For years I have smiled at the embarrassment of the Pharisees when Jesus left them speechless. The gospels tell of many instances when Jesus, while eating a meal with a prominent Pharisee, asked questions that silenced his self-righteous host and other experts in Jewish law.
Luke describes one such occasion (chapter 14). It was one Sabbath when Jesus was the guest of an eminent Pharisee. Jesus observed a man there who was suffering from an abnormal swelling of his body. Knowing that the Pharisee was thinking it unlawful to heal someone on the Sabbath day, Jesus asked: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” The Pharisee and his friends “remained silent.”
Jesus healed the man and sent him on his way. Then Jesus asked, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” Luke says the pompous Pharisee “had nothing to say.”
The gospels make this very clear: On many occasions the teachings of Jesus left the holier-than-thou Pharisees speechless. One day recently, while reflecting on this, the Inner Voice said to me, “Be careful how you judge the Pharisees; sometimes my teachings leave you speechless too.”
That led me to examine the Lord’s teachings. Immediately I realized He was right. As I imagined Jesus speaking directly to me, I had to admit I had nothing to say except “Lord, forgive me for failing to see how often I fail to obey you. I am ashamed for standing in judgment of the Pharisees.”
Here are examples of Jesus’ teachings that leave me speechless:
Walter, do not worry.
Walter, do not store up treasures for yourself on earth; store up treasures for yourself in heaven.
Walter, do to others what you would have them do to you.
Walter, why do you notice the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and fail to see the plank in your own eye?
Walter, pray for those who persecute you and love your enemies.
Walter, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets so you may be honored by men.
Walter, be merciful just as your Father is merciful.
When I confessed my shame, the Inner Voice saved me from my embarrassment. He said, “Walter, never forget that when you trust me, I am ready to lead you out of your shame and equip you to serve me. The disciples all fled when I was being scourged and nailed to the cross. After my resurrection, those disciples were ashamed but I forgive them and kept my promise to fill them with the power to serve me. I saved them from their shame and changed them into faithful disciples. And I am ready to do that for you or any speechless disciple who is willing to yield to my power to transform them into faithful spokespersons for the gospel.”
Rejoicing, I said “Thank you Jesus!” and felt His peace come over me. + + +