CHRIST AND THE COMMON PEOPLE
TEXTS: Mark 12:28-37: “And the common people heard Him gladly.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 – “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.”
INTRODUCTION:
1. The Sadducees who say there is no resurrection came and gave Him a scenario concerning a Levirite marriage. They failed.
2. Then scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Him by asking which is the most important commandment. He approved of Jesus’ answer.
3. Jesus responded by telling the scribe that he was close to the kingdom of God.
4. Jesus went on to teach that He existed before King David.
5. Note the statement that Mark adds about the crowd. “And the common people heard Him gladly.”
SUBLIME SIMPLICITY.
A. Jesus used words and illustrations that the common people understood. Matthew 5-7:
1) Material treasures – To teach the importance of treasures in Heaven.
2) Slavery –Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters.”
3) Birds and flowers – To teach that God cares for His own.
4) A farmer sowing seed – To teach about spreading God’s word.
5) Fishermen – To teach about saving lost souls.
B. He used parables, so that the common people would be able to get the message.
1. He spoke to them in parables, such as in the Sermon on the Mount.
2. Over by the Sea of Galilee he taught in parables. Matthew 13
3. One of the greatest illustrations that Jesus used was in Matthew 19:1-9.
4) He used Adam and Eve as a model for marriage the way it was intended to be from the
beginning.
C. He condemned theological arguments and “hair-splitting” Matthew 22:23-32
D. He put the spiritual food within their reach.
E. He possessed all the words in the world and yet He chose the plain, simple ones with which to communicate His message of salvation.
II. THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY BECAUSE HE SPOKE WITH
TENDERNESS, SYMPATHY, AND COMPASSION.
A. They knew that He was their friend (John 15:13-14).
B. They saw the tears of His compassion (Matthew 9:36-38).
C. They heard him gladly because they knew they could come to Him (Matthew 11:28).
D. Matthew 9:9-13- Jesus ate with sinners but there was no doubt where He stood
on sin. (Luke15:1-2) Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him
to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man
receives sinners and eats with them." Parable of lost sheep, coin and boy.
E. Matthew 12:1-8- He didn't go overboard religiously, He was balanced, when He was hungry on the Sabbath, He ate, used common sense.
F. John 4:1-38- Woman at well, no doubt where He stood. (Should He have stayed
away?)
G. He didn’t approach with a condescending tone. They felt comfortable with Him.
III. THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY AND ENJOYED LISTENING
TO HIM BECAUSE HE SPOKE OF HEAVEN AND IMMORTALITY.
1) It gives people comfort and hope to know that a place is being prepared for them.
2) Customs of the day were, for the groom to go to his father’s place and build a room or house for he and his new bride. When it was completed, he would return and bring her back to the place prepared.
B. “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
1) To know that life here is not all there is.
2) To know that dead loved ones are still living some place.
3) To know that He will not forget us, leave us, or forsake us.
4) This give us hope.
C. Jesus had “the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
1) “Then Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
a) At first, the crowds swarmed Jesus wanting to follow Him.
b) They heard about His mighty miracles.
c) They came to see and hear for themselves.
d) Jesus was popular until He began to challenge them with spiritual duty.
e) They liked the loaves and fishes, but were not ready to commit themselves.
f) As the crowds began to go away, Jesus asked the twelve apostles if they were also going away.
g) Peter replied with a great statement of faith and commitment.
2) We cannot go to man for our hope of eternal life.
a) When it comes to our salvation, we cannot trust our souls to government, education, social programs, wealth, youth, beauty, power, or position.
b) All these things are of no consequence when we come face to face with our mortality. Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,37)
3) We cannot go to our earthly family.
a) Some people claim that because their parents were good people and could not possibly have taught them incorrectly, that they are right with God.
b) Many people belong to a particular denomination out of family loyalty instead of personal conviction.
c) Other people think that if they are good to their families and act as good citizens in the community, they will be all right. Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26,27)
d) Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Only Jesus can save us.
e) Jesus said, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
CONCLUSION:
1. The common people gladly heard Him, because they knew He had something no one else could promise them.
2. They had been down-trodden, oppressed, and abused by the world.
3. But with this man, they were all equal.
4. He treated them all the same regardless of their social status.
5. He still does!