People were drawn in crowds to John the Baptist telling them to repent. What on earth was attractive in that message? And how is that Jesus began to draw the crowds? How do we draw people to ourselves and the message of the gospel we preach?
I think people were drawn to John the Baptist because he spoke the truth without compromise. The Pharisees and Sadducees may have spoken truth, but the people knew behind the scenes there was much corruption and compromise. It didn’t create a very attractive message.
But John spoke. He preached. And he baptized.
I’m guessing he did with great joy and love as he was a man of the Holy Spirit. We know that based on what Luke says. And the power of the Holy Spirit would be with him (part of the reason for people being drawn to him), but also I’m sure there was good fruit there.
Just because he preached a baptism of repentance didn’t mean sour faced and joyless. It was a hard message. But those kinds of messages typically draw people when those same people also feel the love.
Then there’s Jesus.
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
If you look we see he taught, preached and healed. But take a little close and it was the healing and deliverance that drew the people.
Can you imagine? Having a disability your whole life and all of a sudden be healed? Have crippling pain and it goes? Be tormented and be delivered?
People are drawn to healing and deliverance because they so long for their suffering to end. Because of Jesus’ healing people large crowds were drawn to him. He lovingly and gladly healed them. But he didn’t stop there. If you notice the large crowds that came for healing were the same large crowds that listened to his greatest teaching – The Sermon on the Mount.
Perhaps it sticks out to me because I see some people doing healing ministry or even offering prophetic words. These are so good and minister deeply to people, but we must never forget the good news that is accompanied with it.
Speaking of which. Did you see this verse?
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
He preached the good news! But what was the good news? For us we think it is that God loves us, paid for our sins and we can live forever with him. But not for Jesus… (see next post).
