Manslick Road church of Christ

“Jesus Didn’t Say It”

With regard to homosexuality, women as preachers, and other hot topics, critics of Bible teaching sometimes emphasize the fact that Jesus did not say anything personally about the subject at hand. The implication is that since Jesus said nothing, what other Bible writers said is irrelevant or invalid. Such a deduction only reflects the ignorance of the one making it.

Jesus’ words were not His own. He said, “For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak” (Jn. 12:49; cf. 14:24). God spoke through His Son (Heb. 1:2 ), who is called an apostle (Heb. 3:1 ). Why is what God spoke through Jesus valid, but what He communicated through other spokesmen invalid?

Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach. He promised the Holy Spirit to guide them. Of the Spirit, Jesus said,”He shall take of Mine and disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you” (Jn. 16:14-15 ). Since the apostles were speaking the things of Jesus, their instruction was His instruction, which was God’s instruction. To deny that is to deny what Jesus said.

Jesus said if we keep His word we will keep the apostles’ word as well (Jn. 15:20 ). He knew many would do neither. The real problem, He said, is rejection of God (Jn. 5:42; 15:21; 16:3 ).