April 4, 2022

The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ

Mark 1:38

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

Jesus was a preacher. He used words to show that which is invisible. He used stories to teach spiritual truths. He used parables to describe the indescribable. He pulled back the curtain to allow humans to glance into the next realm.

Yes, He was a miracle worker, a perfect example of a man, a warrior against sin in His life and the lives of His followers, He was a son, a friend, a prophet, and a priest. But He was also a preacher. In fact, He said of preaching… for therefore came I forth.

The Lord was a preacher of righteousness, of doctrine, of prophecy, of practical everyday living, of health, of philosophy, and of the Old Testament. He preached from a boat, on the mountainside, in the temple, in the fields, anywhere and everywhere. He preached to the common folks, the rich folks, the paupers, and the political and civil leaders of the day. He preached in season and out of season. He reproved, rebuked, and exhorted while preaching. He preached to one, and He preached to thousands. He was a preacher of the first degree! The best preacher ever! The greatest to ever live. Yes, He was!!!

All other preachers are like the one who was told at the end of a service that he was the “model preacher.” To which he reminded his wife of several times in just a few hours. Her response, “Yes, I know you are the model preacher and I looked up that word model, it means a cheap imitation of the real thing.” So, true, for all who follow Jesus in this thing called preaching are only lesser imitations of the real thing.

But they are imitations of Him. Or should be.

He was rebuffed in His preaching, rejected, ignored, belittled, and ultimately silenced. But those who follow Him in preaching continue His work. Whereas there was one true and perfect preacher (Jesus), today there are…who knows how many, thousands, hundreds of thousands, a million, who knows? But they all, in their own way imitate Him, putting forth great truths, unseen gems, and spiritual realities to a lost and dying world.

Any preacher today would do well to imitate Him in all aspects. Strength and boldness, coupled with substance and humility. Standing in the gap between Heaven and Earth. As watchmen on the wall sounding out the warning for all to hear. Let come what may, true preachers will preach. After all, all they are doing is imitating the One who called them, taught them, cares for them, rebukes them when needed, and empowers them.

Preachers are not sharers, debaters, questioners, jurors, or condemners, they are declarers. Just as He was.

Until next time,

William T. Howe, Ph.D.