Our world is obsessed with numbers. Social media users chase followers and likes. Megachurches measure success by packed auditoriums across multiple services. Too often, attendance overshadows impact. And yet, Jesus’s ministry in John 6 offers a radical counterpoint, flipping the script on our fixation with popularity and spotlighting something deeper: true discipleship over fleeting admiration.
John 6 opens with a spectacle: Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1-15). The crowd, awestruck, follows Him, hungry for more miracles or perhaps a political savior. But Jesus sees through their motives: “You are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26). The buzzing throng chases Him, but Jesus delivers a message that’s anything but crowd-pleasing. Rather, He demands spiritual commitment.
When the crowd asked, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus replied, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (v. 28-29). They press for signs to believe, but when Jesus declared Himself the “bread from heaven,” they scoff. His teaching crescendos in a challenging claim:
“When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (v. 60-66).
Jesus’s teaching — His exclusive divine nature and the path to eternal life — is raw and intense. It’s too much for casual fans. One by one, these so-called disciples abandoned Him. From 5,000 followers, Jesus was left with 11. He turned to the Twelve: “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (v. 67-69).
What do we learn? Let it sink in. Jesus didn’t chase the crowd. He didn’t soften His words to keep them from walking away. As historian Dr. Robert Godfrey, chairman of Ligonier Ministries, joked, “No one would have made [Jesus] a church planter.” Well, no one “except the Father.” But in all seriousness, he added, “That chapter does not say small is better. That chapter says Jesus wants true disciples.” That “He’d rather have 11 true disciples than 5,000 fans.” Jesus isn’t swayed by numbers or popularity. He seeks those who follow Him not for what He can do but for who He is. This challenges the modern church, doesn’t it?
We’re often tempted to measure success by attendance or social media metrics. But Jesus’s math is different. He’d take a small, faithful crew over a stadium of fair-weather followers any day. So, we must ask: What’s our goal as a church? Are we building a fanbase or forging disciples who’ll stand with Jesus when miracles fade and demands intensify? Are we raising admirers or followers who trust God’s presence through fire and flood (Isaiah 43:2)?
Jesus’s ministry shows that discipleship requires more than enthusiasm — it demands repentance and obedience. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), He calls us to obey “all” He commanded, not just the parts we like. As Godfrey emphasized, “[T]his is a responsibility being given to us as the church: Teach all that Jesus commanded you. Live out all that Jesus commanded as a true disciple.” This is what helps the church to grow.
Jesus never diluted His message to make it palatable. As Godfrey noted, “Jesus never said, ‘Let’s figure out how to make this as easy as possible.’” His teachings, often delivered in parables, sifted true believers from those seeking convenience. In John 6, the crowd wanted bread; Jesus offered Himself as the Bread of Life, demanding total allegiance. Godfrey underscored this truth: “Jesus is demanding.” Yet His demands are not harsh. He is “loving, caring, providing, strengthening,” but His love calls for transformation according to God’s truth, not complacency in our preferences.
Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Godfrey explained, “That means authority over your life and mine.” Fulfilling the Great Commission begins with submitting to God’s will, knowing His word, and pursuing holiness. It’s denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Christ (Matthew 16:24). Godfrey challenged believers: “Do I want to do everything Jesus wants me to do?”
“Now hear me carefully,” he added. “I didn’t say, ‘Do you do everything Jesus wants?’ None of us would be disciples then.” Instead, the question is: “Is it the desire of your heart to know Jesus’ will and do it?” This desire is what sets disciples apart from fans. Yes, we will often fail to obey Christ. But as Godfrey emphasized, Jesus will often forgive.
Consider the 11 disciples in John 6 — doubting, bumbling, often clueless. Yet their hearts were fixed on Jesus. Peter’s confession, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” models true discipleship: a heart devoted to Christ, even on a rough road. Jesus doesn’t seek perfect disciples, but faithful ones. Indeed, flawed and fearful are the building blocks Jesus uses to build His church. His grace sustains us in weakness, and His forgiveness meets our failures, urging us to press on.
This is both a comfort and a challenge. We must ask: Do I long to obey Jesus, even when I fall short or when the world around me mocks my decision?
The church’s mission isn’t about packing pews but raising disciples who live and breathe His teachings. This starts with individual holiness. As Godfrey put it, “The work of the Holy Spirit, bringing Christ to you, will be seen.” When we pursue holiness — marked by love, integrity, and obedience — others notice. And beyond personal faith, the church must preach the true gospel. John Chrysostom said, “When the gospel is preached, people are converted.” We cannot, under any circumstances, compromise crucial biblical convictions about who Jesus is, how sinful we are, and just how much we need saving for anything.
For the church, this is a call to reject the seductive pull of popularity and comfort and embrace the costly but beautiful path of authentic faith. We’re called to live holy lives, preach the gospel faithfully, and make disciples who love and obey Jesus. This requires courage to follow Him wholeheartedly, trusting the Spirit to work through our obedience to build a church of true disciples, not fleeting fans.
So, where’s your heart? Are you a fan, cheering from the sidelines, or a follower, all-in for the long haul? Choose today — and every day — to go all-in for Jesus. Trust His hand to guide you and others toward Himself. Yes, it demands genuine, committed faith, but His grace and mercy will sustain you, and He will never forsake His people. No more settling for spiritual crumbs. Let us commit to the Bread of Life.
This article appeared originally here.
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