Jesus stood up and spoke in a loud voice…
John 7:37
loud sound
How often do you see Jesus speaking out loud? Over the years, countless artists have portrayed Jesus in keeping with his gentleness. Over the years, the composers of the hymns have portrayed Jesus with quiet humility at heart. For years, illustrators of children’s Bible storybooks have depicted Jesus with a tenderness at heart—and for good reason. After all, when our Savior came to this earth, He had all these qualities, and He possessed them to the fullest.
Yet, a steady stream of these depictions in art, music, and children’s depictions can lead us to a misleading impression. A benign, harmless picture of Jesus from my childhood might give my adult self the idea that Jesus is sitting quietly in a far corner of my world, hands folded, a slight smile on his face, ready to lend a hand when asked, but determined not to be disturbed.
Such thoughts about Jesus can be convenient, especially when my old, sinful nature does not want Him to get in my way. But such a thought is wrong.
The Apostle John writes that, when the need arose, Jesus did not hesitate to speak out. He was determined to attract people’s attention. He was determined that people’s eyes were fixed on him. He was determined that people should listen to him.
This reminds us of something regarding God’s Word. God’s Word is not just information. There is power in the Word of God. And the Holy Spirit uses that power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, melt hearts of stone spiritually, and open deaf ears spiritually.
Never forget that Jesus Christ is speaking to you through His Word. He is talking to you with patience. He is speaking to you firmly. But he is also talking to you insistently. And if necessary, he will not hesitate to speak loudly to you. He is determined to get your attention. He is determined that you set your sights on him. He is determined that you will listen to him.
After all, He died to cleanse you. And now he lives for you. He loves you very much.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, use the power of my Savior’s Word to enter and renew my heart. Amen.
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used with permission from Zondervan. All rights reserved world wide.
