Prodigal Magazine

“Be quiet!”
“Be clean!”
“Be still!”
“Be free!”
“Be unafraid!”
“Be opened!
“Be careful!”
“Be yours!”
“Be alert!”
Words of Jesus from The Gospel of Mark

Say something, for God’s sake!  When Jesus shows up things happen. When he shows up he uses words and the world is recreated. Words are Jesus’ weapon of choice and his tool of design. He could hurl lightning bolts, or split mountains with his fist, or with a wave of his hand toss the armies of the planet into the sea. Instead, Jesus says things. For words, when they are the right words, spoken by the right messenger, are enough.

At the start of his ministry Jesus explained his mission in words that Isaiah the Prophet had borrowed from God:“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”
Luke 4:17-19.

Jesus claimed this as his commission – to proclaim things as they ought to be. Everything Jesus does follows what he first says; and everything Jesus says echoes what God said seven centuries earlier through Isaiah.

·         Jesus’ words fed those in need. With words he turned water to wine and multiplied bread and fish – twice. Jesus’ words were enough to make enough and make provision a sign of his regime.

·         Jesus’ words pardoned the guilty. With words he declared a leper “clean” and a prostitute “forgiven.” Jesus’ words were enough, with grace enough to make pardon a sign of his regime.

·         Jesus’ words healed the broken. With words he declared a blind man whole and dead girl alive. Jesus’ words were enough, with power enough to make healing a sign of his regime.

·         Jesus’ words expelled demons. With words he drove out a legion of spirits and silenced a blasphemer. Jesus’ words were enough, with authority enough to make deliverance a sign of his regime.

·         Jesus’ words revealed Father’s love. With words he told stories of victory in this world and hope in the next. His words were enough, with vision enough to make favor a sign of his regime.

What if following Jesus was really this simple?  Just five things we learn to receive and give away?

It’s a hell of a world and life is hard. The fight we face goes to the death. God created this world with words. Now his Enemy and ours tries to foil God’s plans. His foul mouth steals and bends words that break things and kill people. Jesus came to silence these lies. Their collision has ignited a deadly war of words.

Jesus dealt the decisive blow when he hung on the cross, and said, “It is finished!” Words enough! We follow up and enforce that victory when we borrow Jesus’ words that scatter the devils and repair the damage they have wrought.

When all else fails – and all else will – we borrow Jesus’ words.

Our enemies attack on nine fronts. We meet and defeat them with borrowed words. Jesus fought here ahead of us. He has faced down and turned back every assault. As followers of Jesus we do the same by simply leveraging what Jesus said in the moment we face battles of our own.

We do not presume to be like Jesus. Only Jesus is Jesus. We speak Jesus’ words “in Jesus’ name” which means “on Jesus’ behalf.” The question is not “What would Jesus do?” but “What is Jesus doing?” and “How can I join him?” Our commission is simple: say what Jesus said! That’s our assignment. For Jesus’ words in our mouths are as Jesus’ words in his.

We will not have the luxury of learning war in theory. Our training comes on the front lines, where we work, live, go to school, and buy our groceries. There we must execute… or be executed.

We are in battle, in a hell of war that is now on earth as it was in heaven. It is a war that will end all wars, a conflict where words always become flesh. So for God’s sake, say something! But choose your words ever so carefully!

In the beginning was the Word; in the end will be the Word. And when all is said and done, all will be done when all is said!