Jeremy L. Berg

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. (Mark 4:35-36)

Every phrase counts in Mark.  There are powerful lessons in the most minute details of his narrative.  Today we are reminded that following Jesus almost always requires that we “leave the crowd.”  Remember Jesus said elsewhere that to choose a life on his terms means traveling the “narrow road” and that very few people take it.

Following Jesus often means ditching the mainstream, revolting against the status quo, swimming upstream, taking the lonely path and more.  If you’re going with the flow, you’re probably going the opposite way of Jesus.

The crowd chooses self-indulgence, disciples choose self-sacrifice.  The crowd chooses sexual promiscuity, disciples choose purity and self-restraint.  The crowd chooses a life of maximizing personal comfort, disciples choose to live lives of risky obedience. The crowd chooses wealth and fame, disciples choose humble lives of Kingdom service to the least, the last and the lost.

How has following Jesus led you away from the crowd?