Introduction
What attracts mankind to Jesus?
Today we preach salvation and repentance—and rightly so. But what about the apostles? They were, as far as Scripture presents, ordinary Jewish men living ordinary Jewish lives. Working with their hands, caring for their families, keeping the rhythms of the Law—nothing in the biblical record portrays them as notorious sinners or men steeped in any kind of scandal. Yet at the simple sound of Jesus’ command, “Follow Me,” they left everything without hesitation.
Today, many believers come to Christ through dramatic testimonies. But the apostles had none. They were not desperate outcasts seeking deliverance. They were fishermen, tax collectors, tradesmen—working-class men going about their daily routines when suddenly a Rabbi with no formal pedigree said, “Follow Me.” And they did. But, even as they followed, the disciples did not fully grasp what their surrender would ultimately require. Why did they follow?
When the apostles first heard those words, “Follow Me,” their response was largely an external commitment—an obedience of the feet. But after three years of walking with Him, beholding His glory, witnessing His suffering, His resurrection, and His love, Jesus spoke the same words again. “Follow Me.” This time, the call pierced the heart. This time, the commitment was not simply to walk behind Him, but to die for Him. – to be martyrs. But not at first. When they were really needed, they fled. Their following was disastrous. These were the days of the flesh!
“And they all left him and fled.” Mark 14:50 ESV
Then, after the resurrection and the promise of sending the Holy Spirit, things changed. Jesus spoke the following words to John.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” John 21:18–19 ESV
Then they followed Him, and the world changed.
The Beginning
The Days of the Flesh
During the days of the flesh, where we all began, most of us were unaware of sin and its consequences. When our parents said, “Do this, or, “Don’t do that.” we obeyed or often suffered the consequences. God, however, was out of our purview. Unless we were taught by a parent or relative of God, we had no knowledge of Him. When we did gain some knowledge is was mostly inconsequential, being we just didn’t understand. We were, however, attracted to those things which made us feel good. As we grew older these feelings increased. These feelings may have been, for power, for money (greed), feeling important, sexual or just wanting to be recognized. “Look at me. I’m important.” Hence, sin, a fatal attraction, is introduced into our psyche.
Sin feels good. It can be very attractive giving you all you want whether it be material, physical or spiritual. Our mind in saturated with this fatal attraction. We, our feelings, our position in society, the power we wield and the wealth we have dominates our being and gives us a reason to continue existing. Self actualization is our goal and our stamp of approval for all the world see. Success, Importance, and the words “I did it by myself”, “I raised myself up by my own bootstraps”, make me feel good.
Unless we somehow have another attraction of some sort, a more powerful one, we are destined for final disaster.
Crossroads
What can possibly be so powerful to turn our heads and lead us down another, more attractive destination. Everyone comes to a crossroad of some sort. Which way do we go? Choices must be made. Which way is more attractive and more beneficial to me? And what brings us to this crossroad?
From the Bottom Up
Some of us choose a path, walk down it and come to a devastating end. This is not where we planned to go. We have reached rock bottom and there is no way up. It’s over. Then we hear a voice. It may come from somewhere in our mind or from some unknown person or preacher, or perhaps a friend, acquaintance, maybe even an enemy (I know of such a case.). “Follow me”. It may be instantaneous or it may come slowly, but somehow we leave the path we are on, cross an unknown terrain, pass through thickets, fight dragons of our own making and change. The attraction is life, peace and a future of unimaginable joy.
From the Top Up
Others have a fairly good life, relatively speaking. Good is defined by worldly standards. We have wealth, status power and favorable recognition. No need for religion, God or any interfering outsider here. Why change? The Apostles were somewhat in this condition. Although not wealthy they had a fairly good life in their little community. Like us waiting for the second coming of Christ they were waiting for the first coming. Who is it? Has it happened? Did we miss it? Within the very core of their heart they had a deep seated desire for something they were not even aware of. Something different. Something big. Something outside their understanding but tangibly real in their subconscious. The Scriptures speak of this “something”.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil (within God’s limits) —this is God’s gift to man. Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 ESV
The days of flesh demand freedom from the bondage of sin and those who hear the words “Follow Me” will come to an end. The longing for transcendence, looking for something more and far above human thought, stands close by.
