Was Jesus a persuader? That depends on the definition of a persuader. Salespersons are persuaders, but their techniques can be very different. In one case, the product being sold is the persuader. In another case, the salesperson must use his or her personality or other techniques, even deceit, to manipulate the potential buyer into making the purchase. I find it repulsive when stores advertise an item for a good price but when a person attempts to purchase it; the store has certain strings attached, like making added purchases over a certain price.
When considering Jesus’ preaching and the miracles the Holy Spirit used to attract people to Him, you find that He never used pressure or perverse manipulating techniques to make converts. He called the twelve disciples, not by offering them security, a signing bonus, or a threat of any sort. Rather, He simply did whatever He saw or heard His Father in Heaven do, which may have involved a miracle, then invited them to come and follow Him. Keep in mind, He explained, I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does (John 5:19, NLT2). A real-time street witness of what Jesus said and did chides the religious leaders by saying if this man did not come from God, he would be unable to do anything (John 9:33, BBE). On other occasions when asked a hard, loaded-question, He simply turned tables on them and asked them a question that so exposed their subjective, evil attitude they refused to answer Him. Never did He defend Himself by using emotionally driven, manipulating appeals. Instead, He simply made a truthful and righteous statement and left them to decide.
We often justify our efforts of using persuasive speech by retorting that Jesus was divine and we are human. Indeed, He was divine, but also fully human. Paul wrote that instead of playing His deity card, he gave up (laid aside, refused to use) his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form. Philippians 2:7, NLT2). Without using human persuasive techniques, He left it to the Holy Spirit to bring the person to a decision. He limited Himself to human boundaries and provision by simply presenting the facts. Since His time on earth, the same Holy Spirit who inspired, counseled, guided and worked miracles through Jesus will continue to do His supernatural work.
As apprentices of Jesus, we must also be careful to not usurp the role of the Holy Spirit and substitute Madison Avenues manipulative techniques to persuade people to follow Jesus. We must restrict ourselves to report to others the Good News of Jesus Christ; the rest is up to God. Yes, the Holy Spirit may use us to say or do divine things as Jesus did. However, we must be very careful to do and say only what we see or hear the Spirit is guiding us to do or say—and then give Him praise and glory when people are persuaded to become believers.
In 1968, I still remember trying to use my human efforts to persuade our neighbors to become believers. The immediate, deeply troubling within was chilling. Paul explains, the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT2). Only the Holy Spirit can be the persuader! Our assignment is to surrender to His guidance in following up on what He has already done. Embracing this truth can minimize the weight we put on ourselves to make disciples. But we MUST take the initiative to do our part.