He Gets Us: Questions Jesus Asked | Plan 3Sample

Are You Going to Leave, Too?

There was a time when Jesus was the most popular person in his world. Everyone in northern Israel knew his name and had heard something about him. His popularity grew to the point that people stalked him like paparazzi, never leaving him alone, always wanting something from him, wanting to push him to be king.

One time when Jesus was teaching in a crowded home, a group of guys desperate for Jesus to heal their friend, climbed on the roof, tore it apart, and lowered their friend down, just to get him in front of Jesus.

And then there was the day when Jesus wanted to be alone to grieve his cousin’s murder, and people still followed him. This time, thousands of them. His own heart was breaking, but he spent an exhausting day serving them.

Another time, the crowds went without food for days because they didn’t want to miss a moment of Jesus’ teaching.

But then the tide turned.

Some of his followers didn’t like what Jesus was teaching. They’d take the miracles, but his teaching was too tough to swallow. And just like that, the crowds thinned. Once a headliner, now he’s in the bull’s eye. Canceled. Unfriended.

The cancel campaign began in Jerusalem where the jealous, paranoid religious leaders set a plot in motion to kill Jesus and they wouldn’t quit until he hung dead on a cross.

One day Jesus sensed his closest followers were having a hard time with this turn of the crowd. Many of their friends had deserted. So he got his twelve closest students together and walked 40 miles north, out of the bull’s eye of their opposition, away from the familiar.

In the quiet of Caesarea Phillipi, Jesus gave them their chance. He asked them, “Do you want to leave, too?”

His question went straight to motive. Did you come for the miracles? Did you come for a free lunch? Did you come to be popular? Or do you want the same things I want?

Peter, the disciple, stepped up. Teacher, where would we go? You’re the one with the words of real life.

Jesus must have smiled in relief. The cancel culture didn’t really matter to him. Jesus was still on a mission. He was after people’s hearts.