Isaiah 49:2a
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword
As I’ve worked my way through Isaiah over the past few months, I’ve been amazed to discover how often Isaiah words are quoted – either directly, or indirectly – in the New Testament. Again and again I find myself reading a verse and thinking ‘I’m sure I’ve heard that somewhere before ….’ This is one of those verses!
In the apostle John’s vision, in the Book of Revelation, the risen and exalted Jesus is described as having ‘a sharp double-edged sword’ coming out of his mouth. It’s a striking image, and also an unusual one. Only Jesus’ mouth contains a double-edged sword, because only Jesus’ words have the power to bring judgement, to determine life or death for
those who hear him.
So many people underestimate Jesus … “He was just a good moral teacher” they say. From one perspective, it’s easy to see why – he was, after all, a humble, gentle servant. Born in a stable, not a palace. Riding a donkey, not a war horse. Leading a small, motley band of largely poor and uneducated disciples, rather than a powerful, disciplined, victorious army. If you’d passed him in the street you probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance. ‘Nothing to see here’. Which is why we need a powerful visual image, like the one in this verse, to make us look again. After all, if you actually met a man with a sword literally coming out of his mouth, I think you’d stop and take a second look!
Jesus’ physical appearance may have been unimpressive, but his words … well, that’s a whole different matter! When he speaks, that’s when we discover that he is like no other man who ever lived. His words make the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead return to life. “I am the way, and the truth and the life” says Jesus. As we listen to him, and trust
his words, we find life and truth and a way into eternal relationship with God as our Father. But those same words bring condemnation and judgement for those who reject them. “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day” says Jesus. A double-edged sword. Life or death, salvation or judgement. Jesus’ words bring both. They have power greater than
any human weapon ever devised.
Let’s pray today that we will be those who will trust and depend on the life-giving words of Jesus.
