How did Jesus treat unbelievers?

[nebula]

can you give us an example of Jesus meeting such a person?

OK

An "unbeliever" is someone who rejects Jesus.

Mark 3

21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." . . .

31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Luke 9

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

An "unbeliever" is someone who does not seek Jesus.

Well, we hear about the ones that sought Jesus - Jairus, the centurion commander, the Samaritans after the woman at the well testified of Him, Zacchaeus, Peter and Andrew, the multitudes that came to Him for healing or to listen to His teachings. But what of those who didn't seek Him for healing (we know there had to have been those, because there will still sick people in the book of Acts in Israel - even at the Temple where Jesus often preached).

An "unbeliever" is someone who mocks Jesus.

Mark 3: 22 - And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

Mark 27

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him.

Luke 7:34 - The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." '

An "unbeliever" is someone who would stone Jesus for what He said about Himself.

John 8:59 - At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 10

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

An "unbeliever' is someone who questions His authority.

Matthew 21:23 - Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

An "unbeliever" is someone who tells Jesus to go away.

Matt. 8

33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

An "unbeliever" is someone who despises Jesus.

Herod, after Jesus refused to perform miracles for his pleasure.

An "unbeliever" is someone who plots to kill Him.

The High Priest and the others of the Sanhedrin.

An "unbeliever" is someone who claims Jesus is just a man.

Matt. 13

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

An "unbeliever" is someone who does not have nor expresses faith in Him.

Matthew 11:20 - Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

[nebula]

ok, you just gave us some good examples with the scripture with them

You asked me for examples. I was just giving you some.

so, how did Jesus treat those people in each of these cases?

That's what I was asking in my OP for others to answer.

It seems you are trying to make a point and that you already have an answer in mind, if that is the case, just come out with it already.

If I wanted to teach, I'd present a teaching.

But I'm looking for dialogue. And I'm interested in provoking thought rather than regurgitation.

[Pete Gorman]

This question could be two-part:

How did Jesus treat those who did not believe in God (the God of Israel) period?

How did Jesus treat those who did not believe in Him?

Matthew 8:28-34 Story anout the two demon possessed man who apparently did know Jesus. The demons did and beg Jesus to send them into the swine and He did.

What about how Jesus made these fishermen his disciples. They had no faith in Jesus until Jesus engage them and He made them His disciples. Woman at the well who was a Samaritan. Story of Nicodemus. Pauls conversion. Doubting Thomas. Judas. The soldier that got his ear cut off!

Im not 100% sure what you are getting at, however, it appears that Jesus was compasionate to the unbeliever and was harsh to those who claim to know God and did not live accordingly. Hypocrites.

I think you just hit it right on the head, at least according to my understanding! Jesus was the master of love and forgiveness. When he was dealing with those that didn't know or understand (the "sinners" of his time) he was compasionate and understanding. When he was dealing with the self righteous (Pharassies, etc) he wasted no time letting them know in very direct terms how lost they really were.

[nebula]

and you have been given examples and discussion on how Jesus treated unbelievers. and yet you have not responded to any of it other than to ask more questions.

Let me ask you this, how do YOU think Jesus treated unbelievers?

I asked a simple question. In reading the responses, it was apparent that the responders did not understand what I was thinking.

So I tried to clarify what I was thinking.

When I was asked who these people were, I gave references.

In essence, my question has not been answered.

I did not ask how Jesus treated "sinners" nor did I ask how Jesus treated followers who had lapses of faith nor did I ask how Jesus treated people who expressed faith in Him after they encountered Him.

I am asking how did Jesus treat those who did not, would not, refused to believe in Him.

I am still waiting for others to answer this question.

[nebula]

In an effort to help the discussion I will take your examples of unbelievers and examine how Jesus treated them.

OK - great. Thank-you!!

This is what I'm looking for.

I'd like to see some other responses, though. Plus, I have to get ready to teach lab, so I won't be on again for a few hours.

[nebula]

Sorry - I posted while you were writing apparently.

