How did Jesus reach out to people?

If you look at many ministries today, you can see a lot of different ways that they reach out to people. Too often however, we take the Bible and we use it as a weapon that makes people want nothing to do with Christianity. How did Jesus reach out to people? The Bible has the answer.

Why did Jesus come?
Jesus said in John 10:10,

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Notice that Jesus made reference to a thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He contrasts that why He has come so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. If you think about this, He is saying that He has come to do the opposite of the thief: to restore, save lives, and to rebuild.

If you look at John 8:1-11 we see a demonstration of what Jesus was talking about:

“Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

If you look at verses one through nine, we see that the woman was caught in the act of adultery. An angry mob seized her and brought her to the Master to see what He would do about it, reminding Him what the law demanded.

Instead of debating with the mob, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dirt while they pressed Him for an answer. After a short while, He stood up and said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” One by one, the members of the mob were convicted of their own sin and dropped their stones and left.

It is at this point that Jesus demonstrated that He could restore life to a woman whose life had been stolen from her and was left with nothing, but a life of sorrow and sin.

Then in verses 10 and 11, Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were and if there was anyone there to condemn her. She replied, “No man Lord.” He responded by telling her, “Neither do I condemn thee…”

It was at this point that Jesus demonstrated that He could save the life of the woman from condemnation and certain death by the angry mob for her sinful acts, which were deserving of death by the law.

Finally, in the completion of verse 11, Jesus said to the woman, “…now go and sin no more.” After restoring what she lost and saving her from death, Jesus could now tell her to go with a new life and experience victory over sin. This is because she now has the power, the wisdom, and motivation to live a life that pleases the Lord.

What does Jesus teach us through His words and example?

You see, too often, we try to get people to change their life and live for the Lord without investing the time and effort to meet them where they are. People will not see their need for a Savior unless we demonstrate the love of the Savior like Jesus did. Therefore, we must reach out to help people whom are in desperate situations. We must show them that we have not condemned them no matter how they got into their situation. Then maybe they will be willing to hear what we have to say when we share with them how to live for Christ. When this happens, the Words of the Lord will come to pass so that they will welcome His coming to give them life and give it abundantly. Praise be to God.

Reference: All Scripture references from the King James Version Bible.