One By One…
It is said that men go crazy in herds and return to sanity one by one. This seems to be true. Look around at some of the people in our society today. It appears there is a fair amount of madness going around. We see, on the other side of the spectrum, individuals returning to sanity and breaking through the illusions, the lies and misgivings that are all dressed as being something they are not.
When Jesus Christ began His ministry He delivered what is the greatest sermon the world has ever known. It is the greatest the sermon the world will ever know. The next time someone says something like “I wish there was a manual for life.” simply point them to what is commonly referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount”. All the details of ,and for, life are in this simple to understand, easy to read short sermon. While it is the longest sermon that Jesus Christ delivered it is not very long in terms of word count or time required to read. Time required to digest, understand and follow is a whole other conversation.
It is reported, in the scriptures, as “great multitude of people” (Luke 6 – KJB) were in attendance. It is said maybe 5,000 people were gathered. The interesting part is that, while a great many followed after Jesus delivered the sermon, only one of them was identified – one. One person did Jesus Christ call by their identity in Him – a leper.
Now is your chance to support Gospel News Network.
We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” ~Matthew 8:1-2 NASB95
Do we account for lepers in today’s society? Do you see any lepers? Do you know where lepers may live? Do lepers live in your community?
Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus *said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ~Matthew 8:3-4 NASB95
Those that are called will be identified in Christ Jesus. The “multitudes” will continue “following” and attempting to receive, but will fall short.
In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’ ~Matthew 13:14-15 NASB95
Those, like the leper, that are called…
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. ~John 17-22-23 NASB95
The multitudes are always there and we must always reach out to them, speak with them and allow the Lord to present Himself through us to them. Some, one by one, will receive, but the multitudes will keep hearing and not understand. The multitudes will continue seeing and not perceive. Thus says the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Either the Scripture is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of Him, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.
