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This will be an interactive teaching. We are going to learn from each other as we learn from the greatest Influencer to ever walk this earth…Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
A Little Bit about Influence
What is influence? It is the capacity to have an effect on someone. That “someone” can be you or someone else. Yes, you can influence yourself just like you can influence another person. This can be used in a positive manner or a negative manner. Influence pours over into the topic of leadership. If you can influence someone, you can lead them.
This rule applies whether the other person is at a lower, equal, or higher level of authority than you. If you can influence someone, you can lead them (sometimes without the other party even being aware that it is taking place). This is because true leadership is influence. Everything else, such as rank, title, and official position is just structural management.
Jesus was focused on self-development, through His connection with His Father. We see this in Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Jesus was also focused on the development of others. We also see this in Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
With this in mind, it would do us well to learn the importance of both self-development and developing others, like Jesus did!
At the end of each of the following scenarios, I will ask three discussion questions, which I want everyone to be ready to answer. I will even give you answers along the way.
Discussion Questions:
- Who did Jesus influence?
- How did He influence them?
- How can we influence people in the same way Jesus did in this situation?
Jesus Influences Others in a Sensitive Situation
John 8:3-6 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, (4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him…
Notice how they tried to influence Jesus. 1) They used his title “Master”, probably thinking this would appeal to His ego and cause Him to drop His guard. 2) They gave what most people would probably define as an open and shut case. “this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act”. 3) They set up, what seemed like an easy question, “What sayest thou?”
John 8:6b–7 …But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. (7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
Notice the influential approach Jesus takes here. He ignores those who were considered to be the highest authorities in the nation of Israel. He is influencing them in a way of which they are not even aware. It’s a way they are not used to being influenced; namely not being able to oppress someone simply by the use of their rank and position.
Rudyard Kipling said of this, “Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.” This poverty of which Mr. Kipling writes could be financially poor or it could mean how poor you are in influencing people when you thought you were rich in this area.
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Notice now how Jesus influences these people. He says certain words in certain ways to get them to come to a realization, on their own, and then take action on that realization.
Most people will not care for most counsel you give them, no matter what they tell you. But, if you can influence them to come to a conclusion on their own, they will most likely take that counsel because they will feel they came up with it themselves.
John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Notice how Jesus influences this woman. He did not give her the information directly. He asked her a question, “hath no man condemned thee?”, which warranted a response from her, “No man, Lord”.
By asking her the question, and letting her answer it for herself, this did two things. 1) He allowed her to declare her own freedom from condemnation and 2) She became a witness to herself that she had been made free from the penalty she deserved.
Jesus then influenced her in one more way. He gave her a sense of accountability. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”. What does this approach of influence do? It lays the responsibility to do better squarely in the hands of the decision maker themselves, as it should be. As if to say, “You’ve been given leniency, learn from it and become better because of it!”
What better ways to influence others than to take the approach that Jesus takes in this situation?!
Discussion Questions:
- Who did Jesus influence?
- How did He influence them?
- How can we influence people in the same way Jesus did in this situation?
Next Level Living 