“It Is Written” IT IS early in Jesus’ ministry. Christ has returned to Nazareth, his hometown. His goal is to help the people draw a vital conclusion: He is the long-foretold Messiah! What evidence does he present? Many would no doubt expect a miracle. They have heard reports of the amazing works Jesus has performed. He gives them no such sign, however. Rather, he goes to the synagogue, as is his custom. He stands up to read, and the scroll of Isaiah is handed to him. It is a long scroll, likely wound around a pair of rods, and Jesus carefully winds the document from one rod to the other until he finds the passage he seeks. Then he reads aloud what is now Isaiah 61:1-3.—Luke 4:16-19. The audience surely knows the passage. It is a prophecy about the Messiah. Every eye in the synagogue is fixed on Jesus. Silence hangs in the air. Then Jesus begins to explain, perhaps at length: “Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.” The audience marvels at his winsome words, but many evidently still want to see some spectacular sign. Instead, Jesus boldly uses a Scriptural example to expose their lack of faith. Soon, the people of Nazareth try to kill him!—Luke 4:20-30. Jesus here set a pattern that he maintained throughout his ministry. He relied heavily on the inspired Word of God. True, his miracles were of great importance in demonstrating that God’s spirit was with him. Yet, nothing carried more weight with Jesus than the Holy Scriptures. Let us examine the example he set in this regard. We will consider how our Master quoted from God’s Word, defended God’s Word, and explained God’s Word. Quoting From God’s Word Jesus wanted people to know where his message came from. He said: “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me.” (John 7:16) On another occasion, he said: “I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me I speak these things.” (John 8:28) Further, he said: “The things I say to you men I do not speak of my own originality; but the Father who remains in union with me is doing his works.” (John 14:10) One way that Jesus proved the truth of such comments was by quoting God’s written Word again and again. A close study of Jesus’ recorded words reveals that he quoted directly from or referred indirectly to over half of the books of the Hebrew Scripture canon. At first, that may not sound impressive. You may wonder why, in three and a half years of public teaching and preaching, he did not quote from all the inspired books available. In truth, though, he may well have done so. Remember, only a fraction of Jesus’ words and deeds are recorded. (John 21:25) In fact, you could probably read aloud all of Jesus’ recorded words in just a few hours. Now, imagine talking about God and his Kingdom for just a few hours and managing to work in references to over half of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures! Furthermore, in most cases Jesus did not have written scrolls at hand. When he delivered his famous Sermon on the Mount, he included dozens of direct and indirect references to the Hebrew Scriptures—all from memory! Jesus’ quotations showed his profound reverence for the Word of God. His audience “became astounded at his way of teaching, for there he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22) When the scribes taught, they were fond of referring to the so-called oral law, quoting learned rabbis from times past. Jesus never once cited the oral law or some rabbi as an authority. Rather, he viewed God’s Word as the final authority. Again and again, we find him saying: “It is written.” He repeatedly used those or similar words in teaching his followers and in correcting wrong ideas. When Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, he said: “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a cave of robbers.” (Matthew 21:12, 13; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11) The day before, he had performed many marvelous works there. Young boys, deeply impressed, began praising him. However, the religious leaders indignantly asked Jesus if he heard what those children were saying. He answered: “Yes. Did you never read this, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have furnished praise’?” (Matthew 21:16; Psalm 8:2) Jesus wanted those men to know that God’s Word authorized what was happening there. Those religious leaders later gathered together and faced Jesus, demanding: “By what authority do you do these things?” (Matthew 21:23) Jesus had made abundantly clear the Source of his authority. He had not innovated, inventing new doctrines. He was simply applying what his Father’s inspired Word said. Really, then, those priests and scribes were showing gross disrespect for Jehovah and his Word. They fully merited Jesus’ censure as he exposed the wickedness of their motives.—Matthew 21:23-46. Like Jesus, true Christians today rely on God’s Word in the ministry. God’s witnesses today are known the world over for their eagerness to share with others a message from the Bible. And in our ministry, we follow suit, endeavoring to feature the Scriptures whenever we talk to people. (2 Timothy 3:16) How it delights us when someone allows us to read from the Bible and to discuss the value and meaning of God’s Word! We do not have Jesus’ perfect memory, but we do have many tools that were not available to Jesus. In addition to the complete Bible printed in an ever-increasing number of languages, we have many Bible aids to help us find any verse we might seek. Let us be resolved to continue quoting from the Bible and directing people to it at every opportunity!
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 23:59:28 +0000
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