Daily Devotional

It had been the longest day of Jesus’ ministry so far. The leper was clean, the centurion’s servant was healed, Peter’s mother-in-law was up and serving, and by sundown the whole town of Capernaum was gathered at the door. If any moment called for staying put, this was it. Every instinct of modern ministry would say: build on the momentum, collect names, schedule the next event. Instead, Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the great crowd, he gave orders to leave.

That word “orders” matters. Jesus is not taking a poll among the disciples about the travel plans. He is the King, and the King issues commands. He was never governed by the will of the crowds, because his agenda was set by his Father, and he kept it. The crowd wanted an encore. Jesus wanted obedience to the Father’s will, and those two things are not the same.

Notice also where he is going: the other side of the lake, Gentile country, where in a few verses we will find a herd of pigs. That crossing would do what Jesus’ crossings always did. It would sort out the followers from the fans. Those who wanted the benefits of being near Jesus, the healings and the bread, would stay on the shore. A small band would get into the boat. The same sorting still happens today. Jesus does not chase crowds; he calls disciples, and he calls them to follow him where he is going, not where they would prefer to stay.