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Listening To Jesus - Luke 21:38
Listening To Jesus - Luke 21:38
"And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him." (Luke 21:38)
Jesus! They called him ‘Rabbi’ (Matt. 26:25, 49; Mark 9:5; 11:21; John 1:38,49; 3:2; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8). They called him ‘teacher’ (12 times in Mark’s gospel). It is constantly mentioned that He taught: daily in the temple (Luke 19:47; 22:53). Mark makes mention of this some 20 times in his gospel. They constantly were amazed at His teaching (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; 22:33; Mark 1:22; 6:2; 10:24; 11:18; Luke 2:47; 4:32).
I am not surprised to read that they would ‘get up early in the morning’ just to listen to Him. What a privilege to hear the Son of God speak about His Father. He that was from the beginning, who made everything, who upholds everything… teaching about LIFE! The disciples on the road to Emmaus proclaimed: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" If only we could have been there!
Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
Oh, what words I hear Him say!
Happy place! so near, so precious!
May it find me there each day;
(attributed to Joseph L. Hall, 1868)
While we can NOT have that privilege, we CAN LEARN FROM HIM through the inspired words of the Apostles. We can do so daily. We can be taught all things that He taught them.
BUT, we must listen to LEARN, and then we must learn with the purpose of DOING. Sitting in His presence is not enough. Jesus asked: "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) As James instructs: we are to be doers of the word and not merely hearers. We are not to be “forgetful hearers” but effectual doers! It is THESE who will be blessed! (James 1:22, 25) So, which are you?
Hugh DeLong
