Get Up A Crowd
In Matt 14:34-36 we read, “All that were diseased were made perfectly whole”. These were remarkable miracles performed by the Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. From this passage we can find a great deal of simple and yet beneficial information to help us see the Lord perform the greatest miracle of all in the lives of the folks in our city. That miracle of course is the miracle of the new birth. All we need to do is get up a crowd.
You see, we are going to be hosting a Gospel Brunch on February 1. And those preparing the brunch are going to need us to make sure that we have as many lost souls as possible present to hear the gospel, so that they can be saved. But when you think of what that involves, you might imagine how difficult it could be to get up a crowd.
I’m here to tell you that it is not nearly as difficult as you might think to bring them to Jesus. Let me show you, from the text, why this is so. To get up a crowd to hear the gospel, you simply need:
To Know – these folks knew Jesus. “And when the men of that place had knowledge of him.” Many knew that he was the Son of God, many knew that he was the Messiah, and they all knew that he could heal. Every where that he had been before, he not only healed folks but he healed them 100% of the time. And you know Jesus.
- You know that he died for you, was buried and rose again that you might be saved.
- You know that he sent someone to preach to you.
- You know that he saved you.
- You know that your life has changed and that you are better off being saved than lost.
- You know that he is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- You know that he intercedes for the lost so that he is able also to save then to the uttermost that come unto God by him.
- You know that he reveals himself to all who seek him, and that he gives eternal life to all who ask. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.
- And you know that he called us all to be his witnesses.
These things you know beyond a doubt; for they are scripture.
To Go – these men didn’t keep their knowledge of him to themselves. Instead “they sent out into all that country round about.” There was someone who had arrived who could handle all the diseases that the people in that area had. And so they went to tell them.
It is one of the simplest things you and I can do. While there is so much about God’s work that is spiritual, this aspect is very practical. Just go tell someone.
- Look at what the leper did in Mark 1:45 “But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter.”
- Look at what the men and women did in Acts 8:4 “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
- And when Paul was teaching in Ephesus for two years in Acts 19:10, “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
They simply went. And you and I just need to go and get up a crowd.
To Tow – these folks were not content to just let their neighbors know that Jesus was in town. They “brought unto him all that were diseased.” They put these folks in tow and got them to Jesus. It is a common truth that many of the people that Jesus saw and healed were brought to him by someone else. Look at these passages:
- Matt 4:24, And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
- Matt 8:16, When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
- Matt 9:2, And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
- Matt 12:22, Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
- Matt 14:35 [our text],
- And even Jn 1:40-42 [Andrew brought Peter to Jesus].
The common factor is that the men “brought” others to Jesus. In the Philippines, one farmer loaded his large vegetable truck with as many people as he could hold (standing room only) and brought them to church. And do you know what the other common factor is? They all had faith that Jesus would heal these folks. Do you have faith that Jesus would save the ones you invite? He saved you!
Conclusion: To get up a crowd to hear preaching about Jesus takes some practical application of the scripture and a belief that God will do what he said he would do. Pray, no doubt. Be filled with the Spirit, no doubt. Look for divine appointments, no doubt. But don’t neglect these very practical step: Know, Go and Tow! And by these simple instructions, bring them to Jesus.