No one ever spoke the way Jesus spoke. The words from the Bible and the methods employed made Him most unique. There is a debate as to whether Jesus was actually a Rabbi. I personally think He was because the term Rabbi simply meant teacher during the time of Jesus on earth. Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Nicodemus all referred to Jesus as Rabbi. John the Baptist was referred to by his disciples as Rabbi (John 3:26). It would not have been until after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD that the term would begin to carry a stricter definition with authority from official Judaism.

As Jesus spoke people were awed. No man had ever spoken like Jesus. There are preachers today that don’t care for “red letter editions” of the Bible. They think that it gives people the idea that the red words are most inspired than the black words. I don’t think that. As much as we talk about the inspiration of the Bible at Corinth, no one who attends regularly would think that. Personally, I like seeing the red. In our newsletter today, I want to cherry pick some of these red-letter words of Jesus which strengthen us today and has sustained Christians for two thousand years.

  1. Matthew 4:4, “It is written…” The temptation of Jesus is a well-known portion of the Bible. The Lord has been fasting and praying for 40 days. Physically exhausted and mentally exhausted, but spiritually strong. The Devil was no match for Jesus in this great temptation. A quick side-bar. The word “temptation” has two meanings in the NT. One means to test and the other means to encourage or solicit to do evil. The latter meaning is the one in play in this passage. The temptation from the wicked one was to turn stones into bread, jump off the pinnacle of the Temple and let the angels catch you and third, he tries to get Jesus to bow down to him by offering the kingdoms of the world. Each time Jesus doesn’t smack the Devil with the back of His hand. He doesn’t by the power of his deity dispatch him. But he does do something for you and me. He gives us the path to overcome temptation. The three times Satan opens his mouth with an evil suggestion, Jesus begins His answers the same way. He says, “It is written…” This is a lesson each of us must solidify in our minds if we are to have victory when we are tempted. We go to the Word of God for our strength. Our faith is strengthened by the very words of Jesus. The red-letter words are important.
  2. John 19:30, “It is finished.” Hanging on the cross, Jesus says 7 things during those awful, painful, and needed six-hours. The next to the last thing Jesus uttered was the words, “It is finished.” It had taken over thirty years to get to this day. But the day He came for had finally arrived. He had come to die for the sins of the world. As Jesus is suspended between heaven and earth He cries out, “Tetelestai.” This word means “it is finished.” What is finished? Salvation is finished. It has been paid in full, the transaction is complete. But it means more. It also means it is finished and will always be finished. It was a one-time transaction that is good for all time (Hebrews 10:10). My faith is strengthened when I remember that “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, but he washed it white as snow.”
  3. Matthew 14:27. “It is I.” The storm was raging and the ship was being tossed to and fro by the winds and waves. The disciples had been given instructions to go on over to the other side by the Lord, but now they are scared. It is already around 3 AM and they have been seized by fear throughout the dark night. Then suddenly, around the fourth watch, Jesus goes to these fearful followers. He walks on the water toward them. Things like this don’t just happen, it must be a spirit. Immediately Jesus seeks to calm them, and He says, “Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.” Each of us have had episodes in our lives when fear grips us. An old uncle of mine would say that he had been in “booger bottom” when he talked about being in certain scary situations. These men, like us, were scared. Fear grips us when the doctor tells us about our recent biopsy. Fear grips us when we get a call from the police about an accident one of our children has been in. Many, many things cause our minds to jump to conclusions and fear is one of the most common. Yet, Jesus told these men and also tells us, “Be of good cheer, fear not.” Why could He say this? Because He is God. He is the master of the storms that step into our lives. Nothing that comes into your life is greater than your Jesus.

Let’s take these little words “It is …” and then fill in the third word with written (we ransack our Bibles); then fill in the third word finished (confident in the salvation Jesus provided on the cross); then fill in the third word I (Jesus can handle anything you have happening in your life. Leave it with the Lord). I’m going to keep my “red-letter” Bibles.