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SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
Written by Peter Youngren on January 17, 2007But so much the more the news spread abroad concerning Him, and great crowds kept coming together to hear [Him] and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. But He Himself withdrew [in retirement] to the wilderness (desert) and prayed. LUKE 5:15, 16
Jesus attracted people. There is no other way to read/interpret scripture. Wherever Jesus went, whatever Jesus did, whomever Jesus spoke with; He attracted multitudes. It’s true that the miracles attracted people. Undoubtedly some came to stand off in the distance and see Him “perform” supernatural acts which their natural eyes could not believe. Yet the Bible is clear to make another notation regarding why people came. They came to “hear Him”. Why? No one had ever, throughout the entire history of the world, spoken like Jesus spoke. The Bible says that “grace” and “truth” came through (in) Jesus. His every Word, look, act, subtlety, parable, deed, rebuke and exhortation exemplified grace and truth. Even the miracles were a demonstration of God’s grace manifested towards mankind. These three things attracted people to Jesus: grace, truth and the supernatural.
Not that we ever develop a formula for “attracting” people to Church, to our home group, or to ourselves, but certainly multitudes thronged to see Jesus for no other reason. If a Church allows God’s miraculous to move in it; if it speaks the truth about God’s grace it will never be hurting for a crowd. If your personal life exemplifies grace, truth and the supernatural provision of the Lord, you will automatically become a person of great influence. People will seek you out; they will come to “hear you.” Don’t worry it’s not you they’re coming to hear – it’s Christ’s message being spoken through you. Two thousand years ago, as today, it is still the message the world is thirsting for.
I spent some time trying to figure out a better way to spend our lives, but I must say I was hard pressed to think of better criteria for a life worth living. How many people can you share God’s message of grace and truth with? What a privilege we have….what an opportunity….don’t you think?
Darryl Drover
I find it hard to understand how Jesus never ‘retired’ more to the wilderness to escape the crowds. Then, like today, people treated him as a ‘miracle ATM,’ imagine being the ‘answer man’ for all of life’s problems? It must have been mental, physcial and spiritual exhaustion like nothing we’ve known.
I’ll admitt, sometimes I’ve been the fringe ‘performance watcher.’ It would’ve been exciting seeing blind people see, money appear in fish’ mouthes, etc but there’s something deeper - a man, God as a man; not just the miracles he performed (and performs).
Brenda
~ Halifax, N.S.
Amen
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Comments:
Jason Shriner
Hi Peter, I had some thoughts onyour posting of January 17. Though wonderful qualities to possess, the nature of truth and grace, what they mean and how they are manifested have in this day become victims of an ambiguity so thick that the remaining quality which makes Jesus attractive according to your posting – the supernatural – would truly have to occur in order for the modern church to adequately wade through these stormy theological waters.
Though truth, grace and the supernatural may have been byproducts or predispositions in the character of Jesus – is it fair to say these are the reasons people flocked to Jesus? The gospels more clearly indicate the message of Jesus being as he puts it, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15(b)) We then see Jesus illustrating what he meant by that message by putting into action the works of the kingdom which succinctly put would be ameliorating the lives of the suffering and oppressed and overcoming evil and injustice – which truly drew a crowd. Abstract theological terms such as truth and grace can no longer be measured – healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, addressing evil (acts which may be said to illustrate truth, grace and the supernatural) – now these acts can withstand any form of scrutiny. Whether they can “automatically” make you a person of influence is hardly a formulaic matter – but hey, if we follow in the footsteps of Jesus we can probably expect a crowd. Whether that crowd loves us or hates us; is shouting “Hosanna” or “Crucify Him” at us is certainly no guarantee. Your friend always, Jason Shriner