Jesus said a lot of things during his three years of itinerant ministry. But there are also a lot of things Jesus didn’t say, statements which we might have a tendency to believe at times even though they aren’t even remotely true.
Since we need to look at what Jesus really said, versus what we are tempted to believe, I humbly present my top ten things that Jesus never said…
10. “Okay, that’s it. You blew it. I’m getting new disciples.”
But Jesus did say, in spite of their struggle to believe and many failures: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
9. “There’s no reason to be sad or grieve.”
Jesus actually demonstrated the opposite: “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.” (John 11:33-35)
8. “I make all this stuff up myself.”
Instead Jesus said this: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” (John 8: 28)
7. “All the ways God worked in the past – forget all that. I’m changing everything.”
Instead: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
6. “Just do your best and you’ll be fine.”
Jesus actually said: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
5. “I am okay with posers and fake religious people”
But Jesus did say: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)
4. “When I’m gone, I’m gone.”
Instead, Jesus said: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also…“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:1-3,18)
3. “Your burden is too big. Good luck with that.”
But Jesus did make this claim: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)
2. “If you follow me, it will always be easy and fun.”
Jesus said something quite different: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” (John 15:18-21)
1. “Go ahead and believe in me or not….whatever. There are other ways to be saved.”
Instead: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)