The world’s greatest teacher of all time was without a
doubt, Jesus Christ! He always said the right thing no matter what
situation
confronted Him. His use of words was truly unique and unlike any other.
His inimitable
method and style of teaching astonished many of those who heard Him.
“For he
taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”
(Matthew 7:29). Even
the enemies of the Lord were impressed with His words. On one
particular
occasion Jesus was in the Temple
in Jerusalem
during the Feast
of Tabernacles (cf. John 7:14).
He
had been very bold, as usual, in answering the skepticism and criticism
of some
of the Pharisees and scribes (cf. John
7:16ff).
Jesus had mentioned the fact that He and His doctrine had come from God
(John
7:16-18), which was more than any unbelieving Jew could take. So,
“…the
Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him”
(John 7:32b). However,
these officers did not bring the Savior back with them, and when
questioned as
to their reason they declared, “…Never man spake
like this man” (John 7:46b). A
truer statement has never been uttered!
Never man
spake like this man because Jesus spoke with tender compassion.
When
Jesus extended an invitation for all of mankind to come to Him, His
words were
inundated with compassion and concern (cf. Matthew 11:28-30). Tender
compassion was at the very heart of the
Savior, in fact it could be rightfully said that real compassion and
caring
emanate from Jesus (cf. John
15:13).
“But when he saw the multitudes, he
was
moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were
scattered
abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36, emp.
added). Does Jesus
care? Oh Yes He Cares I know He cares, His heart is touched with my
grief (cf. Hebrews 2:17-18;
4:15). Never man spake like this
man because Jesus spoke with tender compassion!
Never man
spake like this man because Jesus spoke with timeless authority.
While
on the Mount of Transfiguration, the timeless authority of Jesus was
made
manifest from the Father, “…This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear
ye him” (Matthew 17:5, emp. added). Just prior to
His Ascension, Jesus
reminded mankind of this timeless authority again, “And Jesus
came and spake
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth” (Matthew
28:18). There is no power outside the power and authority of Jesus
Christ (cf. John 19:11;
Daniel 7:13-14).
Never man spake like this man because Jesus spoke
with timeless authority!
Never man
spake like this man because Jesus spoke with total commitment.
His
dutiful words, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was
lost” (Luke 19:10), reveal to us the commitment which was
involved in His task.
Jesus did not stop short of fulfilling His commission in saving mankind
(cf. Hebrews 7:25-28; 10:7-9).
What more words could be
spoken concerning his total commitment than that which was uttered from
Calvary’s
Cross, “…It is finished…”
(John 19:30b). “He
had come, had ministered, had suffered and had conquered. By his
righteousness
Jesus had triumphed in man’s behalf and the mighty task was
accomplished…”
(McGarvey 731). Never man spake like this man because Jesus spoke with
total commitment!
Concerning
the Master’s use of words, truly, never man
spake like this man. Tender
Compassion, Timeless Authority
and Total
Commitment were behind the words of Jesus. Oh, how
different the world
would be if each one would only listen closely to the words of the
Lord! Little
wonder why God inspired Paul to write, “Let the word of
Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16a). The
world’s greatest teacher of all
time was without a doubt, Jesus Christ! Truly friends, “Hear
ye Him!”
Works Cited
McGarvey, J.W. and Philip Pendleton. The
Fourfold Gospel. Bowling Green:
Guardian of
Truth, Unknown.
