This chapter grabbed my attention and held it captive for the ten minutes it took to read these six pages. Here are some of the reasons why:
The entire life and work of Jesus is one great argument why we should listen to his word. Page after page of the New Testament Gospels pile up reasons to turn off the television and listen to Jesus (56).
Jesus’ ministry was so astonishing and so threatening that his adversaries wanted him out of the way. So the Pharisees “sent officers to arrest him” ( John 7:32). But to their dismay the officers came back empty-handed, not because Jesus had good bodyguards, but because his teaching was so stunning (56-57).
This authority [in Jesus’ words] was not because of a personality trait or a pedagogical technique. The reason is much deeper. His words have authority and power, Jesus says, because they are the words of God [ John 12:49-50; John 14:24] (57).
“You seek to kill me because my words find no place in you” ( John 8:37). That is a striking phrase: “My word finds no place in you.” Their minds and hearts are shaped (or stuffed) in such a way that when he speaks, what he says won’t fit in their hearts. This seems to imply that there is a certain readiness for Jesus’ word that goes before his word and enables us to hear him. That is in fact what Jesus teaches (59).
This is a sobering revelation. It means that our condition as fallen sinners unfits us for hearing the truth — especially as it comes from Jesus. We are not neutral like a metronome wand poised straight up between truth and error — waiting dispassionately to be inclined to one side or the other. No, we are heavily tilted toward selfishness and all the errors that support it (60).
I don’t know that I have much to add. I am sobered to think about who and what I listen to and to ask myself if I really listen to Jesus. It makes me want to wake up early and read the teachings of Jesus, to use my small breaks during the day to dig into the gospels, and to spend my leisure time meditating on the words of this man who astounded the highest religious leaders of his day, brought demons to their knees, opened the eyes of the blind, rebuked ravenous storms, called for our surrender and allegiance, and taught us the way of life. It makes me want to plead with God for a soft heart that can hear His Son and obey Him like a child.
Is your TV helping you or hindering you when it comes to hearing Jesus’ words? Does your internet surfing lay you open to the teaching of the King or stuff your heart with the apathy of worldly pursuits? Does your iPod amplify the life-giving voice of the God-man or suffocate it beneath waves of triviality? I wonder if we’re even capable of hearing His voice in our day with all the distractions and all the noise and all the competing enticements. We think we hear it, but often we hear the domesticated version, the edited version, the smoothed-over version. But those who really hear Jesus hear thunder. And we don’t usually act like we just heard thunder.
When a president speaks, you listen. When a judge speaks, you stand silent. When a rescuer gives instructions, you obey. King Jesus is speaking. Are you listening? Do you care?
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