Daily Devotional Dives - When Jesus Speaks

Jesus often connected with the people of His time and spoke, sometimes rather pointedly with them.  He wanted them to know Him and who He was and to have a relationship with Him. 

Take, for instance, speaking to the crowds...

"O unbelieving and perverse generation...how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?  Bring your son here..."  (Luke 9:41).

Helping the boy would have been an astonishing event for the crowds.  Did they connect it to Jesus being the Son of God? 

To an expert in the law He said,

"What is written in the Law?...How do you read it?" (Luke 20:26)

"Which of those three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (Luke 10:36).

It strikes me that the way Jesus spoke to the general crowds was almost the same way as He spoke to His disciples; in an instructing, teacher-pupil vein.  This in contrast to the more forceful style He often used with the Pharisees and experts in the law.  These two groups of people were more well-versed in Scripture and should have known better.  

These two groups should have recognized their Messiah; when He should come and what He would be like and what He would be doing.  They couldn't, didn't or wouldn't acknowledge who Jesus was/is.

The disciples had a slight advantage over the crowd, though, as they lived and walked with Jesus constantly and could therefore gain knowledge of Jesus and His purpose and work among the people firsthand.

Jesus did reach out to the people at their various levels to help them, or give them the opportunity to grow in their knowledge of Him.  He often woke them up and started them in the right direction of thought.   He pointed out to them what was right before their eyes, yet many just could not see or understand that Jesus was who He said He was; the Son of God, their Messiah.

How about us?  Jesus still speaks to us through the words in the Bible.  His Holy Spirit is still active.  Are we listening, connecting and growing our relationship with Him?

                                                     ~ERC  2017~
                                      Originally written March 1996; adapted for blog July 2017