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Jesus Christ was remarkable for His “mighty works and wonders and signs” (Acts 2:22). Those who heard Him were also “astonished at his teaching” (Mat. 7:28b). He was fully conscious of the significance of His words, as indicated by His repeated reference to “the words I have spoken.” Consider now His words in regard to their:
- Fountain: “The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself” (John 14:10b; cf. 7:16; 8:28; all emph. DM). If His message was not from God, He was a liar, perhaps an insane liar. However, His signs and miracles confirmed that He was neither (John 3:2; 20:30–31). Therefore, His words were not human philosophy or opinion, but Divine Truth.
- Force: “Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). He spoke these words to the apostles on the eve of His crucifixion. Their belief in Him and their obedience to His Word had cleansed them of their sins. Jesus’ words have the same power for all. His Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). He cleansed the church by “the washing of water with the word” (Eph. 5:26; cf. Jam. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:22).
- Fruitfulness: “The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life” (John 6:63). As physical food nourishes our bodies, so Jesus’ words (i.e., the entire New Testament) provide spiritual nourishment and life. When an honest heart receives this “seed of the kingdom,” it produces abundant good fruit (Luke 8:11–15).
- Faithfulness: “These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Jesus reminded His apostles that He had repeatedly identified Himself as the One toward whom the Old Testament pointed (e.g., Mat. 5:17; 22:42–45; John 5:45–46; et al.). They could thus depend on His identity claims (John 8: 24), teaching about His church/kingdom (Mat. 16:18–19), teaching about salvation (Mark 16:16), promises to the faithful (John 14:1–3), and promises about the Judgment (Mat. 25:31–46). He is “the faithful witness” (Rev. 1:5).
- Finality: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). We will not be judged by human tribunals or laws, but by the absolute Truth of Jesus’ words. He will have the final word.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, May 15, 2009].
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
