Jesus's Problem With The Crowds

Jesus' Problems With The Crowds

The people did not want to change the way that they lived

For a time, Jesus was very popular with crowds. Many people came because they wanted Jesus to cure them. And Jesus did cure them. He told people not to speak about this, but they did. The news about him spread everywhere. There were miracles. For example, he fed 5000 people by a miracle (John 6:5-14). Enormous crowds came because of this. Then the crowd wanted to make Jesus king by force. He had to escape from them. But although he was popular, they did not really obey him. They did not want to change the way that they lived. Jesus said:

26 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you this. You saw me do miracles that show God's power. But you are not looking for me because of that. No, you are looking for me because you ate the loaves. I gave you all the food that you needed. 27 Do not work only for that kind of food. It soon becomes spoiled. Instead, work to get the food that continues for ever. That kind of food gives you life with God. The Son of Man will give this food to you. God the Father has given the Son authority to do this.’

John 6:26-27 EasyEnglish Bible (EASY)

After this, Jesus said some very difficult things. That made many people decide not to obey him (John 6:66).

What did Jesus' miracles mean?

The crowds loved to see the miracles. But miracles were signs of who Jesus was. People who understood that would repent. [Repent means to be sorry for the wrong things that you have done. You decided to love God, and start to obey him.] They would trust Christ. In fact, in many places people saw the miracles, but did not repent. Jesus spoke against these places. The words that he spoke about this were very severe. In this passage, Jesus spoke about these towns as if they were people. He blamed the people from these towns for their weak reaction to his message:

Jesus warns people who do not turn away from sin

20 In some of the cities Jesus had done many powerful things. But some people in those cities did not want to stop doing wrong things. They did not want to change how they lived. So Jesus spoke against those people. 21 He said to them, ‘You people in Chorazin, it will be very bad for you! And it will be very bad for you, people in Bethsaida. I have done great and powerful things in your cities. If I had done such great things in Tyre and in Sidon, the people there would have changed how they lived. They would have shown they were sorry for their sins. They would have put on sackcloth. They would also have put ashes on their heads. 22 Yes, when God judges everyone, he will punish the people from Tyre and Sidon. But he will punish much more you people of Chorazin and Bethsaida.

23 And what will happen to you people in Capernaum? You think that God will lift you up to heaven, do you? No! He will throw you down into the deep hole of death. I did powerful things in your town. If I had done these powerful things in Sodom, it would still be there today. 24 I tell you this. When God judges everyone, he will punish the people of Sodom. But he will punish you people much more!’

11:24Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were towns in Israel. The people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum had heard Jesus speak but they did not believe him. The people in Sodom had never seen Jesus or heard his message.

Matthew 11:20-24 EasyEnglish Bible (EASY)

All that people wanted was the miracles. But miracles should make a person want to obey God.

Jesus' explanation of the people's reactions to him

What Jesus talked about in the parable of the farmer was now true. [A parable is a story with a meaning.] The parable of the farmer is in Matthew 13:1-9. The farmer sowed seed on different kinds of soil. Some seed fell among rocks, with not enough soil. It grew quickly, but had not enough roots. The sun came out and the plants died. Jesus explained that this referred to some people. They gladly listened to Jesus' message. But their joy did not last. When there was any kind of trouble, they did not trust him. Only some of the farmer‘s seed had deep roots. So, only some of the people who followed Jesus, really trusted him.

Many people gave a welcome to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem. They praised him gladly. But perhaps some of these people joined another crowd later that week. And that crowd shouted: ' Crucify him'.

Many in the crowds did not think about what Jesus said about goodness and judgement. They wanted miracles. And they wanted to see Jesus cure people. They did not like what he said in passages like Matthew 16:24-28.