Great News For Evangelism

[Jesus said,] “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

John 12:32

THERE ARE A lot of people (not just kids) who view vegetables as a necessary evil. They understand that vegetables are good for them. They agree that vegetables are part of a healthy diet, and they willingly eat vegetables several times a week—but they wish they didn’t have to. They could go the rest of their lives without tasting another stalk of broccoli or lettuce leaf.

In a similar way, most Christians understand that evangelism is a good and healthy part of following Jesus. We know that sharing our faith with others is important for God’s Kingdom, and we willingly go on missions trips or talk to our neighbors—but deep down, some of us wish we didn’t have to. Deep down, we’d be happier if someone else could do it for us.

Here’s the great news: someone else can do it for us! Jesus has already done the heavy lifting when it comes to evangelism—he shed his blood on the cross to open the door of salvation to all people. We don’t have to drag people toward Jesus, because he’s promised to draw all people to himself.

In the same vein, we don’t have to convince people that they’re sinners or get them to change their behavior—that’s not our job. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts people of their sins and works to make them born again. All we need to do is share the good news of our experiences as we follow the one who was lifted up on the cross.