Picture a courtroom on the last day. The defendant lays out his case: prophecy, exorcisms, mighty works, all of it done in Jesus’ name. Three times he presses the point, in your name, in your name, in your name. And here is what makes this so frightening. There is no hint that he is lying. Jesus does not say, you never really did those things. He lets the resume stand, and He rejects the person presenting it. Even genuine spiritual activity, it turns out, is not proof of a genuine heart.
Underneath a great deal of religious activity is often a hunger to be seen. When I need the approval of people, I will organize even my service to God around being noticed. As one writer says of this crowd, they were committed to the power Jesus represented and the status they thought they had, but they were never committed to Christ Himself. The fear of man can wear a ministry title, preach a sermon, and still be nothing more than the fear of man. It is possible to love what Jesus can do for your reputation and never love Jesus.
There is a pull in every generation to trade the unglamorous obedience of daily faithfulness for the excitement of the next spectacular movement. But a crowd is not a conversion, and the big moment is not proof of a changed heart. Real transformation is usually slow, personal, and aimed at Christ rather than a crowd. Like blueberry bushes that must be planted and given years to bear again, the fruit of a genuine faith grows in ordinary places where no one is applauding.