Three Words

" Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."   (Matthew 24:35)

Over the past year, we have witnessed words and ideas change the world we live in. In today's woke, politically correct environment, someone will be offended by anything you say.

One fourth-grader had to report on the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday. Feeling the pressure of the political and cultural insanity, the student said, "The Pilgrims came here seeking freedom of you know what. When they landed, they gave thanks to you know Who. Because of them, we can worship each Sunday, you know where." That would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Words have power. The words we write or speak can have a lasting impact, either good or bad, so they need to be chosen wisely.

President Calvin Coolidge was famously known as a man of few words. His nickname was "Silent Cal." His wife, Grace, told the story of a young woman who sat next to her husband at a dinner party. She told President Coolidge that she had a bet with a friend to get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her, he quietly retorted, "You lose." President Coolidge understood very well the value of using only carefully considered words -- and these being few in number.

The power of just three words can change a life forever. For example,  "I love you"  can cause a young girl to begin dreaming of bridal gowns, bouquets, and wedding cakes. On the other hand, " I hate you"  can send someone's life spiraling down into depression and despair. Several years ago, my life was changed

forever when a doctor spoke the three words, " You have cancer."

Many men and women in history have spoken great, powerful words that left an impact, but none greater than Jesus Christ!

Since His death and resurrection, more words have been written about Him than any other person in history. But more importantly, are the words that Jesus spoke about Himself. Jesus Christ made over one hundred and seventy claims about Himself. The power of these claims has convinced well-known, brilliant atheists to become His devoted followers. Former atheist C.S. Lewis chaired departments in two of the world's most prestigious universities. After his conversion to Christianity,

he became one of the world's greatest Christian novelists. Lew Wallace, another atheist-turned-Christian, destroyed his anti-Christian manuscript titled  The Myth of Christianity  and replaced it with the most celebrated historical novel of all time,  Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

The Bible says that those who heard Jesus firsthand marveled at His teachings.   (Mark 1:22)

He spoke with authority and confidence, and He backed up His claims with actions that proved them to be true. He was a man of few words. Jesus performed some of His greatest miracles with just three words.

In the town of Bethany, in front of eyewitnesses, Jesus Christ, with just three words, revived a corpse that had been rotting in a tomb for four days: " Lazarus, come forth!"

Mark records a storm so violent that the disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, feared for their lives. Yet, it only took three words from Jesus to calm the wind and waves:  "Peace, be still!"

In John's account of the Passion of Christ, he began in Gethsemane. A band of Roman soldiers and temple guards, led by Judas, came to arrest Jesus. Jesus steps forward and asks, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus Christ said to them, " I am He!"  John said when He spoke those three words, " I am He,"  they all drew back and fell to the ground.  (John 18:4-6)

Those three words were so powerful that an entire cohort of soldiers and guards were lying helpless on the ground! Jesus could have walked out of that garden, and they would not have been able to lift a finger to stop Him.

With our finite minds, we cannot begin to comprehend the infinite power of Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 1:3  says that He upholds everything by the word of His power. The entire universe is contained in its proper place by His word. His words of life can still revive dead marriages, deliver the alcoholic and drug addict, break the mighty chains of sin and breathe spiritual life into lost men and women.

With three words, " Peace, be still,"  He can calm the storms of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, depression and give His people perfect peace.

On March 4, 1841, William Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, delivered what proved to be the longest inaugural speech on record. It was nearly nine thousand words long, and despite efforts from his staff to shorten it, President Harrison insisted that the nation needed to hear the whole thing. So for nearly two hours, in the rain, on an unseasonably cold day, the President stood and delivered his address, word for word. History records that President Harrison got pneumonia in the days following his inauguration and then died exactly one month later, on April 4, 1841.

Jesus Christ spent six hours on the cross, and during that time, He spoke forty-five words. His last words were spoken just before He completed His mission and died. He uttered three words that would change the world for all eternity:  "It is finished!" (John 19:30)  This statement is from the Greek word  tetelestai , which means, "It is finished; it stands finished, and it always will be finished."

Tetelestai  was a word commonly used in Jesus' day. If you purchased something on credit and paid the debt off completely, the receipt would say, "Tetelestai, the debt is paid in full." It is finished. Three words that proclaim the debt is paid' it stands paid, and always will be paid. Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross.

It is finished! The three words that proclaim, Mission accomplished! It is finished! The three words that joyously resound, "Praise the Lord, salvation has been brought down!"

President William Harrison will probably always be remembered as the man who said more and did less than any President in American history.

Eternity will tell the story. There has never been a President, Prime Minister, King, or Queen that has said less and done more than Jesus Christ.  "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."   (John 6:63b)

If you were told today that you could only speak three words, what would they be? 

Would you tell someone dear to you, "I love you?"

Would you compliment a co-worker with the words, "You look nice?"

Would you seek out someone that is discouraged and say, "Don't give up," or to the depressed, "There is hope?"

In 1985, I sat by the bedside of my best friend, Mollie Bowling, as she was dying from cancer. Her last three words to me were, "Are you coming?" I answered her back, "I'll be there shortly."

Choose your words wisely; we never know when they will be our last.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."  (Proverbs 25:11