While the Gospel tells sinners Jesus died to save them if they surrender to him, His personal care for them “speaks” differently to each individual. Some people are abused and yearn for the justice God promises that Jesus will one day fully bring. Some lonely people seek the Gospel’s promise of adoption as Christ brings us into a loving family. Different people seek different aspects in Jesus’ care for them through the Gospel. The Lord knows each person’s individual needs and ministers to all of us as individuals. While the basic story of the Gospel remains the same for all, the personal way Jesus ministers to us will look different from one person to another. Please join me as I explore these different ways people need to hear the Gospel.
All people have an ache in their souls, and the Gospel will address that need differently for each person. Whether people crave justice, freedom, community (friendship and acceptance,) forgiveness for guilt-ridden consciences, peace, hope, or any other personal need in an empty soul, Jesus fills that longing. A pastor on the radio actually said that there is a “different Gospel for each person,” meaning people receive the Gospel based upon what they need. Ultimately we all need freedom from the curse of sin. But that curse impacts people differently. When we know what an unbeliever needs, we can better minister to her or him. The Gospel can address the longing in each individual’s heart. Even while he ministers differently to different people, Jesus does not change (Heb. 13:8.)
God makes people with innate differences, and He allows them to experience life in different ways. As a result, people will have different pain and longings. Distinct aspects of the Gospel will attract these individuals. The woman at the well (John chapter 4) had been used and abandoned by five husbands so she currently lived with a man instead of marrying him. Jesus spoke to her about her physical needs (water,) relational needs (asking to see her husband) and eventually spoke about her eternal needs. Only after this did she open her heart and surrender to Jesus as her Messiah.
In John 8:10b, Jesus asks a woman, caught in adultery, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” He addressed her initial need to be safe from those who wished to kill her. Then (verse 11) with his words, “Neither do I,” he showed her respect and esteem, which neither her accusers, nor her society offered her. It was only once he reassured her she was safe, and he showed her he respected and esteemed her, could he then tell her, “Go and sin no more,” (verse 12.) He had earned the right to present the sin part of the Gospel—that we are sinners who need a savior. First, Jesus had to show her he was her savior before he could remind her of her sin and urge her to walk away from that sin.
Yet some people need a harsh reply first. Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery to him, and thus they heard him say he did not condemn her but for her to go and sin no more. But Jesus also warned them about their desire to receive human honor while ignoring God’s honor (Matt. 23:5-7.) Jesus also said in Matt. 15:3 “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” Later he said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness,” Matt. 23:23. This kind of rebuke may sound radically opposed to the Gospel, since we call it the Good News. Yet before we can hear this good news, we need to recognize the bad news that we were all born as lost sinners. While the Pharisees had wealth, comfort, and prestige, they did not see their sin. So Jesus spoke to this hidden need of theirs. Did his rebuke bear fruit? Yes! Scriptures speak of Pharisees who turned to Jesus, from famous ones like Nicodemus and Saul (who later became known as Paul the Apostle), to the unnamed Pharisees who also followed Jesus (as mentioned in Acts.)
At times I have sensed a tender heart and listening ear, and I have asked unbelievers gentle questions. At others times I have used harder words, talking about sin, obedience and listening to God’s voice. I spoke based upon what the Lord revealed to me about that person’s needs. We cannot minister the Gospel to others unless we know the hunger of our audience’s heart. Some people, like the woman at the well and the woman accused of adultery clearly knew their sins and needs. Others, like the Pharisees did not recognize their needs. So we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. We also need a willingness to ask people questions to find out what they need. Compassionate, respectful questions like Jesus used can help us understand a hurting person’s heart. Then we can minister the Gospel according to each individual’s needs.
Although the Gospel speaks the same hope and salvation in Christ to all people, it will meet different needs based upon the individual’s heart. We participate with the Lord in ministering the Gospel to meet the ache of each person’s soul.
Thanks for joining us in this week’s post. I pray we’ve blessed you. Please let me know how the Gospel ministered to you personally, or how you’ve been able to meet an unbeliever’s personal needs for the Gospel. May the Lord bless you this week!