The Witness
Those who bear witness to our Lord Jesus Christ—whether before a multitude or a single soul—must first understand the attraction that draws each listener. Are you speaking to someone marginalized and forgotten, to one who walks in affluence, to the educated or uneducated, or simply to a stranger passing through the crowd? Discover what captivates their heart, and then reveal to them a greater attraction—One far beyond anything human effort can produce. Introduce them to the One who can set their feet on a path walked only by those called by God Himself.
For nearly everything taught by the One who calls us stands in direct contrast to the lessons of this worldly kingdom. A new Kingdom opens before them—a Kingdom with a King not of this world, whose ways are holy, mysterious, and unlike anything they have known. The witness must therefore be a true disciple, marked by integrity and transformed character, carrying within themselves the fragrance of another world. This divine charisma does not point to the disciple, but draws all hearts toward Christ.
The Holy Spirit is His name. He sets the captive free, heals the broken, provides for the needy, and protects with a power no earthly being can imitate. His glory, His goodness, and His presence must be presented with such clarity and conviction that rejecting Him is seen for what it truly is—folly of the highest order. For those who refuse His call condemn themselves to an eternity apart from God, a destiny of spiritual ruin and hell.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
If it has not already become clear, it soon will: natural attraction to Jesus Christ is not enough and will ultimately fail. No matter how sincere or earnest our efforts, we as humans are incapable of drawing ourselves—or anyone else—to Christ by our own strength.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for far more than salvation alone and more than simply to be our Paraclete—our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate. The Holy Spirit is our divine Enabler. It is He who draws hearts to Jesus. It is by the Holy Spirit that men and women are saved. Scripture makes it unmistakably clear: there is no path by which mankind can be “good enough” to attain salvation on his own.
In the beginning, even the apostles were drawn to Jesus by an earthly, human attraction. But only after His death, resurrection, and ascension—when Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit—did their attraction become something divine, unshakable, and life-transforming.
It is this same Spirit who now works in us. Under His influence, the pull toward Christ becomes so powerful that we, like the apostles, are willing to lay down our lives for Him as He laid down His life for us. Some may be called to the path of martyrdom. Others will walk the path of discipleship and servant-hood—laying down their lives in whatever way the Father sees fit, all for His glory and for the prize toward which we run – a relationship with Him that will last through eternity.
“Receive the Holy Spirit” John 20:22 ESV
“Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him…” Luke 24:31 KJV
Conclusion
What draws you to Christ? What is the Attraction?
Before I entered Bible college, I had just been released from my position as the director of a company that closed its doors. At that time, I was a Christian who had long toyed with the idea of attending Bible school and entering the ministry. In prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to specific Scriptures—first in the Gospel of John and later in the Psalms.
“Lord, to whom shall we (I) go?” John 6:68 ESV
“Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?” Psalm 139:7 ESV
To answer the question that echoes through every generation—“To whom shall I go? Where can I turn?”—there is only one answer: “Follow Me” Go to the One who holds the words of life, the One who alone brings comfort, truth, and peace.
“Finding yourself” is not merely a scatterbrained question asked by wandering teenagers. It is a question every soul must confront in the search for meaning and purpose. Who am I? Why am I here? If you have never asked such questions, you should—for they guide the heart toward the One who formed you and knows you completely.
Those who ask are, knowingly or not, seekers of Christ. Their hearts reach for something higher than self-awareness, something deeper than human understanding. They are searching for the very thing only the Holy Spirit can reveal. And when He is found, something within awakens—an inner light, a sudden clarity, a God-given awareness, an attraction that only He can create.
Recently, while praying, I asked the Lord the following:
Lord, when will I finally master my words and my emotions and find my way?
His reply: “When you stop trying to control them yourself—and let Me.”
How, Lord?
His reply: “Abide in the Cross.”
Lord, I know of the Cross, but I do not yet understand.”
His reply: “You will.”
Lord, I believe… I will understand, because You have spoken it.”
His final word: “Then it is finished.”
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 ESV
Enough Said
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
