Following Jesus, Why?

Text: John 12:12-19

A large crowd of people followed Jesus as he rode on a colt into Jerusalem. They cried and chanted Hosanna, blessed be the King that cometh (Luke 19:38 KJV). The crowd according to the scriptures is made up of people who had gathered in Jerusalem for pilgrimage, those who had witnessed miracles of Jesus, and those who expected that he will be King to deliver them from the Roman oppressors. It is true that Jesus is the King, and the word of God affirmed that he would rule the people of God. But there is a misconception here. Jesus came to set mankind free and reconcile us with God. And he will come back to reign, and there will never be an end to his kingdom. But the truth is these people followed Jesus for the wrong reasons. From time immemorial, there has been history of people who turned back from following Jesus. Judas Iscariot, Ananias and Sapphira, Simon the magician, Demas all at one point followed Jesus and turned back to follow other things. They all followed Christ for the wrong reasons. There is a great danger to follow Jesus for the wrong reasons. Follow Jesus because Jesus is the son of God who came to reconcile us to the father and in him is life. Miracle, promotion, blessings etc. are all things people follow Jesus for, but it is wrong. It is true that in Christ, you can find all these, but do not follow Jesus for these reasons. Follow Him because in him alone is life, and life everlasting.