Close Encounters

 

       I have chosen to call this series of sermons “Close Encounters.”   I chose this title, because this series involves examining those occasions when Jesus met with individuals on a one on one basis.   All of these people were given a very rare opportunity.  For you see, out of approximately 6,000 years of recorded history, Jesus was only on this planet for thirty-three years, and He never traveled more than 200 miles from where he was born.  In addition to this, Jesus was often surrounded by large crowds of people who were listening to Him teach and vying for His attention.  So, all of these people we will be learning about had to have been living in that region of the world, and they had to have been given an opportunity to meet with Jesus on a personal basis.   I am sure that Jesus met personally with more people than those who are mentioned in scripture, and that fact makes these encounters even more significant.   I have said that because it means the Holy Spirit chose to place all of these specific encounters in the Bible for our instruction and edification.