“Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees—and they said unto them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘Never a man spoke like this Man’.”
John 7:46
When we listen with our heart, not just our head, we’ll know He’s “different.”
The Temple officers knew this after having been dispatched by the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus and bring Him to them (v.32). Even though it was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the ruling religious leaders were more concerned about taking Jesus out than they were about taking God’s Truth in.
Such is always the case when folks’ hearts are not right with God.
They have “a form of Godliness”—i.e., look like an angel and sing like an angel—but, by their actions they “deny the Power thereof” (II Tim. 3:5a), which means theirs is a religious veneer—all pretense, a sham, if you will.
No wonder the Apostle Paul said, “From such turn away” (II Tim. 3:5b).
Truly, those whose hearts are not right with God will always find fault with and oppose those whose hearts are right. Light and darkness can never have fellowship together (Eph. 5:11), for they are always like oil and water: Different views. Different values. Different priorities. Different pursuits. Different passions.
And, it was this “difference” that the officers noticed when they drew near to Jesus to take Him into custody:
“Never a man spoke like this Man,” they said when questioned as to why they didn’t bring Him back.
We shouldn’t be surprised that the Pharisees then lashed out at them: “Are you also deceived?!?” (v.47). Such is always the case, even among those with vile hearts, for soon they’ll even turn on each other when things don’t go as planned or expected.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, vindictive hearts are vicious hearts. The black bile of sin taints every part of one who’s filled with hatred. And, we shouldn’t be surprised when we, too, incur the wrath of those in whom a “root of bitterness” (Heb. 12:15) is allowed to grow.
That’s why Jesus’ Life and Words were so “different.”
They were filled with Power and Authority (Mt. 7:29). He didn’t have to stand in the Temple, reading from the Law in a monotonous monotone. No, His Words were “alive”. . . piercing (Heb. 4:12). . .enlivening (Lk. 24:27-32). . .convicting. . .yet, Life-giving.
Truly, God’s “only-begotten” Son was/is “one-of-a-kind.”
There’d never been one like Him before; there’s never been one since (though there have been many impostors—Mt. 24:4-5, 23-24). Therefore, we should “study to show ourselves approved unto God as workman who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (II Tim. 2:15). How else shall we be able to discern what’s right and wrong otherwise (Heb. 6:11-14)? May the Holy Spirit help us today to spend some time meditating on Who Jesus is and what He came to do; then, may we seek to help others know the Difference, too.
August 8, 2011
