I have decided to follow Jesus. Why would I want to do that? Let’s answer this question by looking at others who have chosen to follow Jesus. Please watch the Great News video on this page to find out how you can know and follow Jesus today. This is great news for you!
Jesus Fed the Five Thousand
Jesus famously fed five thousand (counting the men only) in a virtual wasteland:
“Those who ate of the loaves (that Jesus provided) were about five thousand men” (Mark 6:44).
People Followed Jesus to Learn
Jesus’ Compassion
The people had followed Him to learn. And Jesus, in his role as the Great Shepherd, had deep compassion for them:
“When Jesus came out and saw many people, He was moved with compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).
Follow Jesus Because He Has Compassion
Jesus’ Mission
Jesus’ compassion for people stood out. His primary mission was to give spiritual help to His people. Yet they — being carnal people (as we are) – valued the fleshly benefits He brought, and this caused them to miss His heavenly message:
“ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, you seek Me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For God the Father has set His seal on Him (Jesus)” (John 6:26-27).
Crowds Followed Jesus to be Healed
The Great Physician
Besides food, people sought Jesus for His healing power. This was another ability that distracted people from His spiritual mission. So why did He heal?
“A leper came to Him, pleading with Him and kneeling before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” “ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, extended His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will. Be clean.” “As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42).
Jesus Has Power Over Death
They also sought Jesus because He had power over death. Jesus restored a dead son to a widow, the weeping mother:
“When He (Jesus) came near the gate of the city (Nain), a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, … a widow…. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the coffin, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” He who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother” (Luke 7:12-15).
Follow Jesus The Great Shepherd
The Great Shepherd
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah predicted Jesus’ compassionate ministry to His people:
“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm,
and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).
The Bible writers visualize Jesus’ (God’s) compassion in images. We’ve already seen Him as the Great Physician who cures His flock and the Great Shepherd over the sheep of His pasture.
Follow Jesus Because He Cares For You
The Great Gardener
However, there’s a less common metaphor that also helps us understand His care for His people. From the beginning, God pictured His created people, in this case, Adam and Eve, as part of His garden
“The Lord God planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there He placed the man whom He had formed” (Genesis 2:8).
When Jesus came to raise Mary of Bethany’s brother Lazarus from the dead, she at first mistook Jesus for the gardener:
“Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher)” (John 11:15-16).
Jesus’ Care
The gardeners I know care deeply for their gardens. They are weeded and watered, and the rows are straight and organized. They often have fences and maybe a scarecrow to deter predators. They may even include inanimate objects as decorations or add a pond or fountain.
God Loves You
Jesus compared God’s care for us to how He cares for flowery meadows that surpass human artistry:
Consider how the lilies grow. They neither spin nor weave. Yet I say to you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Luke 12:27-28).
Jesus’ Garden
When Jesus prepared to feed the five thousand, He made similar preparations for His followers:
“Then He (Jesus) commanded them (His disciples) to make everyone sit down by companies on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks (Gr. prasiai, garden beds), by hundreds and by fifties” (Mark 6:39-40).
We Are Jesus’s Onion Patch
The gospel writer Mark compared Jesus’ care for the people to a gardener arranging his plot to maximize its yield and beauty. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word translated ‘ranks’ was used to describe garden beds, specifically an onion patch.
Jesus’ Future Garden
It’s dreamy to imagine that Jesus may arrange His people in the same way when He shares that promised meal after He returns!
“I say to you that many will come from the east and west and will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11, see also Luke 22:15-16).
Your Invitation RSVP
God invites all who believe to this celebratory meal! If you haven’t believed in Jesus, God gave you the authority to become children of God by believing in Jesus’ Name:
“To all who received Him, He gave the power (authority) to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name (John 1:12).
- Summary
- Jesus has compassion for everyone and invites us to receive Him by faith.
- Jesus is our Great Physician, Shepherd, and Gardener.
- Consider God’s care for a flowery meadow and how much more He’ll care for His people.
- Jesus invites us to believe in Him and celebrate with Him in His Kingdom.
