Never Man Spoke Like this Man

The Pharisees, fearing Christ’s rising popularity, had dispatched an arresting party to apprehend Him (John 7:32) … but they came back empty handed. ‘Why didn’t you arrest him?’ demanded the furious leaders. The answer came back, “Never man spoke like this man (John 7:46).

What made the would-be arresters answer this way? What did they mean by “Never man spoke like this man?” Was it because He spoke with great majesty?

Yes, without doubt He did, but so did Isaiah.

Was it because Jesus spoke with great pathos? Yes, He did, but so did Jeremiah the weeping Prophet.

Well maybe it was because he spoke with great authority. That’s true. Every word Christ spoke was laced through and permeated with God’s authority. But Moses spoke with great authority too.

Well, maybe it was because He spoke with great humanness. Absolutely true, he spoke with great humanness but then so did David.

So why did they say, never man spoke like this man? Here are a few suggestions.

The Prophets said ‘He is coming’ … that’s their strain and that’s their refrain. But Jesus said “I am come.”
“I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
“I am come a light in the world that he that trusts in me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).
“I am come to send fire on the earth” (Luke 12:49).

Moses didn’t say those things about himself. The heroes of the faith didn’t say that. No one had been waiting for them.

Never man spoke like this man!

And, no prophet ever said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). For all his majesty Isaiah didn’t say anything like that. No prophet could indeed say that for to claim to be the ‘I am’ was to claim to be God.

And no man ever said, your sins are forgiven (see Matthew 9:2). But Jesus said it. Moses had a lot to say about sins, but he didn’t ever say, “I Moses, forgive your sins.” Isaiah for all his majesty didn’t say that either. David didn’t say that, and Jeremiah didn’t say that. The prophets weren’t anywhere close to saying that.

Never man spoke like this man!

And no prophet ever said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go, I will come again and receive you unto myself” (see John 14:1-3). Jesus promised to return. He didn’t say He’d try to return. He didn’t say He’d make his best effort to return but He said He would return. Jeremiah couldn’t say that, Moses for all his authority couldn’t say that. And Isaiah for all his majesty couldn’t say that.

Never man spoke like this man!

The officers had been sent to arrest Jesus, but His words arrested them. His words stunned and apprehended them. His words laid hands on these officers and seized them. They were overwhelmed with the majesty and authority of His speech.

Never man spoke like this man!

No prophet ever said "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). Moses for all his thundering could never bring his listeners into a place of ‘No Condemnation.’ Isaiah couldn’t do it. He couldn’t speak like this.’

But as for Jesus, ‘Never man spoke like this man!’

To Him (Jesus) give all the prophets witness (Acts 10:43). In other words, the Prophets looked forward to Christ’s arrival. They were the servants, but Christ was the Son over the house (see Hebrews 3:1-6).

Never man spoke like this man!

And that’s the Gospel Truth!