Jesus' Ministry 'As He Passed By' 

Jesus' ministry exemplified effortless and spontaneous service, characterized by natural and graceful actions that enhanced the lives of others without deliberate planning. As Jesus journeyed through life, he seamlessly combined daily interactions with profound acts of kindness, embodying the truth that he truly went about doing good. His profound connection with people was not just about healing or teaching but involved genuinely loving and understanding them, bringing joy and solace as he passed by. His life was filled with a heartfelt spontaneity that saw him spread health, happiness, and spiritual enlightenment wherever he went.

Jesus spread good cheer everywhere he went. He was full of grace and truth. Those who knew him never ceased to wonder at his gracious words. You can cultivate gracefulness, but graciousness is the aroma of friendliness that emanates from a love-saturated soul.

The Master really understood people, and he treated them with sincere compassion and genuine sympathy. While his compassion was boundless, his sympathy was practical, personal, and constructive. Never did his familiarity with suffering breed indifference, and he could minister to distressed souls without increasing their self-pity.

Jesus could help people as much as he did because he sincerely loved them – each man, woman, and child. He could be such a true friend because of his remarkable insight – he knew so fully what was in the heart and mind of each human being. He was an interested and keen observer, an expert in comprehending human needs, and clever in detecting human longings.

Jesus was never in a hurry. He took time to comfort people when and where he saw the need. And he always made his friends feel at ease. He was a charming listener. He never engaged in the meddlesome probing of the souls of his associates. As he comforted hungry minds and ministered to thirsty souls, the recipients of his mercy did not so much feel that they were confessing to him as they were conferring with him. They had unbounded confidence in him because they saw he had so much faith in them.

He never seemed curious about people, and he never desired to direct, manage, or follow them up. He inspired profound self-confidence and robust courage in all who enjoyed his association. When he smiled at people, they experienced an increased capacity for solving their problems.

Jesus' approach to teaching was personable and empathetic. He often initiated conversations by posing questions that drew out people's thoughts and feelings, which he then addressed with insightful responses. This method not only engaged individuals but also tailored his spiritual guidance to their specific circumstances, making his lessons particularly resonant and transformative.

Some specific examples of Jesus' personal ministry as he passed by individuals in Rome:

• To a Roman senator, he discussed politics and statesmanship, leading the senator to pursue reforms that would shift governmental responsibility back onto the people rather than having the government support them.
• With a wealthy slaveholder, after discussing human dignity and divine sonship, the slaveholder was moved to emancipate 117 of his slaves.
• During a dinner with a Greek physician, Jesus emphasized the importance of addressing the mental and spiritual health of patients - alongside their physical ailments, which inspired the physician to broaden his medical practice to a more holistic approach.
• To a Roman soldier walking along the Tiber, Jesus spoke of bravery, justice, mercy, and the pursuit of spiritual values over mere physical courage, enriching the soldier's ethical and spiritual outlook.
• At the Roman forum, Jesus critiqued a speaker’s eloquent but spiritually lacking oration, encouraging him to find fulfillment in knowing God, which eventually led him to succeed Peter as a preacher of the gospel.
• In court, when he appeared before a magistrate to argue for justice for a falsely accused man. This act not only resulted in the man's acquittal but also served as a rare semi-public appearance where Jesus directly challenged the social and judicial norms of the time.

These interactions illustrate how Jesus skillfully combined deep personal engagement with practical advice that often led to significant life changes for the individuals involved. His activities ranged from private conversations that adjusted personal and professional paths to public declarations and defenses. His ministry was marked by a profound commitment to personal transformation and social justice, underscored by his unwavering dedication to reveal the love of God and the truth of human brotherhood.

One of the most well-known incidents of doing good as he passed by was the cure of a woman, who reached out and touched his clothing. There were many people around, jostling him, but Jesus noticed her. He said: “Someone touched me.” As he looked around, his eyes fell upon a nearby woman. She came forward and knelt at his feet, saying: “For years, I have been afflicted with bleeding and uncleanness. I have suffered many things from many physicians; I have spent all I have, but none could cure me. Then I heard of you, and I thought if I could touch the hem of his garment, I would certainly be made whole. And so, I pressed forward with the crowd as it moved along until, standing near you, Master, I touched the border of your garment, and I was made whole; I know that I have been healed of my affliction.”

Jesus took the woman by the hand and, lifting her up, said, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace.” It was her faith, not her touch, that cured her. The Master was always ready and willing to stop a sermon or detain a multitude while he ministered to the needs of a single person, even a little child. Great things happened not only because people had faith in Jesus but also because Jesus had so much faith in them.

Jesus took every opportunity to give advice to people who would benefit and be comforted by it. His entire life was spent showing interest in others and helping them with whatever they needed most. He was always friendly. As a rule, he said the least to those he taught the most.

During his trip to Rome, there was an event in which Jesus spent several hours restoring a lost child to his anxious mother. This little boy had wandered away from his home, and Jesus found him crying. Afterward, reflecting on the incident with one of his students, Jesus said: “Many people spend much of their time crying in fear and suffering in sorrow when, in very truth, they are but a short distance from safety and security, even as this child was only a little way from home. And all those who know the way of truth and enjoy the assurance of knowing God should esteem it a privilege, not a duty, to offer guidance to their fellows in their efforts to find the satisfactions of living.”

In Rome, there was an encounter with a widow and mother of five children whose husband had been accidentally killed. Jesus told his student companion about the loss of his own father by an accident, and they went repeatedly to comfort this mother and her children, providing food and clothing. Jesus did not cease this effort until he had found a position for the eldest boy so that he could help in the care of the family.

Jesus’ service was usually spontaneous. And it behooves the Master’s followers of all ages to learn to minister as “we pass by” – to do unselfish good as we proceed through our daily duties.