~ The Crowds Sought Him ~
Because of
His words, works, and wisdom Jesus
Christ became well-known. “From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and
Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one
to know it, but He could not be hidden” (Mark 7:24).
His Appearance ~ It
was clear to those who interacted with the Messiah that this was no ordinary
man. It was not that He was a particularly
handsome man of great physical appeal.
“He [The Messiah] has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2b). There may
have been an almost magnetic attraction to His grace, mercy, and love.
His Words
~ “Then the officers came to the chief priests
and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’” (John 7:45-46).
His Works
~ “But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?’ Then He arose
and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the
sea obey Him?’” (Matthew 8:26-27).
His Wisdom
~ “Now it came to pass, when Jesus had
finished these parables, that He departed from there. When He had come to His own country, He
taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and
these mighty works? Is this not the
carpenter's son? Is not His mother
called Mary? And His brothers James,
Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with
us? Where
then did this Man get all these things?’ So they were offended at Him” (Matthew 13:53-57).
His Purpose ~ “I
have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”
(John 10:8b).
Speaking of His coming crucifixion the Messiah said, “Now My soul is troubled,
and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me
from this hour?’ But for this purpose [a sacrifice for our sins] I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name” (John
12:27-28). “So I said, ‘Who are You,
Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting. But rise and stand
on your feet; for I have appeared to you
for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things
which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you’” (Acts
26:15-16).
Application ~ As
CHRISTians we are to bear CHRIST’s likeness, possess His qualities, and walk as
He walked. An authentic Christian living
today in the pattern of Christ’s life will also have a magnetic appeal
regarding their love and compassion for others.
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?”
(Matthew 16:15). This is the most
important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it
incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE
NOW
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