Mark 12:37

"The Common People Heard Him Gladly"

When Jesus taught in the temple "the common people heard Him gladly" (Mark 12:37).

The gospel of Christ is God's power to save all who believe (Romans 1:16), but those most receptive to His message have always been commoners. Jesus even gave thanks to God, saying "that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25). Salvation is not reserved for the college educated, for captains of industry, or the crowned heads of Europe. The word of God is most appealing to those who prefer simplicity. Paul remarked, "not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

That common people could hear Him gladly indicates the Lord spoke to them in a way that was simple to comprehend. He didn't dumb it down for them, but neither did he speak over their heads. The message is meant to be understood, which is why God commanded the prophet Habakkuk to "Write the vision and make it plain" (Habakkuk 2:2). When the people of Judah returned from captivity and restored proper worship, Ezra's assistants "read distinctly from the book, in the law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8). Sound doctrine doesn't impress the audience with the preacher's eloquence (1 Cor. 2:1-5); it just communicates God's word in a straightforward fashion. When this is accomplished, common people will gladly hear it.

- by Bryan Matthew Dockens