An Easter Sunday Message on The Appeal of the Lord Jesus Christ

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Mark 2:14 has the instance of where Levi also known as Matthew the publican was called to service. This is the appeal of the Lord Jesus Christ- salvation is a calling from the old life to the new life. This would be a good "easter egg" from this blog ministry for all the readers to enjoy (or most of them don't). Now here's how the Lord Jesus Christ appeals to people:

I. First, He appeals to people by His speech.

John 7:46 says, "The officers said, Never man spake like this man." As a speaker, Jesus was a firm, strict, means business and tough as nails yet He was also soft-spoken and gentle at the same time- a balance MOST people do not have even the best of preachers. He spoke scary messages to wake people up but without intimidating them. Reading back and forth in John 7, He was loving. One can be strict, firm and meaning well to business without love but one can never be loving without being strict, firm and meaning well to business.

II. Second, He appeals to people by His poverty.

Just imagine Him the King of Kings and Lord of Lords one day left His glory above to be the poorest of the poor. Below are some verses to reflect upon:

  • Matthew 8:20 says, "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have their nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."
  • 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich yet for your sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might be rich."
  • Philippians 5:7-8 says, "But made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross."

Looking at it, He became among the poor and the outcast. He became one who was hungry and thirsty because of His poverty. He became one who was rejected and a stranger. By this humility, He would go unto all- the rich and the poor alike are WELCOME to receive Him. As said, He would not come to Earth in all His glory but came to be poor so others will benefit from what He had to give. By His poverty, it would be revealed who loved Him or who just loved His wealth. The phonies would be revealed. Sadly MANY people reveal how unsaved they really are.

Also in the process was the humbling which He would humble Himself even unto death on the cross. That brings to...

III. Third, He appeals to people by His suffering and rejection.

The Lord Jesus Christ was already prophesied in Isaiah 53:3 saying, "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our face from him; he was despised and we esteemed Him not." and the rest of the chapter predicts the utter violence of His passion. His passion was all on suffering and rejection so man will be accepted by God.

John 1:11 says, "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." As said, He was rejected. All four Gospels, Jesus whenever He preached, He was rejected. People only came to Him like He was some philanthropist who kept giving away free stuff (ex. the miracle of the loaves, the first miracle which involved the water changing it into grape juice) but they DID NOT like the scary stuff He preached especially when it was about SIN, HELL AND JUDGMENT. These days, let a Christian preach about sin, Hell and judgment and his/her unbelieving associates are most likely to cast him/her aside.

And here's what- His death had to be bloody. Hebrews 9:11-22 is clear on these points that prior to His resurrection, He paid a bloody death. Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows:yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed." It would not fulfill the Law if He died that Friday afternoon (Roman time) if He just died (example- just simply crucified) or if He just bled- it had to be BOTH. Death was ALWAYS paid with life and the Old Testament sacrifices were blood sacrifices andHis death paid for the penalty of sin, His blood washes away sins! Plus, it was through His being rejected that His bloody sacrifice was made possible so all will be accepted to His Father.

IV. Fourth and last, He is always ready to receive anybody who is still alive

As said, atonement is limited ONLY for the living and NOT for the dead (Hebrews 9:27). Matthew 11:28 says, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." and in John 6:37, "For whosoever cometh to Me I shall no wise cast out." He had conquered death proving that He could give salvation to ANYBODY. Nobody else could die and rise again except He, who is the Son of God because He is God!

However the MAJOR problem can be found in John 5:40-44 saying, "And ye will not come to Me that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father's Name and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe which receive honor one from another and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" And how true. People today continue to appeal to their religion, the preaching of another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) and whatever... and they continue to reject the FREE gift of salvation thanks to an overdose of pride.

Remember, there is only ONE sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:12) and that is what the Lord Jesus Christ did on the cross. It was offered only once, He is not a Savior that dies and resurrects continuously- no He did it only ONCE.