Have you ever met anyone who changed you after one interaction with them? Maybe it was a great substitute teacher that you only had once; maybe it was a visiting missionary or speaker at your church. Is it possible that you have played that role for someone else? When we read the numerous accounts of Jesus interacting with people, we find that they were changed at the end, and as Christ-followers, as His representatives (2 Corinthians 5:20), we have the potential to impact people’s lives in a single interaction. We are going to look at the end of some of these impactful interactions to see how people changed after meeting, listening to, and speaking with Jesus.

“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’” (Luke 19:8)

“The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’ So the people came streaming from the village to see him. (…) Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’” (John 4:28-30, 39)

“The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.’ So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:38-39)

“‘Why, that’s very strange!’ the man replied. ‘He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.’ (…) When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’
The man answered, ‘Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.’
‘You have seen him,’ Jesus said, ‘and he is speaking to you!’
‘Yes, Lord, I believe!’ the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.’” (John 9:30-33, 35-38)

Zacchaeus gave up his cheating ways and love of money, the woman at the well spread the news of The Messiah to her people unashamedly. The man who was possessed by demons obeyed Jesus and stayed in the town that had seen him possessed to spread the news of Jesus and tell them what He had done for them. The blind man spoke with boldness to the Jewish leaders and he worshipped Jesus. These are just a handful of examples of how people were changed after a brief interaction with Jesus.

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

How are people changed when they interact with you? One way or another, on some level, people are changed after interactions. Here are some questions to consider when you interact with people:
1. Do I care more about how people see me or about how people see Christ in me?
2. Do people feel encouraged after talking with me?
3. How well did I meet the need of the person I was talking to?
4. Did I get my point across or did I listen to understand their point?

“‘He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.’” (John 3:30)

“‘This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.’” (John 15:12)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.