Jesus Said

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Out of curiosity I wanted to see what the first words Jesus spoke were in the Bible. I checked each of the four gospels. One problem...they weren't the same! 

Matthew: Jesus approached John the Baptist and asked him to baptize Him to which John suggested that it be more proper for Jesus to baptize him. Jesus' words were: Permit it to be so now, [that He be baptized] for this it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. 

Mark: John was in prison now. Jesus had spent His 40 days in the desert being tempted by the devil. Now He was in Galilee to begin His ministry of the gospel: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. 

Luke: While Jesus is fasting and praying those 40 days in the desert, satan tempts Him. It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." 

John: John the baptist was explaining his encounter with baptizing Jesus and realizing this was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world and that this was the Son of God. Two of John's disciples saw Jesus approaching and John announced Him as the Lamb of God. Jesus asked, What do you seek?  Is it the way, the truth and the life? 

Four different scenarios and times. Three commands and a question. Jesus' statement in Matthew showed humility and obedience. He asked his cousin to baptize Him, the Son of God. Even He needed to be given the power to begin His ministry...of His Father. If He needed it, how much more do we?

The second was during His ministry. A comment about a further fulfilling of time and a command. If we do what He has said, His Spirit will become part of our lives, like it did with Jesus at His baptism. 

The third was a rebuke to the devil...and one we should heed: it is through Him, His words because He is the Word, that we live, not just by the bread we put into our mouths...but what we put into our spirits, by the Spirit of God, by knowing Jesus.

The fourth: What do you seek? Do you seek Him or do you seek what the world has? Do you seek Him in His Word? We can only know Him by repenting and receiving Him, looking for Him in His Word and letting His Spirit teach us further who He is. We will still die eating the sustenance of the physical world but partaking in Him will give us eternal life.

Feed the mind, heart, soul, not the belly. 

Then I had to see what the last words were that Jesus said...

Matthew: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Mark: Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow [through the power of the Holy Spirit] upon those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Luke: Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 

John: Talking with Peter...Follow Me. If I will that he [John the disciple] remain till I come, what is that to you? 

Jesus calls us all. It is a road we must follow alone. We each make the choice, regardless of anyone else. It is between Jesus and me...and you. It's why it is called a personal relationship. We do not have this relationship because we know someone who has it or because we go to church regularly or belong to a particular denomination. We obtain life through Jesus, no one and no way else. We do as He said: Repent and believe, be baptized, receive His Holy Spirit, do the will of the Father like He did and preach the gospel. It can't get much plainer. 

He has spoken a lot of things to us. The message is always the same, to glorify God through our repentance, belief and doing the will of the Father. Jesus submitted to His Father; so should we, for this outcome:

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.