Many people followed Jesus (thousands, tens of thousands—see Luke 14:25, John 6:10, 26), and to this day, many people follow Jesus (millions, billions). This enormous crowd, which creates a throng around Jesus, who goes, runs, and flies after Jesus, is divided into two groups: disciples (Christians) and non-disciples (non-Christians, pagans). The disciples (Christians) are the small flock—those who have given themselves to the Teacher, denied themselves, taken up their crosses (ready to fulfill any command of the Teacher, God’s will, the Holy Spirit) and follow Jesus (becoming like Him in everything: thoughts, words, feelings, deeds—see Philippians 2:2-5)—obedient to Jesus Christ in everything (see Colossians 3:17). The catechumens, those preparing to become disciples, are preparing for baptism by the Holy Spirit: they already strive for godly humility, for entering the state of spiritual poverty. They are no longer called pagans, but they are not yet Christians, not yet disciples. They are candidates preparing for the entrance exams to the School of Love (for baptism by the Holy Spirit, for Marriage with Jesus Christ); when they pass the exams for godly humility, then they will become disciples, being baptized by the Holy Spirit. There are also few catechumens—a small flock.
Non-disciples (non-Christians) are the millions, billions who follow Christ, seeking their own will, satisfaction of their needs, wants, interests, solutions to their problems. Everyone in the crowd believes in Christ (otherwise, they wouldn’t follow Him): disciples (and catechumens) believe in Christ as God, who is the purpose of life, union with whom is salvation-healing-deification; the rest believe in Him as a doctor (ENT, surgeon, dermatologist, psychiatrist, exorcist), protector, judge, miracle worker, provider, guarantor of stability and national prosperity, someone to use for themselves. Disciples believe in the One to whom they can and must (for Happiness) wholly give themselves, entrust themselves! We spoke about two “churches”: the Church and the church. The entire crowd that follows Jesus, all people who call themselves Christians (Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants), is the church (with a small letter). The Church (the Body of Christ, bearers of the Spirit, Christ’s) is the small flock of disciples (and catechumens), who, like leaven, work in the multimillion, billion-strong church. (The Church is within the church, but the church has never been the Church!). Incidentally, among Protestants, there are Christians (bearers of the Spirit, Orthodox), among Catholics (Greek Catholics) there are Christians (bearers of the Spirit, Orthodox), and even among the “Orthodox” there are Orthodox (Christians)!
Who is the hierarchy in the church—in the crowd around Christ? These are the people who watch (should watch—it’s their duty) over order, discipline in this multimillion crowd, which chooses its own rulers, high prelates… (in previous parts we talked in detail about stewards—priests of varying degrees of severity), who rule over it (or do business, trading in anything that can be bought and sold…). And one Man said that priests are entertainers who amuse people on Palm Sunday, Easter, Transfiguration, Epiphany… Priests on such days of great gatherings (on major holidays) show remarkable entertainment abilities, arranging various shows with and without incense, with and without choir, with fire, water… To what sacrifices and tricks entertainers (priests-sacrificers) won’t go to please this crowd (the church of pagans), seeking bread (John 6:26) and circuses (Luke 23:8), so as not to lose clients (and maybe even appeal to some newcomers), to have someone to trade with, and to be ordered as entertainers for family, household holidays (to baptize, marry, bury, sanctify, etc.).
Disciples of Jesus Christ—the Church—are partakers of the Eucharist, that is, those who partake of the Eucharist, who receive the whole Christ (Body and Blood of Christ (the fullness of Deity)—the absolute Cross Sacrifice of Divine Love, the absolute, whole self-giving of Christ to each person). Only the one who, in thanksgiving for the Gift of Christ (Who gives all of Himself to me, offers Himself as a sacrifice (of Love) to me), gives all of himself to Christ, and in Christ by the Holy Spirit—to God the Father can partake of the Eucharist, Divine Love, the Holy Spirit.
Now let each Christian (each from the crowd called “church”) examine himself: who is he—a disciple of Jesus (a Christian) or not?! Let’s also note that a disciple is not the one who chose Jesus (as his teacher, doctor, provider, entertainer…), but the one whom Jesus chose! The Lord Himself chooses His disciples! And the Lord chooses disciples from the crowd (from the church) among the catechumens, those who fervently seek the Truth, who prepare for baptism by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if you chose Jesus yourself, or He was imposed on you, baptizing you as a baby, do not deceive yourself that you are a disciple of Christ, but hurry to become one of the candidates (catechumens), if, of course, you want to become a disciple of Christ, a Christian—to be chosen by Jesus, called to follow Him! (We talked about this in detail in previous parts, and, God willing, we will talk more).