ask the Father to grant us a greater revelation of our Lord and Savior. That we may behold the light of the beauty of His countenance, from glory to glory. Whereby the distractions of this fallen world grow dim as Jesus becomes our greatest desire, the Light of our life. Where we follow Him wherever He goes.
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Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
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Romans 16:27
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.