August 13, 2024 Devo

“It’s All About Jesus!”
The Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6)
After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. – John 6:1-2 (NLT)
“Who or What?”

Why do you follow Jesus, if you do? Is it because of the “Who” or the “What?” The Who is about following Him because of who He is. He’s our Savior. He’s our Lord. He is the Creator of all that is, and He will be the Judge of us all in the end. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is Good. He is Wise. He is God.
Following Jesus for the Who means we focus on His Character, His Nature, and His Position as King. We acknowledge that we will never fully wrap our minds around His Greatness, nor fully comprehend His Power nor His Grace. We trust Him because we believe Him to be Ultimately Trustworthy. Even when we do not understand His methods, His means, or His silence.
The What is about following Jesus for what He does for us. He gives us good gifts. He opens doors of opportunity. He heals. He provides. He protects. He does things that blow our minds, and He works in supernatural ways that astound us. The What is about following Him because our lives are better, easier, and more full because of Him.
The What is a dangerous motivation. If we’re following Him because of the What, then how do we respond when He DOESN’T do the What? Do we stay faithful when there is no healing? Do we remain true when He doesn’t provide? What is our faith like when life is hard and there is no miracle rescue? What do we cling to then?
Our passage today says the crowd was following Jesus “because they saw His miraculous signs as He healed the sick.” Jesus was more Magician than Master to them. He was more a means to an end rather than an End in Himself. People who follow Jesus for the What don’t stick around, or they live out a very up-and-down kind of faith. Hang your hat on the Who. Because the Who never changes, even when the What comes and goes. So why do YOU follow Jesus? Who or What? That’s God’s Word for you today.