When Jesus Speaks
Illustration
Stories
“Hello, Peter. Come on in to the office,” Pastor Carl held open the door for him. “Oh, don’t worry about your shoes.”
“They’re muddy and I really should take them off,” Peter said. “Besides if I don’t, I’ll be hearing my mother’s voice telling me to take them off before coming into your office.”
Pastor Carl smiled. “Fair enough.”
After a few moments, Peter took the offered seat across from Pastor Carl.
“So how are you finding our church?” Pastor Carl asked. “I know you mentioned we’re a bit more casual and smaller than you are used to.”
“First Church is certainly those things, but you know I actually like that about the congregation. When I was in the city, the church we attended was so large I didn’t really get to know people and while I’m okay with the formality, I have to say that I like the relaxed feeling I get when I come in through the doors here.”
“Some of that comes from the fact that everyone knows everyone else and the town is small enough that we don’t really stand on ceremony for most things. I guess even the funerals here are a bit less formal than I had in my other churches.” Pastor Carl paused. “So are you liking it here?”
“I am, and am settling in nicely with Marjorie and the boys. They love the children’s program and all the volunteers.” Peter took a deep breath. “That’s actually why I feel comfortable enough to come here and talk about the Bible reading on Sunday. Something about it bothered me.”
“Oh?” Pastor Carl tilted his head. “What passage?”
“The long one from John’s gospel. I’ll admit that some of it was confusing but you were clear in your sermon that the writer put layers of meaning in each line so I’m okay not understanding everything.” Peter squirmed in place. “The verse that actually made me uncomfortable was when Jesus talked about being the good shepherd and his sheep knowing his voice.”
“Okay.” Pastor Carl sat back in his chair. “What bothers you about that?”
“Well,” Peter said. “It bothers me because I’ve always thought of myself as a Christian and I grew up in the church. I mean I know I haven’t always been the best attender but since we had the boys, we’ve tried to be here every Sunday.”
“Which is wonderful.”
“I also read my Bible each day and make sure I pray morning and night. When I heard that verse I realized that even though I see myself as a disciple, I don’t think I have ever heard Jesus’ voice.” Peter sighed. “Does this mean that I’m not one of his sheep? What am I doing wrong, Pastor?”
Pastor Carl leaned forward. “I haven’t known you for long but I think you’re a good Christian who wants to grow in faith and who is trying to be one of God’s people. You believe, you serve, you give, and you strive to follow Jesus, don’t you?”
“I do.” Peter nodded. “With all my heart. I’ve just never heard Jesus.”
“Really?”
“I haven’t.” Peter frowned. “Is there something wrong with me? Is God angry with me?”
“I don’t think so,” Pastor Carl said. “If I were to guess I think what the Bible says and what you heard are two different things.”
“What do you mean?”
“While some people may actually hear the voice of Jesus in their lives as clear as you hear me speaking to you right now, many of us, including me, we hear the voice of Jesus less directly.” Pastor Carl held up his hand. “Please don’t misunderstand me hearing Jesus less directly is just as important and valuable and life changing.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you came into my office just a few minutes ago you said you heard your mother’s voice.” Pastor Carl tilted his head. “You didn’t actually hear her speaking to you, did you?”
“No, of course not.” Peter shook his head. “My mother lives on the other side of the country. I meant that her lessons about not tracking mud in from outside was one that is ingrained in me. So when I see my shoes are muddy, it is like I’m hearing her tell me that they need to be taken off before I enter a room.”
“Exactly,” Pastor Carl said. “In the same way, when Jesus says that we hear his voice it is that we hear the truth which is given to us through the Bible and all the lessons we have learned by following as a disciple and from other Christians. When we pray, we come to know what Jesus asks of us and calls us to be in the world even if we don’t actually hear actual words being spoken to us.”
“Huh, I never thought about it that way. ” Peter said. “That actually makes sense because there have been times when I’ve prayed about something I’m not sure about and by the end of the prayer, I know what I am supposed to do and how I’m supposed to be as a disciple.”
“Sometimes we have to pray about something for a while before we hear an answer. Other times, we need to listen to faithful and good people because Jesus can speak through them as well.”
“You know what? I think maybe Jesus has spoken to me this morning.” Peter smiled. “Do you think we could take some time and pray together.”
