What Jesus Did NOT Say
One way to appreciate what Jesus said is to imagine what he could have said but didn’t. Here are ten examples I came up with. Beside each one, I have put the gospel reference that tells what Jesus really said:
- “What a bunch of mangy fisherman. No potential for leadership here, that’s for sure.” (Mk. 1:16-20)
- “So what if they’ve run out of wine, Mother? That’s their problem, not mine!” (Jn. 2:1-10)
- “Thanks, Guys, for getting rid of those pesky little kids. I don’t have time for them.” (Mt. 19:13-15)
- “You ask me how many times you should forgive. Once seems more than enough to me.” (Mt. 18:21-22)
- “Me? Make time for prayer? How can I with all my responsibilities?” (Mk. 1:35)
- “You’ve got a heck of a lot of reasons to be afraid, little flock!” (Lk. 12:32)
- “They caught you in the act of adultery, Lady? Well, you deserve to be stoned!” (Jn. 8: 3-11)
- “Foxes have holes and birds of the air nests, but the Son of Man has a condo on the Mediterranean.” (Lk. 9: 58)
- “Lady, take your alabaster jar and get out of here! Don’t you see you’re embarrassing me?!” (Mk. 14: 3-9)
- “Take up your cushion and follow me.” (Mk. 8: 34)
What else didn’t Jesus say?
11. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, forget about your neighbor and not only hate your enemies, but hunt them down and kill them. (Matthew 5:43)
As my favorite bumper sticker says:
“When Jesus Said, Love your enemy, I’m pretty sure he meant you shouldn’t kill them”
A good addition to the list of things Jesus did NOT say, Rose! Thank you for sending it! Melannie