Should be back tonight to answer your question.

[lekh l'kha]

How did Jesus treat those who did not believe in Him?

Well, firstly, He did not heal them:

"And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Mat 13:58).

Second, He warned them of their impending judgment:

"Then He began to upbraid the cities in which most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent." (Mat 11:20).

Third, He told His apostles to wipe the dust from their feet if the people in a town would not accept them when they came in Jesus' name:

"And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Mat 10:14)

How did Jesus treat those who did not believe in God (the God of Israel) period?

Well, first, He let them know in no uncertain terms that the God of the Jews is the only true God:

"You worship what you do not know, we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews." (Joh 4:22).

Second, He would not allow His apostles to go to the Gentiles until after His ascension:

"But He answered and said, I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Mat 15:24).

"Jesus sent out these twelve, commanding them, saying, Do not go into the way of the nations, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans. But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Mat 10:5-6).

"But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Act 1:8).

Ever wonder what Paul meant when he wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16)?

Or ever wondered why, in the book of Acts, we always read about Paul going first to the diaspora Jews in a new town or city he had never before entered on his missionary journeys?

And if Jesus told His Jewish apostles to wipe the dust off their feet in the Jewish towns which rejected them when they came in His name, how about what he would say about the Gentile towns and homes which would reject Him?

The truth is, though the God of the Universe does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance, yet He never ever goes running after those who reject Him or those who do not believe in Him - whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Neither does he give we who believe the right to judge such people, or to despise them.

Lekh

[nebula]

OK, I'm back for a bit.

The reason I asked the question comes from something I've been searching for myself, and I began wondering if our perspectives on things are a little off.

I was asked to participate in another forum a few years ago, and I did for a season. It was very bizarre what I found in there. Although a Christian forum, the dominant voices were the atheists and agnostics. The most vocal of them had a hatred in his heart towards God. His posts often contained curses and blasphemies towards God, encouraged believers to doubt their faith, posted intimidating challenges, etc. Meanwhile the others backed him up with support and "I agree"'s and such.

The Christians on the forums, even the moderators, let him and them post as they pleased while those of us who challenged him and them were treated with contempt. After all, we are supposed to love the sinners, and you can't love if you are judging them.

So it got me thinking - would Jesus have allowed these atheists to blaspheme the Father like this?

So I began relooking at "the sinners vs. the hypocrites" theology.

And as I searched the Gospels, I was beginning to doubt that Jesus was embracing the sinners and rejecting the religious hypocrites. Rather, he was embracing those who sought and received Him - Pharisee (i.e. Nicodemus) or "sinner" while rejecting those who did not seek or receive Him - "sinner" or Pharisee.

[wyguy]

And as I searched the Gospels, I was beginning to doubt that Jesus was embracing the sinners and rejecting the religious hypocrites. Rather, he was embracing those who sought and received Him - Pharisee (i.e. Nicodemus) or "sinner" while rejecting those who did not seek or receive Him - "sinner" or Pharisee.

You just hit the nail on the head.

God loves the sinner, but it's a perfecting love. It's to allow the sinner the chance to repent. I mean, if God simply gave the unbeliever what he deserved, the sinner would be in hell this very second.

The unbelieving sinner is doing nothing but storing up wrath for the day of judgement. As far as God is concerned, in their unregenerated state, the unbelieving sinner is already a corpse. (Dead in their sins).

[nebula]

is it that cut and dry?

I was once the voice of the miltant agnostic, I was once the person spouting hate about God and the Bible. I was the one living the my life for the wrold and all the worldly pleasures. I was not searching for God at all. Yet, God did not give up on me and sent the right people into my life to bring me from the dark side to the light.

Actually, what you are dealing with is a different question. How the Lord directs situations or whatever into your life is a different matter than how as individuals deal with those who reject Jesus.

Do we let them blaspheme the Lord unchecked on Christian message boards and rebuke those who oppose them "in the name of love"?

Is that what Jesus would have done (comparatively speaking)?