Finally, I'm getting the opportunity to update my series on open-air preaching. In Parts 1 and 2, I shared my thoughts on two vivid examples of open-air preachers of the Old Testament, Noah and Jeremiah.
Now, on to the New Testament. Here, let's look at our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his example as an open-air preacher.
It can be easily seen throughout the gospel accounts of Christ's life and ministry that He continually drew large crowds wherever He went (Matthew 13:2, 14:14, 19:2, 20:29, 21:9, Mark 2:4, 2:13, 3:7, 3:20, 4:1, 5:21, Luke 5:1, 6:17, 8:4, 19:3, John 6:2, 12:9, 12:29, to name a few).
One of the most dramatic instances of Christ's open-air preaching can be found in John 6. If you read at the beginning of the chapter, Jesus has drawn a crowd of 5,000 people. We know this because as it is written...
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
(John 6:5-10 ESV)
I can only imagine what it would look like to have 5,000 people gathered around to hear one individual. Yet Jesus had the ability--through His miracles and teachings--to draw such large numbers. Having said that, continue reading the rest of the chapter as Jesus begins to preach...
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
(John 6:25-40 ESV)
What was the reaction to Jesus' bold proclamations about Himself, His origins, and His offer?
They grumbled (John 6:41).
And Jesus, noticing their negative reaction, didn't seek to quell their growing hostility; instead, He preached more truth.
He preached the exclusivity of Himself in order to get to the Father.
He preached Himself as the fulfillment of Old Testament types and shadows.
He preached His blood as the only hope for the Jews who were yearning for a Messiah.
The reaction of the crowd after this?
"..."This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60)
They were not receiving this at all. Jesus who claims He came from Heaven? Jesus the only way to the Father? Jesus the "bread of life?" Jesus the one whose blood we must partake in?
First they grumbled at the teaching, then they threw up their hands in confusion. So far, it doesn't seem as though Jesus' open-air preaching is very successful, at least from the viewpoint of the audience.
But He is not done yet.
See how Jesus--who knows exactly what is troubling these Jews--answers back to them. Does He try to elaborate in a more "seeker-friendly" manner? Does he consider their "felt needs" and respond thusly?
Weeeeelllllll.....
But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
(John 6:61-65 ESV)
Ahem? So, the crowd is hearing this preaching...they are not happy about it because what Jesus is saying not only doesn't meet their expectations, but His preaching completely neglects their felt needs and utterly rocks their preconceived notions about what it means to have a relationship with God the Father.
And after shaking up the crowd so drastically and seeing the negativity pulsing throughout the crowd, what does Jesus do?
He basically acknowledges their rank unbelief and then uses their hostility to make His point about the exclusivity of the Gospel.
So, in a chapter that began with 5,000 people hanging on every word from Jesus' mouth, this chapter ends with this sad yet inevitable reality...
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
(John 6:66-67 ESV)
From 5,000 to 12. In one instance of open-air preaching. And it happened to Jesus Christ.
Some might call such a dramatic turn of events a "let-down."
It would be more accurate to call this "expected." Where hard truths are preached, people will scatter. Jesus' miracles drew the crowds in, but His words turned them away.
Be encouraged, open-air preacher. If you're preaching God's word and people are grumbling, questioning, and--finally--leaving, then you're walking in the "way of the Master."
Until next time...don't stop proclaiming.
- Shane
No comments:
Post a Comment