 They enjoyed being in his presence, even if they didn't believe he was the Messiah. Over and over, you see large crowds gather around Jesus with no intention of submitting to his Messiahship or understanding him to be God in flesh. But they're there. Why? Because there's a welcome presence. He's doing things that is uncharacteristic of the culture in which they live. They are attracted to that because it seems to them to be supernatural and not an idle tale, and they want to see it for themselves. It's apparent throughout his ministry.