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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 - VI
In the last article we considered the words "that He." We looked at one of the reasons the Father was pleased with the Son; He took great delight in the Son because of His obedience. Now we want to look at the obedience of Christ in presenting the word or message of God. He did not change it or rearrange it; He was faithful to the One who sent Him.
In the Old Testament, the message (oracle) that was given by the herald, crier, prophet, or man of God, was often referred to as, "the burden of the word of the Lord," Malachi 1:1. In Zechariah 9:1, and 12:1, God's message is called, the burden of the word of the Lord. In Habakkuk 1:1, and Nahum 1:1, the message is called the burden. Now why is that, why was God's message or word considered a weighty, or heavy thing, something of great responsibility?
Because the prophet was going to be held accountable to God, for delivering His message accurately. God's judgment was on all those who were disobedient to Him. I Kings 13:1-3 gives the account of a man of God who was unfaithful to the message given by God; he was killed by a lion. Even the wicked Balaam, who sold himself for a fee, could not go beyond the word of the Lord, Numbers 22:18.
In Deuteronomy 4:2, God had given clear direction to Moses and Aaron concerning His word. "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." This theme of accuracy and accountability in presenting God's message, is taught throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
One of the most abused and misused verses in Scripture is in I Peter 4:11, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." Notice, the one who is preaching or speaking, is being admonished; not the people who are listening. The speaker is to be a good steward (verse 9), and present the word of the One who sent Him accurately. He is to be a good representative of the Message Giver.
Jeremiah 23:28 says it very well, "And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully." I believe it was Chuck Swindoll who once said, "The only inspired thing a pastor will ever say is when he is quoting the word of God." John R. W. Stott, in his book, the Preacher's Portrait, says this; "In the ideal sermon it is the Word which speaks, or rather God in and through His Word."
Jesus was obedient to the Father in presenting the message accurately; and in representing the One who sent Him. In John 8:26 Jesus said, "but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things." John 12:49 says, "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak." Are we following the example of Christ and being accurate with God's word? Contact the author at: (thoughtsonword@gmail.com) if you have any comments or questions.
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published three books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016 and Eye of a Needle in 2017 and Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.