The Journey to Christ

Goal

Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Jesus answered, “The most important is:
‘Listen (Shema), Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The expert in the law said to him,
“That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.
And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest!
The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together.
The saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have laboured and you have entered into their labour.”
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever did.”
…they began asking him to stay with them. He stayed there two days, ⁴¹and because of his word many more believed.

For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly…
Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”
Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become what I am…”

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said,
“Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?”
They replied, “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!”

Nicodemus, the man who had previously come to Jesus at night, accompanied Joseph, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds.
Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs.
…they placed Jesus’ body there [in the tomb]

Don’t expect someone to be saved immediately after a short conversation (but they might)
God is working—you don’t have to do it all
Your part is to assist in the process
You need wisdom to understand where they are (as Jesus did)