Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 7:46, “The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!'” 

Background

The Hope Diamond. Elvis. Jackie Gleason. Babe Ruth. We all could compile our own list of one-of-a-kinds, whether full of well-known examples, like those I mentioned, or filled with obscure or unfamiliar treasures that may mean something only to that individual. But consider what the officers said in our verse today. I imagine them standing there before the priests and Pharisees, practically yelling and pulling their hair out as they try to explain why they have not brought Jesus to them. He had just stood up during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, where water was specially brought every day for a week to the temple from the pool of Siloam, and said that those who are really thirsty should come to Him and drink. He promised believers that rivers of living water would flow from their hearts. And now some in the crowd were calling Him a Prophet, some said He was the Christ, while others dismissed His heritage from Galilee. Not surprisingly, some wanted to seize Him, but no one had the courage to attempt it. It seemed like utter chaos, and the officers sound like someone whose head is going to explode from not knowing what to do, as they try to make them understand that this Man is saying things that just aren’t normal. 

Application

And Jesus did say things like no other man. He said He is the Way. He said we must be born again. He said your sins are forgiven. He said I lay down My life for you. Those aren’t man’s words. And He also lived like no other man. He healed the sick and hurting and raised the dead. He loved His neighbor and always obeyed His Father. Now that’s real living. And then He died like no other man. He paid my penalty that I owed to God. He was falsely accused and forgave His accusers and tormentors. He satisfied God’s wrath and is preparing a place in eternity for me. That’s a meaningful death. I’m certainly not one-of-a-kind. But if I’ll let the Spirit work in me, then hopefully I can be one of His kind.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to use your uniqueness to spread His Name and further His cause. Ask Him for the opportunity to do something that’s just not normal. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words