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Show A VOICE NEVER HEARD BEFORE John 7: 45-53 As I think about of my life of the great speakers names like Sir Winston some experience, Churchill, President John F. Kennedy, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., writer Maya Angelou, and the Reverend J. H. Jackson when their faces are come seen, I to mind. Even recognize and can identify their voices whenever I hear them speak. This text is about heard before. It truth, wisdom, a voice that had not been voice of power, grace, and clarity. When Jesus spoke was a people heard Him gladly. In this setting, the religious leaders have taken the ultimate step. They are trying to stop the ministry and shut up the voice of Jesus. It is the day of the great feast and you would think that if nobody else attended the religious leaders would be there. Instead the chief priests and the even the common 1 Pharisees are seated in the comfort of their issuing warrants and giving orders. Although they are cautious of the crowd, they chambers anxious to get their hands on that unlearned preacher known as the carpenter's son from are They have been scheming to keep Jesus quiet, to snuff out his voice, and to stop His growing movement. Can I remind you that no human being can silence the voice of Jesus. Galilee. You do remember that He said, "If these of mine hold their peace, the rocks will cry out." They want the people to know that He is religious leaders, that they do not approve of His carryings on, and that not Jesus but the chief priest and Pharisees are the voices to listen to. They think their business is to enforce some kind of religious policy and politic. So look at them sitting and waiting in their council chambers, expecting the not one of the established officers to return with Jesus bound and chained. prisoner but with word of a preacher. When asked by the Instead, the officers arrive 2 not with a chief priest and Pharisees, the officers explained their empty hands, "Never man spake like this man." Notice, this is the last day of the great feast. opportunity to bring Jesus in. This is the closing day to still the voice of Jesus. The orders have been issued but disobeyed. The expectations are unfulfilled. The leaders are disappointed. Nobody could say that they have ever heard such wisdom before. Every speaker before was weak in comparison to this man. His words are clear and tempered with grace. There is a charming sweetness and a convincing spirit in This is the last the words of this There is man. something about the voice of Jesus spoke at twelve years old in the temple, the lawyer and doctors were baffled. When He spoke at the wedding feast, water turned into wine. When He spoke at the well, the Samaritan woman left that makes a difference. When He her waterpots and cried, "Come 3 see a man who spoke to the blind, their eyes opened. When He spoke to the deaf, their ears were unstopped and they could hear. When He spoke at Lazarus' grave, he got up and came forth alive. When He spoke to the demon possessed, they were made clean When He spoke to the multitude, they listened to His words. When He spoke on Calvary's rugged hill, the dying thief was promised a seat in paradise and the people who did not know what they were doing were forgiven. When He spoke that first resurrection morning, the women ran to tell everybody that H was risen has told me all I ever did." When He and alive. spoke to my weary soul, I was again. My life became new and I decided When He born to follow Jesus. I put my trust in Him forever more. 4 |
