When someone in the NT speaks to a crowd, who do you think is in that crowd? For example, when Paul, in the Book of Acts, speaks in a synagogue over a period of weeks, do some of the people come to faith over time, or do they all remain unbelievers and eventually run him off? In the Gospels, when the Lord speaks to great multitudes, are they all unbelievers or are there believers as well?

Maybe it’s just me, and maybe it’s subconscious, but I think there’s a tendency to see the crowds in the Gospels as being composed of unbelievers. Unless the text specifically mentions that somebody believes, we assume that the Lord is surrounded by unbelievers.

This isn’t just an academic question. When the Lord is invited to the home of a Pharisee, do we automatically assume that the Pharisee and all the guests are unbelievers? Could those present include some who believed in Him? Are the words spoken in the passage evangelistic, or do they deal with discipleship? All of this will determine how we interpret the verses in question.

What about in our lives? When we’re in a group of people, what do we assume about their spiritual condition? We might hear them voice their opinions about Christ. We certainly hear different opinions. Depending on the circumstances, we might conclude that everybody in the crowd is an unbeliever. I must admit, for example, that I’ve spoken in some countries where the only gospel I hear is one that requires many works in order to make it into the kingdom. In those situations, I assume that I’m talking to a group of unbelievers and that there are no believers present.

An interesting study regarding this issue is the crowd that follows Jesus down the Mount of Olives of Palm Sunday. What kinds of people made up that crowd? We know the disciples were there, so there were some believers. But what about the others? The people in the crowd had some very positive things to say about Christ.

In Mark, we’re told that the crowd shouted out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). It comes from Psalm 118, and in that Psalm, the statement can refer to anybody who comes to the temple to worship the Lord. When the people say this about Christ, it could mean that they see Him as an important pilgrim to Jerusalem, perhaps even a prophet. But that is not the same thing as saying that He is the Christ.

Luke, however, is different. Luke says that the people said, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). Why the change? Bible students who are more liberal would say that either Mark or Luke made a mistake. The people said either one or the other, and each Gospel writer put the word (he or King) he wanted on the lips of the people.

I’m pretty sure I have a better solution.

In a large crowd, there would have been different views about who Jesus of Nazareth was. Some, seeing Him as a holy man or prophet who was joining the other pilgrims, shouted out, “Blessed is he….” But others were saying, “No, this is the Christ. Blessed is the King….” Those statements are not the same. One group (Mark) meant that Jesus was a great man who was coming into Jerusalem. The other group (Luke) was saying that He was the Christ. I can almost hear the people arguing with each other and shouting out their views on the identity of the Man on the donkey.

The same is true for today. In the crowd is a chorus of voices making various statements about Christ. On social media and in the news there are different opinions about Him. The vast majority are positive. Some yell out, “He was a great teacher.” Others say, “He is a great example.” Many say, “He was a prophet.” Still others say, “He died for me.”

But there are also some who proclaim, “He is the Christ who has given me eternal life.” That is not the same as the other statements.

Only those who have believed that He is the Christ who gives eternal life have that gift. The fact that different people say various good things about Him doesn’t mean they’re all saying the same thing. They are not.

As we listen to what various people say about the King, may we have ears to discern the differences in what they say.