“Absolutely,” Pastor Carl said. “Let us pray...”
“They’re muddy and I really should take them off,” Peter said. “Besides if I don’t, I’ll be hearing my mother’s voice telling me to take them off before coming into your office.”
Pastor Carl smiled. “Fair enough.”
After a few moments, Peter took the offered seat across from Pastor Carl.
“So how are you finding our church?” Pastor Carl asked. “I know you mentioned we’re a bit more casual and smaller than you are used to.”
“First Church is certainly those things, but you know I actually like that about the congregation. When I was in the city, the church we attended was so large I didn’t really get to know people and while I’m okay with the formality, I have to say that I like the relaxed feeling I get when I come in through the doors here.”
“Some of that comes from the fact that everyone knows everyone else and the town is small enough that we don’t really stand on ceremony for most things. I guess even the funerals here are a bit less formal than I had in my other churches.” Pastor Carl paused. “So are you liking it here?”
“I am, and am settling in nicely with Marjorie and the boys. They love the children’s program and all the volunteers.” Peter took a deep breath. “That’s actually why I feel comfortable enough to come here and talk about the Bible reading on Sunday. Something about it bothered me.”
“Oh?” Pastor Carl tilted his head. “What passage?”
“The long one from John’s gospel. I’ll admit that some of it was confusing but you were clear in your sermon that the writer put layers of meaning in each line so I’m okay not understanding everything.” Peter squirmed in place. “The verse that actually made me uncomfortable was when Jesus talked about being the good shepherd and his sheep knowing his voice.”
“Okay.” Pastor Carl sat back in his chair. “What bothers you about that?”
“Well,” Peter said. “It bothers me because I’ve always thought of myself as a Christian and I grew up in the church. I mean I know I haven’t always been the best attender but since we had the boys, we’ve tried to be here every Sunday.”
“Which is wonderful.”
“I also read my Bible each day and make sure I pray morning and night. When I heard that verse I realized that even though I see myself as a disciple, I don’t think I have ever heard Jesus’ voice.” Peter sighed. “Does this mean that I’m not one of his sheep? What am I doing wrong, Pastor?”
Pastor Carl leaned forward. “I haven’t known you for long but I think you’re a good Christian who wants to grow in faith and who is trying to be one of God’s people. You believe, you serve, you give, and you strive to follow Jesus, don’t you?”
“I do.” Peter nodded. “With all my heart. I’ve just never heard Jesus.”
“Really?”
“I haven’t.” Peter frowned. “Is there something wrong with me? Is God angry with me?”
“I don’t think so,” Pastor Carl said. “If I were to guess I think what the Bible says and what you heard are two different things.”
“What do you mean?”
“While some people may actually hear the voice of Jesus in their lives as clear as you hear me speaking to you right now, many of us, including me, we hear the voice of Jesus less directly.” Pastor Carl held up his hand. “Please don’t misunderstand me hearing Jesus less directly is just as important and valuable and life changing.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you came into my office just a few minutes ago you said you heard your mother’s voice.” Pastor Carl tilted his head. “You didn’t actually hear her speaking to you, did you?”
“No, of course not.” Peter shook his head. “My mother lives on the other side of the country. I meant that her lessons about not tracking mud in from outside was one that is ingrained in me. So when I see my shoes are muddy, it is like I’m hearing her tell me that they need to be taken off before I enter a room.”
“Exactly,” Pastor Carl said. “In the same way, when Jesus says that we hear his voice it is that we hear the truth which is given to us through the Bible and all the lessons we have learned by following as a disciple and from other Christians. When we pray, we come to know what Jesus asks of us and calls us to be in the world even if we don’t actually hear actual words being spoken to us.”
“Huh, I never thought about it that way. ” Peter said. “That actually makes sense because there have been times when I’ve prayed about something I’m not sure about and by the end of the prayer, I know what I am supposed to do and how I’m supposed to be as a disciple.”
“Sometimes we have to pray about something for a while before we hear an answer. Other times, we need to listen to faithful and good people because Jesus can speak through them as well.”
“You know what? I think maybe Jesus has spoken to me this morning.” Peter smiled. “Do you think we could take some time and pray together.”
“Absolutely,” Pastor Carl said. “Let us pray...”
