Luke 15:1 - Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.
Do people want to listen to you when you speak? Do you have something to say that the roughest crowd would be titilated by YOUR conversation? Would observers describe your experience as others "coming near" to listen? We seldom give much regard to the power of Christ's words in His time and space. Jesus was a powerful speaker. Yes, many came to see His miracles, or hoped to see a miracle. Most of us would be compelled to go for a miracle, or maybe two. However, in this passage we read that some of the roughest characters of the day were interested in Christ's Words ... in what He spoke. (They were so rough that the religious leaders of the day objected to Jesus "hanging" with them.) These "objectionable" characters came to "listen" to Him. What we understand by this is that Christ's Words were so compelling and so attractive that even those opposed in life style were drawn to them. Why? It is because Christ spoke truth. His words weren't fancy but they were correct! You can't argue with truth. Christ's words were not wrapped in entertainment glittered packaging. They were simply truth with practical illustrations and applications. We live in an entertainment society. To speak truth allows you to draw even those who live false lives. We ought to be careful trying to "entice" others with false pretenses. It didn't work for the religious leaders of Jesus day. The above verse doesn't say that these people were drawn to come and listen to "THEM!" They wouldn't walk across the street to listen to the religious leaders .... and they would have had to because the religious leaders made sure they were on the other side of the street from these "types." Religion doesn't attract. Truth does.
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