Note: these are devotional posts based on John Piper’s new book What Jesus Demands from the World.
Demand #6 — Listen to Jesus
He called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.” (Mark 7:14)
As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:8)
Take care how you hear. (Luke 8:18)
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (John 8:47)
Jesus’ Words are Special
- No one ever spoke like Jesus did — Jn. 7:46
- Jesus’ words were given Him by God — Jn. 14:24, 12:49
- Jesus’ words are powerful — (all the miracles in response to Jesus’ spoken words)
- Jesus’ words lead to eternal life — Jn. 6:68, 63
Jesus’ Words and Faith
Jesus’ words are said to give eternal life, yet faith is the condition for eternal life. How are these two concepts, faith and words, related? Jesus’ words awaken faith and thus result in eternal life. Ro. 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing the Word of God. And, the parable of the sower in Luke 8 presents the word of Jesus as the seed from which faith sprouts and flourishes in the hearts of those whose hearts are good ground. Further, Jn. 5:24 says you must hear and believe.
Jesus’ words awaken faith because they declare Who He is, and what He is going to (or has) accomplish, namely His atoning work for us on the cross. In short, Jesus’ words are the Gospel. They describe what He came to testify to — the truth (cf. Jn. 18:37a).
This point is important. God only saves by means of the spoken word of the Gospel. We must take the Gospel to the lost for them to become saved. More than this, the words of Jesus in and of themselves are not magical. They carry a message. And it is the message that saves and awakens faith. The message comes to us in words, but nonetheless it is the message that saves.
Jesus’ Words — Rejected or Received
Yet just because Jesus’ words are shared, does not mean faith is awakened. Jesus’ words are either received or rejected.
Why is it that some do not receive those words? Jesus tells us this much in the following verses.
You seek to kill me because my words find no place in you. (Jn. 8:37)
…Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. (Jn. 18:37b)
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not of God. (Jn. 8:47)
Some have no place for truth. They are not “of the truth” or “of God” and thus do not receive God’s words are hear the message of Christ. Piper comments on these verses as follows:
This is a sobering revelation. It means that our condition as fallen sinners unfits us for hearing the truth—especially as it comes from Jesus….When Jesus speaks, unless God acts to give us ears to hear and eyes to see, there will be no place in us for the words of Jesus.
Piper then quotes Luke 10:21-22
I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [cf. Luke 8:8]
Those who are graciously given the new birth and granted repentance and faith, they are Jesus’ sheep and thus “hear his voice”, Jn. 10:27.
Jesus’ Words and Me
In application of this chapter, a particular sentence jumped out at me.
The entire life and work of Jesus is one great argument why we should listen to his word. Page after page of the New Testament Gospels pile up reasons to turn off the television and listen to Jesus.
Ponder that sentence with me, will you? Let us purpose to feast on the glories of Jesus rather than the fleeting and often sinful distractions of this world.
—See all posts on, the Demands of Jesus
∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7