When Jesus Speaks People Listen

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.” – Hebrews 1:1-2. 

The stock firm E.F. Hutton ran a very successful commercial campaign in the ’70s and ’80s.  Usually, it centered on 2 or 3 people in a busy airport… or at lunch… or some other busy place where there were a lot of people. These people were usually speaking about investments. Eventually one of the people would say, “well, my broker is E.F. Hutton and E.F. Hutton says…” At that time in the commercial, all noise would stop, all conversation would stop, all actions would stop, all traffic would stop and everyone would turn in listening to hear what E.F. Hutton had to say. The commercial would end by saying, “When E.F. Hutton speaks…people listen.”

EF Hutton sales skyrocketed because people believed E.F. Hutton was the most qualified firm to invest their money. The author of Hebrews starts his letter with the same idea in mind when he basically says, when God speaks, people should listen.

That certainly makes sense. Jesus is the one to whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is the one of whom it will be said, forever, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12). He’s the one to whom every knee will bow: “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10) So what Jesus says matters.

And beyond that, we’re made alive in Him by grace: ”But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4–5) We are counted righteous in Him because of His work. Galatians 2:16 says, “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”  Jesus is our shepherd so we know His voice.

So when Jesus speaks, of course, we listen.

Discussion Questions:

1. To have a great relationship with God you must have two-way communication. Consider your current relationship with God; would you characterize it as two-way communication? What would you characterize it as?