If I Could Only Just Talk to Jesus...

Here’s a paraphrase of something Dr. Russell Moore of SBTS said in a sermon that got my attention a few months ago.

Consider 2 Peter 1: 16-21 (ESV):

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Here’s what Dr. Moore said about these verses. A lot of people say to me, “If only I could just talk to Jesus about this problem in my life. If only I could see Him face to face right now. Then he’d tell me how to love Him more, how to be more sanctified, what to do about my bank account. If Jesus was physically present in my room right now, we could discuss who I should marry, what kind of job I should take, where I should live, etc. If only I could talk to Jesus.”

I think that a lot of us have shared this sentiment at one time or another. Sometimes we earnestly and honestly want Godly wisdom to make Godly decisions in our lives, and to be frank, the Bible doesn’t quite always tell us what we should do. It certainly doesn’t have too many rules about dating or about what job to choose. Maybe if we could just meet Jesus and have a cup of coffee with Him, then everything will be ok.

While honest, this sentiment completely ignores the gist of 1 Peter 1:16-21. You see, Peter and the other apostles actually HAD seen Jesus. They had walked and talked with Him. They had discussed life and politics with Him. They even saw Him in his glory during the Transfiguration. They had seen the Son of God glorified on the mount. But notice what Peter says: “we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention.” This is an incredible statement! Peter, the rock of the church, has seen Jesus glorified, but yet what is more sure than that is Scripture. What you and I have in our little Teen Study Bibles is more certain than seeing Him during His earthly ministry during the Transfiguration.

Implications? Well first, this should put a stop to any of us complaining that we need a special revelation or a sign from God to help us make a decision about life. You see, the Bible is more certain and sure than any sign that God could give to us, including the remote possibility that tomorrow Jesus might have a cup of coffee and explain our lives to us. This is in no way to say that Jesus is a lair; it simply is to say that we have faulty senses, minds, and hearts that would distort what the Son of God might say to us in a special sign or over a latte.

Second, there is an epistemological (how we know what we know) implication. Obviously, according to the Bible, our main source of knowledge is not our senses, our minds, or reason, but revelation. Revelation is what God says to us and how He interacts with us. This is to say that what God says is always to be more highly valued than any other form of knowledge. This is simply because God is perfect and can tell no lies, while our senses, minds, and reason can all lie to us.

Third, there is a devotional implication. We may cry out for a special sign or to talk to Jesus about guidance, but we actually already have all of that. You see, the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is actually the Word of Christ. Jesus has chosen to speak to you and me through the Bible. Do you want to talk to Jesus? Then you should spend some time in the Scriptures, for that is where He does all His talking. We would do well to remember that.