²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

Red letter Bibles are helpful for identifying the direct teachings of Jesus, but they are no more important than any other teachings found in Scripture. Some erroneously attribute more weight to quotations of Jesus as though they are unmitigated, straight from God’s mouth. This is uninformed, and even divisive. “All Scripture is inspired by God …” (2 Ti 3:16). To elevate Christ’s words above the rest of God’s Word constitutes wrongly “dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV). The apostles became very aware of this notion, as evidenced in Peter’s referring to Paul’s writings as being on the same level as “other Scripture” (2 Peter 3:16).

Some have suggested that there is a difference between inspiration at work in men as they interpret God’s message to us, as opposed to the uninterpreted, direct quotations of God Himself, in the mouth of Jesus, as though no human intermediary was involved. However, this is patently false on a number of fronts. First, the Gospel writers were selective in which words of Christ they included, as even a superficial comparison of the four accounts reveals. This emphasizes and thus interprets His teachings. Second, most scholars agree that Jesus probably taught in the common language of Palestine at the time, Aramaic. Yet, our gospel accounts are written in Greek, which involved a human translation which inherently requires some interpretation, as do all translations.

This does not diminish the teachings of Jesus. In fact, at this juncture in the gospel story, as He readies the disciples for the Holy Spirit’s presence, they have already been learning the import of His teaching: “… they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority” (Luke 4:32). They had heard Jesus contrast His teaching with the accepted rabbinical understandings by using the familiar formula, “You have heard it said … but I say …” in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt 24:35).

So now in the Upper Room, Jesus wanted the disciples to remember His words, the ones He spoke while with them. Years later, John remembered well and wrote, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life … what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1, 3).

Lord, thank You for giving us Your Word. By it we can fellowship with You.