1 Kings 19:19-21, 2 kings 2:1-15, Matthew 4:23 to 5:2

David Kramer on the importance of knowing where Jesus is and staying focused on Him.

David Kramer

In 1 Kings 19 Elisha is just getting on with life, when Elijah goes past, throws his cloak over Elisha and then appears to dismiss him. Elisha is not so easily dismissed though. He leaves home and family and, wherever Elijah goes, Elisha goes.

Then in 2 Kings 2, Elijah is about to be 'taken away' and is repeatedly trying to shake off Elisha, but Elisha is sticking like glue, until finally Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him before being taken.

Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit and is told that that's a tall order dependent on him seeing Elijah as he is being taken. Then as they're just walking along they get separated by chariots and horses of fire.
"And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." "And Elisha saw it."

He was not distracted by amazing 'stuff' going on, but managed to maintain focus.

Fast forward to Matthew 4:23-25, which in my Bible is sub-headed "Jesus ministers to great crowds." In detail Jesus went through ALL Galilee:

Teaching
Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom
Healing EVERY disease and EVERY affliction
His fame spread
They brought to Him ALL the sick, afflicted, oppressed by demons, epileptics and paralytics and He healed them!! ALL!!!

Result? "Great crowds followed Him from...." pretty much everywhere.

Result? "Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down His disciples came to Him."

Now, let's play let's pretend.

Imagine Jesus sweeping through your nation, (in my case Wales), in the same way until finally He ends up at the largest stadium in the country, which is packed to capacity with thousands more outside. There He does ALL the things listed above.

Try to imagine the buzz, the atmosphere and excitement. Wouldn't it be great just to be there? Wouldn't it be great to be one of those healed, delivered, and set free? What a party! Guess it could go on all night, if not for days!

But, wait a minute. Where's Jesus?

Jesus simply saw the crowds and walked away. He didn't grab the microphone and announce His departure. You know what? I'd have done that for Him, "Listen up people, Jesus is about to leave. He has some truly amazing things still to say." What we now know as the, 'Sermon on the Mount'.

What's my point?

Am I saying we should neither desire nor celebrate great teaching accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles?

Of course not! In fact, I am aware of a growing hunger in me for such things to become normal. However, I can't afford to become so excited by all that's happening in the 'stadium' that they become a distraction causing me to take my eyes off Jesus who is after all, the source and reason for the excitement in the first place.

It is easy, and absolutely not wrong, to party in the stadium, but it takes unswerving commitment and desire to notice that Jesus is on the move, leave the crowd and the buzz, climb the mountain and sit at His feet.

As you go around 'being' a Christian, do you know where Jesus is and are you right there with Him?

Maybe it's time to climb the mountain where He will, "Open His mouth..." and teach us.