Jesus, the Master Communicator (Part 2)

Is it challenging for you to start up a conversation with someone? It can take a lot of courage and practice to communicate with a person, especially for the first time. How did Jesus do this? What were some of his common practices when approaching someone for the first time? Jeff Cavins continues his two part series on communicating like Jesus and digs into Scripture to give us real examples of how Jesus communicated.

Snippet from the Show
“So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”
(2 Corinthians 5:20)

We are Christ's representatives who have moved in on the block. We are His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20).

How did Jesus make contact with people?

1. He used His eyes. "He saw two brothers, Simon...and Andrew" (Matt 4:18); "Jesus turned, and beheld them following" (John 1:38).

2. He initiated conversation. He said to the woman at the well, "Give me a drink, " and she immediately answered (John 4:7-9).

3. He asked questions. "When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of man is?" (Matt 16:13)

4. He invited companionship. After seeing Simon and Andrew, He said to them, "Follow me..." (Mark 1:17)

5. He called people by name. "Jesus looked at him, and said, 'You are Simon the son of John" (John 1:42)

6. He called for attention with words such as "listen," "truly," and "behold" (Mark 4:3; Luke 18:17, 31; 22:10; John 3:3,5)

Jesus used questions to open encounters.

• "Will you give me a drink?" (John 4:7)
• "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6)
• "John's baptism - where did it come from?" (Matt. 21:25)

Use of Questions

Jesus' questions were people-oriented, not agenda oriented.

1. Some questions stimulated interest and formed a point of contact. He asked the disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of man is? (Matt 16:13)

2. Some questions helped His pupils clarify their thinking; for example, "What did Moses command you?" (Mk 10:3)

3. Some questions expressed an emotion, such as disgust or amazement. He responded to the Pharisees, "How can you, being evil, speak what is good?" (Matt. 12:34)

4. Some questions introduced an illustration. "Suppose one of you shall have a friend..." (Luke 11:5-6)

5. Some questions were used to emphasize a truth. "for what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?" (Matt 16:26)

6. Some questions helped pupils apply the truth; for instance, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" (Lk 10:36)

7. Some questions were to provide information for Himself. "How many loaves do you have?" (Matt 15:34)

8. Some questions helped establish a relationship between the teacher and pupil, as in, "Who touched me?" (Lk 8:45)

9. Some questions were asked to rebuke or silence His opposers: "The baptism of John was from what source?... And answering Jesus, then said, ‘We do not know.’" (Matt 21:25-27)

10. Some questions were rhetorical; they needed no answer. "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matt 6:25)

11. Some questions were asked to bring conviction; for example, "Have you never read...?" (Mark 2:25)

12. Some questions were examinations. "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:15-17)