Weekend Bible Reflections With Jon

soldiers, who would deliver Him into their hands. However, upon the officers’ return, they were emptyhanded. They did not bring the intended victim. Why? “No one ever spoke like this man” ( John 7: 46). They were right.

No one ever spoke about life like Jesus. What He said would bring happiness was completely different from this world. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” ( Matthew 5: 3). The world says joy and happiness comes from satisfying the flesh. Jesus says it is just the opposite.

No one ever spoke about influence like Jesus. He said that Christians are to be the salt and light of the world ( Matthew 5: 1316). Salt is a preserver and light is a revealer. Such is the role of the saint in an age of sin and darkness. Christians are the reason God has not yet destroyed the universe because their obedience make this sin- filled world palatable to Him and attracts more souls to His salvation. How tasteful are you to God? How brightly does your light shine?

No one ever spoke making more demands. He told His listeners, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” ( Matthew 5: 20). Jesus, the Master Teacher, had a desire to take His students to a higher level. He has high expectations for His followers. Unlike the religion of the Pharisees, Christianity is a religion concerned about changing the heart of man.

No one ever spoke with such originality. Jesus studied under no man. In Matthew 5, Jesus says, six different times, “You have heard that it was said… but I say unto you.” God’s own voice thundered from heaven, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him” ( Matthew 17: 5). How well do we listen? The Bible says that the righteous person delights in studying the law of the Lord on a daily and nightly basis ( Psalm 1: 1- 2). Does that describe you and me?

No one ever spoke like this man when unmasking hypocrisy. He warned us, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” ( Matthew 7: 15- 16). No one can hide his true nature from Christ. The Bible says, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” ( Hebrews 4: 13). God can see all things, including the heart of man.

No one ever spoke with such hope as Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, He told us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” before going on to compare how fathers provide for their children to how God provides our necessities as well ( Matthew 7: 712). If we can trust our earthly fathers, do we not realize that our Heavenly Father is more loving, caring and able than our fathers in the flesh?

No one ever spoke with such authority as Jesus. When He finished the Sermon on the Mount, the Bible says that “the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” ( Matthew 7: 28- 29). In fact, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him ( Matthew 28: 18), and we should submit ourselves to Him. We call Him our Lord, but do we do what He says? ( Luke 6: 46)

Just as the officers of the chief priests and Pharisees were in awe of Him, so it was with those who heard Him. Even today, if one will hear His voice, he will stand amazed and say, “No one ever spoke like Jesus.”