I’m still thinking about this (see pt. 1) but from another point of view…
As I said before, although I live in the United States, I live in a diverse area where multiple languages are spoken. And now that I think about it, this is probably true for a lot of areas across our nation.
I’ve tried to learn Spanish because of our frequent mission trips but inevitably I get lazy and give up– always regretting that when I return to a Spanish-speaking nation and need a translator.
But back at home even, there are times when I wish I could hold a conversation better with someone that doesn’t speak English. The gap in understanding is huge and so much is lost in translation.
With this in mind, think about this:
JESUS is the language of God.
We get this from Hebrews, Chapter One. “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Some translations say, “He has spoken to us through His Son…” which is also true.
But the Passion Translation probably says it best: “But to us living in these last days, God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son…”
When I saw this and meditated on it, I realized this is why people seem lost or confused sometimes when it comes to faith in Christ. Or why some people seem to have great revelation of the Word of God while others have a hard time understanding it.
If JESUS is the language of God, you have to fluently speak JESUS to understand it!
The communication in this verse is really so simple. In former times (meaning before Christ, before the Cross), God spoke to His people through the prophets. This is where we get all the writings of the Old Testament.
But “to us living in these last days” (on this side of the Cross), God speaks to us openly (we could also say individually) in the language of a Son.
The commentary on this verse in the Passion says, “We speak in English; God speaks in “Son,” for Jesus is the language of God. The Sonship of Jesus is the language He now uses to speak to us.”
I don’t know if your heart leapt when you read this like mine did, but wow– this opened up so much more understanding for me. Instead of a language barrier, we can have full conversations with God when we better understand JESUS.
Starting with His life in the gospels, we should take time to read every word of the New Testament as if we’re learning a new language. Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Yet He is called the Prince of Peace. When we don’t understand the language, we can misinterpret so much.
John learned the language and was able to translate truth to us in his letter: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). In other words, the sword Jesus came to bring wasn’t against humanity but against the one who had put God’s people in bondage.
This is just one example.
More importantly, God speaks to us in the language of a Son, meaning we have been brought into the family of God as beloved children. God doesn’t talk to us as beggars, or stepchildren. No– He talks to each of us with the same love and affection He has for Jesus. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Fill in the blank. Your name fits there too. “This is My beloved [child], in whom I am well pleased.”
If you and I only speak “Old Testament” this doesn’t make any sense. If we only understand and speak a little of the “New Covenant,” it’s still hard to fully comprehend the meaning. So the goal is to fully immerse ourselves in the New Testament and learn the language of JESUS.
I don’t know about you but I want to have whole conversations with God, fully understanding everything He has to say. Currently, I am confident He hears me when I pray and I’m so grateful for every time He whispers something to my heart. But without a doubt, I’ve got more to learn.
I want to be fully fluent in the language of God.
Jesus said, “Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking Him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits! I have spoken to you using figurative language, but the time is coming when I will no longer teach you with veiled speech, but I will teach you about the Father with your eyes unveiled” (John 16:24-25, TPT).
The time is now. I pray we open our hearts to the language of God. There’s so much more to see and learn.
