Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

“GREAT CROWDS APPROACHED HIM” 141
“This crowd that does not know the Law are accursed
people.” (John 7:49) Later rabbinic writings confirm that
attitude. Many religious leaders viewed such people as
contemptible, refusing to eat with them, buy from them,
or associate with them. Why, some insisted that there
was no hope of a resurrection for such ones who did not
know the oral law! Many lowly people must have shied
away from such leaders rather than asking them for help
or guidance. But Jesus was different.
8 Jesus mingled freely with the common people. He ate
with them, healed them, taught them, and gave them
hope. Of course, Jesus was realistic, acknowledging that
most would reject the opportunity to serve Jehovah.
(Matthew 7:13, 14) However, he viewed each individual
with hope and saw in many the potential to do what was
right. What a contrast to those hard-hearted priests and
Pharisees! Surprisingly, though, even priests and Pharisees
approached Jesus, and a number of them did change
their ways and follow him. (Acts 6:7; 15:5) Some of the
rich and powerful also found Jesus to be approachable.
—Mark 10:17, 22.
9 Women did not hesitate to approach Jesus. They
must often have felt the withering contempt of religious
leaders. The rabbis generally frowned upon teaching
women. In fact, women were not allowed to testify
in legal cases; they were viewed as unreliable witnesses.
The rabbis even said a prayer in which they thanked
God that they were not women! Yet, women found
no such contempt in Jesus. Many approached him, eager
to learn. For instance, we find Lazarus’ sister Mary
sitting at the Lord’s feet, absorbed in listening to Jesus’
9. Why did women find Jesus approachable?