7/16/2017
How Jesus Reached People
…the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned! Matt 4:16
Jesus Cared About People
Matthew 9:35-36 Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus Intends That We Emulate Him
Matthew 9:37-38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
I Peter 2:4-5
He Cared About People’s Children
Mark 10:13-16 They were bringing children to Him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.
He Saw People That Others Overlooked
Luke 19:1-5 He entered Jericho and was passing through, there was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was seeking to see Who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
He Befriended The Friendless
Luke 19:6-10 So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. When they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold!” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He Listened To Desperate People
Mark 10:46-52 As he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.” Throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way.
He Allowed Sinful People To Approach Him
Luke 7:36-39 One of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him, so He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, standing behind Him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner!”
He Forgave People Of Their Sins
Luke 7:44-50 Then turning toward the woman He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
He Commissioned Us To Do The Same
Luke 24:45-49 He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”