MARK 12:35-37 – And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? “David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.” ’ “David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.”

 Picture the excitement in today’s scripture.  The Teacher of all Teachers is expounding His truth.  A large crowd gathered.  One gets the feel of standing room only.  This has been the pattern throughout Jesus’ ministry.  Here are two examples from the Gospel of Matthew – And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.  And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan (Matthew 4:23-25); That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach (Matthew 13:1-2).

Great crowds, large crowds gathered to hear the Master preach and teach. When word got around Jesus was near or coming, the crowds dropped everything to gather to hear Him. Granted some came for the signs and miracles, but a large number held onto Jesus’ every Word. They wanted to listen to Him. In today’s scripture, we read “and the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.”  As I pondered this scene, two thoughts arose in my mind and heart.

First, would I be counted in the crowd as one who hung on every Word the Lord spoke?  Would it have been said of me back then, “He is one of those Jesus people.  He enjoys listening to His Word.  He just cannot get enough of the Master’s teaching and preaching.”  What about you?  Would you be in the crowd? It is an important question that has application in our lives today.  And that leads to the second thought . . .

Though the Lord Jesus is not physically preaching and teaching to us today, He has chosen gifted preachers and teachers to be His proclaiming servants. The question arises quickly with this truth – “Are we as eager as the crowds in today’s scripture to hear the Lord’s Word through His preachers and teachers?”  If we say, “Yes”, then we will not neglect the opportunities to put ourselves under the Word publicly proclaimed.  We are blessed with modern technology to keep us under the preached Word. We have podcasts, online resources, even live streamed services, but none are to be substitutes for literally being with God’s people under the Word. And remember, the desire for God’s Word is a characteristic in healthy followers of the Lord Jesus.

PRAYER: “Father, create within me a deepening desire to hear Your Word that I might gladly do Your Word.”

QUOTE: “To long to hear the Word is evidence of both new birth in Christ and the desire to grow in Christ.”