One of the things I have noticed in studying the speech style of Jesus is a little sad. He was not able to convince everyone, even though he tried with all of the above strategies.
One might assume that He would always succeed, that He knew the future, knew how to talk to people so that each one would get the required message, at the required time,in the best possible most convincing way .If he was God, surely he would for sure succeed with each person.
And he did not.
We see in his speech three feedback elements
- He was sad to see that not all listened
- He observed the pattern of who did not listen
- He explained and consoled about those who did not listen
A He was sad
Let’s look at those comments. He was sad to see that not all listened. we see hints that the situation also frustrated him.
Why do you not understand my speech?
We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced;
Are ye so without understanding also?
Have I been so long with you and yet hast thou not known me?
how is it that ye do not understand?
How long shall I suffer you?
I told you and ye believed not
perceive ye not yet, neither understand?
Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
Why reason ye these things in your hearts, whether it is easier to say..
- He observed the pattern
We also see that the situation did not defeat him. However hard he tried, he knew that some would not understand. Some would not be convinced. Some would not change their ways. Some of the parables are even about that. He tells of
some who hear the word and plant it in nonfertile ground
those who refuse to hear and are deaf to it, who refuse to see and are blind to it
those who at first believe and then go back to their old ways like an evil spirit coming back to take over a house
He also observed:
Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe
no man can come to me, except the Father which sent me draw him
no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father
the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not
they seeing see not and hearing they hear not
we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen and ye receive not our witness
- He explained and consoled about those not listening
It must have been very frustrating for him to work so hard to turn people to more ethical and happier behavior and to have them ignore him. He was trying to save them literally from the consequences of where they were headed and they would not believe him.
That however is free will. We were given the ability to say no, even to God. We were given choices about how to act and yes we can choose unwisely. We can change our minds, repent, do it better but not all do. So Jesus’ dilemma in convincing us was the same dilemma of the Garden of Eden. We are able to resist and some did. He explained these things to us:
All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries but to them it Is not given
he that is able to receive it, let him receive it
I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now
I thank thee O Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent
the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs but I shall shew you plainly
these things have I told you that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you
unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom but to others in parables
unto you it is given to know the mystery but unto them all these things are done in parables
Jesus reassured listeners that this resistance is not the final story.
He pointed out that these people have not been open to seeing yet/ It is not as if God prevents them from changing but somehow that God permits the situation of free will where they do not change. There is a joint agreement – you have to be open to hearing before you can hear. You have to be willing to listen and some are not. He tells of those who for various reasons block the message, prefer status in the marketplace, prefer riches, prefer comfort and so they are not really listening.
Jesus also assured us that there is hope for all anyway. He does not give up on people. He did keep preaching, teaching, telling the stories, reassuring people. The heroism of that perseverance is that it went on to the very end. He got arrested, scourged, mocked, and crucified and still he did not give up on those near him not even on those killing him.
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Speech Style of Jesus 