Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#30]
THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM BEING ATTRACTIVE
Mark 3:16
Introduction:
We live in day and age where physical appearance is a big deal. My mom says that, “Beauty is only skin deep; but other people say that, “Ugly goes all the way to the bone”. The Bible is clear about the fact that Jesus was just an ordinary looking man. He wasn’t overly handsome, tall, extra muscular, etc… He didn’t stand out because of His physical appearance. So what attracted everyone to Jesus so much? Whether they liked Him or hated Him, He had their attention. We are to be like Jesus- Which means we need to be attractive to people. How do we do that?
Mark 3:7-12 (NIV)
“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.”
People are attracted to people who…
1. Make a difference in their lives.
Jesus and His disciples left the synagogue and went to the lake. Jesus had just healed a man on the Sabbath and instead of everyone being excited for the man being healed, Jesus had to explain Himself. These religious leaders just didn’t get it. Instead of being like Jesus, they were plotting to have Him killed.
You would think that since the highly esteemed Pharisees hated Jesus that the common folk wouldn’t want to have anything to do with Him; but obviously that wasn’t the case. As Jesus and His disciples left, a large crowd of people followed Him. Why? Because of all that He was doing. What was He doing that made such a difference in the lives of so many people?
Jesus was teaching the Word and being the Word. Simply put- Jesus was practicing what He preached. When He spoke to them, they were changed. When He spent time with them, they were changed. When He touched them, they were changed.
Christians, we need to be the type of people that others want to be around. When we speak to them, they should be changed for the better. When we spend time with them, they should be changed for the better. When our lives touch their lives, they should be changed for the better. How do we do that? We live according to the Word- We live like Jesus.
People are attracted to people who…
2. Make time for them.
Jesus had been working and putting up with all kinds of stressful garbage from the Pharisees; and yet He still had time for them. At first glance, you might wonder why Jesus would get in a boat to get away from the crowd; but if you will look at the text it makes total sense. People were literally trampling over one another just to touch Him and be healed. Jesus needed them to understand that He wasn’t sent to just perform physical miracles. He was there to seek and save that which was lost spiritually. He was there for the people regardless of His conveniences. Notice, the disciples were expected to do the same.
If we are truly going to be people that are going to draw others to Jesus; then we must be willing to sacrifice our time. How can you help someone if you aren’t willing to give them your time and effort?
Mark 3:13-19 (NIV)
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
People are attracted to people who…
3. Make it about others.
Jesus appointed these 12 men as Apostles. We all know how unlikely candidates they all were to be Apostles; but we are also unlikely candidates to be God’s children. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t see us like we see one another? We need to see that they were called to be apostles so that He could send them out to preach and they were given the authority to cast out demons.
As Christians, we have been called to tell people about Jesus Christ and have been given the authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, etc… Jesus told us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do greater things than He did.
Conclusion:
Are people attracted to you because they see Jesus in you? We must lift Jesus up so others are changed.
