What Made Jesus So Attractive?

Matthew 4:17-25

Jesus was not robed with physical BEAUTY, and He wasn't attractive to everyone, for some people DESPISED and rejected Him.  (Isa. 53:1-2) For others, however, there was (and is) something about Jesus that DRAWS us to Him.

Multitudes followed Jesus.  When they came to Him, He would ask them, "What do you NEED?" (Matt. 20:32) Then He would provide it.

Common people hear Jesus GLADLY. (Mark 12:35-37)  Jesus delighted in giving His messages to the POOR.  (Matt. 11:5)

1) Jesus was attractive because of how He LOVED the LOST.

Nothing is as attractive as real concern for people, and nothing is as repulsive as apathy towards people.  People know when people care.  People will never CARE how much you know until they KNOW how much you care.

1) Jesus came to RECOVER lost people.

[8] And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
[9] And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
[10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:8-20

2) The Plight of lost people caused Jesus to REPINE.

[36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
[37] Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
[38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Matt. 9:36-38

3) Jesus REJOICES when lost people are found.

[3] And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
[4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
[5] And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
[6] And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Luke 15:3-6

2) Jesus was attractive because of how He HEALED the HURTING.

People did not come to Jesus primarily because of the great truth He revealed, but because of the great RELIEF they received from their various forms of suffering.  Because Jesus loved people He TOUCHED them and relieved their many miseries (Matt. 12:15)  Jesus came to MINISTER to people, and that involved more than spiritual needs, but He used His ability to heal to provide a platform to TEACH them the truth.  (Matt. 20:25-28)

1) Jesus relieved the pain of PHYSICAL hurts.

Jesus FED them and HEALED them. (Matt. 14:15-21; 15:29-31)

[17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
[18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
[19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Luke 1:17-19

2) Jesus relieved the pain of EMOTIONAL hurts.

Jesus headed the hurting HEARTS.  These types of hurts are deeper and sorer that those of the flesh.  (Luke 4:18)

3) Jesus relieved the pain of SPIRITUAL hurts.

Jesus freed people from sin's penalty.  His physical healing was accompanied by the forgiveness of sin. (Matt. 9:1-5; Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus freed people from sin's power.  Sin brings people into bondage, a condition of misery that prevails after sin's SEASON of pleasure has expired.  There is an awesome feeling of FREEDOM that comes from being released from sin's dominion.  (John 8:30-36; Heb 11:25; Rom 6:11-23)

3) Jesus was attractive because of how He TAUGHT the TRUTH.

Jesus was an effective teacher.  Teaching is the transfer of knowledge; not the DISPLAY of it.  He taught profound truths in understandable ways.  This either made people GLAD or it made them MAD.  When His audience was dismissed, they left taking something with them the PONDER of eternal value.

1) Jesus taught the truth with CHARITY.

Jesus' motivation for teaching people was his LOVE for them. (Mark 6:34)

2) Jesus taught the truth with SIMPLICITY.

He made frequent use of STORIES to illustrate spiritual truth; these stories are called parables.  He did not teach the crowds without them!  (Matt. 13:34)  His parables were wonderful illustrations in simple language of great spiritual truths that illuminated TRUTH to be seen clearly.  (Matt. 15:1-20)

3) Jesus taught the truth with CLARITY.

Jesus was not hard to UNDERSTAND.  His words were often POINTED.  He regularly denounced the scribes and pharisees as MAKE-believers, calling them hypocrites. (Matt. 23)  They were sometimes the FOCUS of His parables, which offended them when they understood it. (Matt: 15:10-24)

4) Jesus taught the truth with AUTHORITY.

[28] And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
[29] For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matt. 7:28-29

Preachers of the Word of God should preach the Word of God like it is the Word of God!

(1 Peter 4:10-11)