“Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
These words come from my red-letter version of the bible. I chuckle when I imagine how my days would look if I only spoke what Jesus said while he was on earth. In Christian communities, the red-letter text indicates Jesus’s words. I caution myself against disrespect or blasphemy while I picture using some of Jesus’s phrases in everyday dialogue.
“Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Mt. 26:46).
I’d sometimes like to say this if I cross paths with someone who’s broken my trust or when a company makes layoffs, and they send someone to deliver the news to a soon-to-be former employee.
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34).
I face situations when I feel that way. Sometimes it’s when I start a tough conversation or when I need to tackle a large project.
“Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Mt. 26:36).
I’ve worked as a receptionist and wonder how visitors would respond if I got up from my chair to greet them with those words and then returned to my desk. “Sit here while I go over there and pray” could also be helpful when I interview potential workers and volunteers. Everyone can use prayers to find qualified and trustworthy people.
“Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).
That explanation would have served me well when I was grounded, and friends asked why I couldn’t join them for a weekend event.
The possibilities to speak only what Jesus spoke are countless. What He says is priceless and I never want to use my sometimes-glib perspective to discount his valuable dialogue.
To honor my 500 word or less word count, I leave you with some red-letter truth:
“Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Christina
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