"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly." Luke 19:5-6
While there is not much that is typical about Jesus, this encounter with Zacchaeus was typical of the way Jesus lead people to faith. He met them where they were, engaged them in a conversation, turned the conversation to spiritual issues and then called them to salvation.
Here it was Zacchaeus.
The last few days we talked about the man on the mat lowered through the roof by friends.
Then there was Nicodemus the religious leader who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness.
Don't forget the Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus hopeful but went away sad.
And, there was the Samaritan woman who Jesus met by the well, changed her life and then she later saved her city.
You would think that someone like Jesus would have concentrated on throngs of people and attempt to convert them by the thousands at large campaign type rallies. But he didn't! He tended to meet people and convert them one-on-one.
Maybe if Jesus had held large tent revivals all across the country with the lute player and the most accomplished harpist to provide musical support, maybe He would have left behind more that just 120 followers.
What was He thinking?
Perhaps He was thinking about the value of each individual person He encountered.
As it turns out, Jesus picked some winners!
The Samaritan woman was so changed after she converted that most of her town!
Nicodemus later used his influence to protect Jesus when He was being grilled by the Pharisees.
Why do you think Jesus did evangelism one-on-one rather than in multitudes?
Your guess is as good as mine but I am thinking it may have been that way because salvation is a personal and individual decision. If people did get saved in a large gathering it still had to happen individually and one at a time.
The world changes one conversion at a time. Never underestimate the importance of your witness! Don't lose sight of the power of your influence through friendship. Learn to leverage your friendships into evangelism opportunities and we can change our world!
Here it was Zacchaeus.
The last few days we talked about the man on the mat lowered through the roof by friends.
Then there was Nicodemus the religious leader who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness.
Don't forget the Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus hopeful but went away sad.
And, there was the Samaritan woman who Jesus met by the well, changed her life and then she later saved her city.
You would think that someone like Jesus would have concentrated on throngs of people and attempt to convert them by the thousands at large campaign type rallies. But he didn't! He tended to meet people and convert them one-on-one.
Maybe if Jesus had held large tent revivals all across the country with the lute player and the most accomplished harpist to provide musical support, maybe He would have left behind more that just 120 followers.
What was He thinking?
Perhaps He was thinking about the value of each individual person He encountered.
As it turns out, Jesus picked some winners!
The Samaritan woman was so changed after she converted that most of her town!
Nicodemus later used his influence to protect Jesus when He was being grilled by the Pharisees.
Why do you think Jesus did evangelism one-on-one rather than in multitudes?
Your guess is as good as mine but I am thinking it may have been that way because salvation is a personal and individual decision. If people did get saved in a large gathering it still had to happen individually and one at a time.
The world changes one conversion at a time. Never underestimate the importance of your witness! Don't lose sight of the power of your influence through friendship. Learn to leverage your friendships into evangelism opportunities and we can change our world!
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