Then there were the crowds who hailed Jesus as He entered Jerusalem on that first glorious Palm Sunday. Every day, for the better part of a week, those crowds showed up at the temple to hear Jesus teach and watch as He lambasted the religious leaders. But Jesus knew those adoring masses didn’t really believe in Him (John 12:36,37). Those same people who shouted, “Hosanna!” at the top of their lungs on Sunday would, on Friday morning, be screaming, “Crucify Him!” No wonder He left town every night to be alone (Luke 21:37).

Jesus had little use for crowds. It would be difficult to label His demeanor toward them as “seeker friendly.” Yes, He healed many and cast out demons by the score. But He never trusted Himself to the crowds; He knew them all too well (John 2:23-25). Indeed, Jesus seems to have rebuked, offended, discouraged, and distrusted just about every crowd that ever gathered around Him.

Jesus wasn’t looking for crowds. He was looking for disciples. And to get disciples, He explained that any who wished to follow Him would need to count the cost.

EXCLUSIVE LOVE

Jesus held out two tests for any who hoped to become His disciples. The first we might refer to as the test of exclusive love. To follow Jesus one has to love Him exclusively, so much so, with such focus and intensity that all other loves one may entertain seem, by comparison with the love he bears for Jesus, rather to be a form of hate. He didn’t want there to be any mistake about this: father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters—the true disciple would have to love Jesus so much that nothing any of them would say or do would command more affection or attention. The true disciple must hate even his own life, not considering his own interests, hopes and dreams, vocations, and avocations as of any significance whatsoever compared with the supreme objective of loving Jesus Christ.

Where our love is lodged our time and energy tend to go. If we truly love Jesus, we will allow nothing to rob us of the time and energy we need to seek Him, be with Him, or obey Him. Jesus is always on the minds of those who love Him. Their first thought in every situation relates to how they may please and honor this One they love more than their own lives. Those who love Jesus talk about Him frequently. They are eager for others to know and love Him as they do. They have little time for frivolous or trivial occupations, for they understand that Jesus is engaged in more serious and eternal business.

The crowds that came to Jesus loved Jesus. They loved the free bread and fishes. They loved the signs and wonders. They love seeing their oppressive leaders get their comeupance. The loved the show, the spectacle, the camaraderie, the escape from the ordinary, the sense of being a movement—they loved it all, loved it all more even than they loved Jesus. He knew that, and He never failed to remind them that He wasn’t seeking self-serving crowds, but Christ-loving disciples.