What Jesus Did! 'The Crowd's Hero' — Luke 6:26

Sunday, April 2, 2023

[Jesus continued,]
"What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets."
— Luke 6:26 NLT

Key Thought

For whom and for what do you live? Jesus warned us to avoid living for the approval of the crowd. [1] He demonstrated the importance of this principle in his own life. [2] Sometimes, the people in the crowd wanted to make him king. [3] Sometimes, they wildly accepted him: During his Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, the crowd cried out, "Hail to the King of Israel!" to praise him. [4] Yet, just a week later, the fickle crowd turned away from him and screamed, "Crucify him!" [5] Even when he was being praised, Jesus didn't submit himself to the will of the crowd. He doesn't want us to do it either. When we live for the approval of the crowd, we give away the rule of our hearts to the will of the masses. We lose the direction in our lives in the process. We replace the approval of God with the call of the crowd, like the false prophets who led God's people, and themselves, into destruction.

[1] John 12:42-43; Matthew 6:33.
[2] John 5:16, 41, 44.
[3] John 6:14-15.
[4] John 12:12-13.
[5] Luke 23:20-21.

Today's Prayer

Give me the courage, dear God, to live for you regardless of what those around me think of me. Make me a person of integrity, holy character, and graciousness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 12:20-23
  • John 12:37-43
  • Galatians 1:10

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 6:26 NLT — [Jesus continued,] "What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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