When someone who has authority speaks, people listen, and it doesn’t really matter what they speak on, if they have a significant amount of authority in almost any area, people assume that their opinion in other areas have more validity. In business circles men like Trump, Gates, Schwab, and others are and have been well known and respected for their massive successes, and people attend to them when they speak. In the leadership world men like Andy Stanley have come to the forefront and draw large audiences whenever they address the public. In the church world Driscoll, Piper, and even Washer all have gained a following which listen to all that they can receive of their words. Numerous actors, actresses, athletes, and musicians all speak on various topics and receive great attention.
My question then is, if we attend so readily and gladly to the voices of humans who have some authority, how much more should we attend to the words of God himself? Certainly, men like Bill Gates and Andy Stanley have knowledge in their field, but does not the Lord – the creator and sustainer of all things – have knowledge in every field, even those beyond our comprehension? Oh man, heed when God himself speaks! No idle words fall from those celestial lips; there is no wasted syllable or pointless annunciation. Listen, for in those words there are life and wisdom. As the first of the Psalms declares, the man who “meditates day and night” upon the law (the words) of the Lord will be blessed, bearing much fruit and never withering. If there was a man who never spoke a lie and who would never speak something in error, surely we would take heed to his words! God is not a man, but his word is truth and never fails. Listen, therefore, and gain knowledge.
But some will ask me, “How would God speak to man?” Rejoice, all you peoples, for he has! Through Christ, the son of the God most High, we hear the very words of God. Christ says in John 8 that, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” When Jesus Christ speaks, he speaks with all the same authority and power of God, for he is from God and is God. I charge you, heed his words for they too are life, wisdom, knowledge, and peace.
If, then, we tend to the words of God through Christ, then should we not pay particular attention to the moments where he reveals the reasons for what he has said? If we understand the reasoning behind the words, their meaning will become infinitely clearer. Just like the oft quoted, “give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime” so it is with the words of Christ; if we receive his words and take them in, they will give us nourishment for a time, but if we understand the workings behind them, will we not have a much deeper, more lasting source of sustenance? I believe so. Therefore it is my aim in the next five (and perhaps more) posts to dive into Jesus’ given reasons for why he says what he says to his disciples as he is nearing the end of his life. The scriptures I’m starting from are found mostly in John 15-17, as Jesus discourses to his disciples as they finish the Last Supper.
The riches of this section of scripture are immense, and I would encourage you to go dive into it now. Jesus, knowing full well that his life is nearly over, imparts to his disciples a mass of knowledge that would take even the greatest of scholars a lifetime to unpack to its fullness. I am no scholar, but I hope to share with you the bits and pieces that I see here in God’s word. Go, read, and marvel at the expanse which is covered here; from the Holy Spirit to suffering to loving one another to his return, there is much to see.
I’m excited to write these few posts, especially since, to my memory, I have yet to really do a series of connected posts, save perhaps by divine providence. I’m not sure what the period of time over which I will write this will be, but hopefully it will be sooner than later. Keep checking back occasionally to see what new stuff is coming! The first reason that Jesus gives for what he is speaking and that we will be seeking to understand is, “that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) For now, I will leave you with this final reminder; pay attention to the words that God speaks. Not to do so is to run headlong into disaster.
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