The Words of Jesus Matter – “Sayings in the Wild”

The words of Jesus is not only the things that Jesus said, but also the things that Jesus modeled.What ever Jesus did was just as much the word as what he said. John’s Gospel in the first chapter reminds us, “And the Word was made flesh.” The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy to, “Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Your actions are just as powerful as your word (1Tim 4:14-15).

The discipleship that Jesus taught included words and deeds. The words of Jesus matter because he conveyed to his followers to not only pay attention to his words, but pay attention to all that he did. There is always a message in what he did. How he responded. How he lived. Paul picks up on this style of discipleship encouraging Timothy that your words and deeds matter, and that you should practice what you preach. People will be impacted not only by what you say, but also what you do.

Sayings in the Wild

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time (Luke 4:1-13).

We all should know this story. At the very starting point of Jesus’ ministry he modeled how we should all begin. He was filled with the Spirit, and then led by the same Spirit that he was filled with. Secondly, he took time out to isolate through fasting and spiritual intimacy. Spiritual intimacy provides the preparation needed for what was coming next… The devil. The devil is not some inanimate being flying around with wings and a pitch fork whispering in our ears. Sometimes the devil is an influence, an idea or a distraction to get us off our game or cause to derail before we even get started.

These saying of Jesus in this pericope are instructive, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone’…’Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him’…‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” The choice of texts used by Jesus is significant. They come from Dt. 8:3; 6:13, 16, passages which relate to Israel in the wilderness (4:1!), tempting God and being tested by him, and which occur in the context of the Shema, the authoritative claim by God upon Israel’s worship and loyalty. The temptation of Jesus—and of his followers—is to be seen as antitypical of the experience of Israel. But where Israel fell, Jesus shows the way to victory (G. H. P. Thompson*; B. Gerhardsson*; France, 50–53).

Jesus modeled before the knowledge of the word he possessed, which he made flesh in the wilderness. He took his knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures and used it against that demonic influence he encountered in the wilderness. Jesus showed us that in order for our words to matter like his we have to prioritize the Hebrew Scriptures, and not just New Testament Literature.