The Words Of Jesus

-November 8, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words of Jesus which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’”

(Luke 4:22).

The people of Nazareth were amazed at the words of Jesus, yet they did not believe in Him. He was a hometown prophet, teacher, preacher, but He was too familiar to them. The old expression is true, “Familiarity breeds contempt,” is so true. They knew his earthly father Joseph, who a carpenter as was Jesus; they knew all his family members, and their educational and social backgrounds; and they could not understand where he got all His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. They failed to realize that He was the Messiah, the Son of God.

Matthew 13:57 describes in their sad and stunning rejection of Jesus, “So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in His own house.’ Now He did no mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Divine omnipotence was affected by their unbelief.

The words that Jesus spoke are those the Father gave Him to speak and were words of truth, spoken in grace, mercy, kindness, and love. No one could catch Him in His words, and the religious leaders finally gave up trying. He spoke to the people in parables, using earthly things that people were very familiar with to teach spiritual and heavenly truth. He told it like it was, not sugarcoating the words of truth. The Jewish religious leaders, who should have believed in Him and welcomed Him, were His greatest critics and rejected Him; but there were some who did believe like Nicodemus and others.

Not only were the words of Jesus beautiful, they were powerful as well. When the chief priests and scribes sent soldiers out to seize Him, they couldn’t do it. They returned back with the response, “No one ever spoke like this Man.” (John 7:46). It was not yet the time for Him to go to the cross for us. Even these hardened soldiers in the Roman army were amazed at the power of His words. Later, when they came to arrest Him, He asked them whom they were seeking. They replied, Jesus of Nazareth, and when He acknowledged that He was the One, they fell to the ground.

Some Bibles have the words of Jesus in red. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record them, but He said even more, He did even more. His life changing message was carried forth by the apostles and others. Souls have been saved, believers have been instructed, strengthened, and encouraged. The hymn writer Phillip Bliss wrote, “Christ the blessed One gives to all wonderful words of life; Listen well to the loving call, wonderful words of life. All the wondrous story, showing us His glory: Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.”

How have the words of Jesus affected your life? Have you heeded them? Do you live by them? He called each of disciples by two simple, yet powerful words, “Follow Me.” Will you follow Him freely and fully? His gracious, powerful words draw us to Himself. Tomorrow, part II, the Works of Jesus.

Have a blessed day listening to Jesus and obeying His words and all the Word of God. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean