Momentum

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. Mark 3:7-10

Mark gives a brief description of what is happening at the height of the ministry of Jesus. The ministry has incredible momentum. He lays out a picture of people coming from all around to see Christ. And, rightfully so. He is healing many, bringing a message of good news, providing peace, lifting burdens. Things could not be going any better, so the multitudes were on board.

Fast forward to after Jesus died on the cross, a short time later, and things had changed.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), Acts 1:15

The multitudes had been diminished to 120 believers gathered together. After the death and resurrection of Christ, the multitudes had vanished. In fact, the multitudes had turned on Him to join in with the crowds to crucify Him. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye. All momentum was gone.

The momentum of the moment captures hearts. Momentums can be dangerous. Multitudes follow the momentum. Popular messages or movements attract crowds. This happens in the blink of an eye, like a spark igniting into a raging fire. However, when the movement hiccups, the momentum stops, and sprints the opposite way just as quick as it started. Multitudes become 120 people.

Naturally, with momentums come personal highs and lows. On the good side, when the momentum of the moment is raging, there is unity, trust, maybe spiritual highs, among people. It is as if you have won. But, when the momentum swings the opposite way there is sudden division, lack of trust, spiritual lows. What was once a crowd is now only a few. Momentums bring no consistency.

Our world has always been one of momentums. Like clothing styles, various messages or beliefs create movements, and they are always temporary. The fire will go out.

3,000 years ago, at the Tabernacle, the priests had a fire on the altar that burned continually. The fire never went out.

Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out. Leviticus 6:13

The place of atonement never lost the flame, the altar was always open. This altar was a great picture of consistency.

Momentums in culture will always be raging back and forth. Depend on the latest trend or message of the day, the momentum will end, and hope will be lost.

There is only One that offers consistency, that overrides any momentum swaying back and forth. And like the fire at the altar 3,000 years ago, with God there will be perpetual consistency.

The core of any momentum must be Christ to be sustained. If the core is man, momentum will end.

The message of the Bible brings consistency. God is constant, the same yesterday, today, and forever. The message remains relevant and consistent forever. A solid rock to stand on. An anchor in the storm. The Bible is a gift to cherish in the middle of all the momentum swings.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

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