In this episode of The Red-Letter Crusade, Pastor Bob Thibodeau shares a powerful message on “The Word.” He reminds us that Jesus’ words aren’t just history—they’re alive, filled with life and power to change us today.

Pastor Bob challenges us to go beyond just hearing Scripture and to let it take root in our hearts so our lives reflect Jesus. With his down-to-earth style and a touch of humor, he shows why feeding on God’s Word is just as essential as daily bread. This message will encourage you to make the Word a priority and live it out every day.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Website: https://JesusSaid.tv

Hey Affiliate Marketers! If you would like to share the Words of Jesus and earn additional income - visit this link for more information: https://wdjsbookproject.com/ffp

Takeaways:

• I press in: Jesus' question 'Who do you say I am?' forces a personal decision, not casual Sunday conversation.
• We remind folks revelation creates responsibility — once you truly see Jesus, you can't keep control and stay the same.
• I point out that calling him the 'Son of Man' tied Jesus to Daniel's royal authority, yet he shockingly linked that role to suffering.
• We show his authority was demonstrated repeatedly — healing, calming storms, casting demons, and even raising Lazarus — that's evidence, not theater.
• I explain the resurrection is the exclamation point: if Jesus rose from the dead, his words carry absolute authority and therefore demand real obedience.
• We push practical application with a wink: read the red letters, prioritize daily Bible time, and let Jesus' words rearrange your priorities (yes, even before binge-watching).
• I walk through how Jesus built a layered case over three and a half years — public miracles, private encounters, consistent teaching — so when the stone rolled away everything suddenly made coherent and undeniable.
• We caution against crafting a softer, feel-good Jesus to fit comfort; admiration without surrender is not discipleship, and following him costs real commitment.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Roku
• Jesus Said TV

Welcome to Freedom Through Faith and the Red Letter Crusade, where the words of Jesus take center stage.

Join us as we bring healing, unity and clarity to your walk with God by focusing on one thing.

What did Jesus say?

Now let's join Pastor Robert Thibodeau for the Red Letter Crusade.

Because when it comes to understanding the entire Bible, his words matter.

Hello, everyone, everywhere.

Pastor Bob Thibodeau here.

Welcome Freedom Through Faith and the Red Letter Crusade.

Glory to God.

We are so blessed you're joining us today as we gather around the word of God studying.

What did Jesus say?

Amen.

Praise the Lord.

We've been doing this all year.

I don't know how many episodes we've done about different aspects of what Jesus said, but I'm telling you, this is a great Bible study because it's all about him.

It's not about Moses or Elisha.

I mean, those are all characters in the story that leads up to Jesus.

And it's not all about, you know, Peter and James and John and Matthew and all.

They're the followers of Jesus, just like we are.

It's all about Jesus.

From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, it's all about Jesus.

Amen.

Praise God and let's go to the Lord with a word of prayer.

We'll jump right into today's Bible study.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before you this day thanking you and praising you for your blessing upon this Bible study today.

We thank you for the technology you've made available for us to share the gospel of Jesus around the world.

Father, we pray that someone, somewhere this day would receive Jesus as their Savior, whether live on this broadcast or on a recording.

There's no time, distance or space with you.

And we give you all honor, glory and praise, all in Jesus name.

Amen and Amen.

If you have your Bibles, turn to Luke, chapter nine, Luke nine.

Glory to God.

Now if I can get this mouse to move here.

There we go.

What we're going to be doing today, Hallelujah.

I want to come back to a moment, you know, when we're talking about what did Jesus say?

You have to go and read.

What did he say?

So in Luke, chapter nine and verse I believe it's 20 here, Jesus is asking a question, and it's a question that still divides humanity today.

And we go back to that moment because it deserves more weight than what people usually give it.

Jesus stand there.

He stands there and asks, who do people say I am?

And then he says, well, it wasn't a casual question, okay?

It Just wasn't small talk.

It exposed the entire condition of the crowd because people were talking about him, but they didn't know him.

And that right there is one of the most dangerous places that a person can live.

Close enough to discuss Jesus, close enough to quote some of the things he said, close enough to form opinions about him, but still missing him.

And actually, that's where a lot of people are today as well.

They know all the church language, they know the scripture references.

They know how to say the right things in the right environment with the right crowd.

But when it comes to who Jesus actually said he is, there's a disconnect.

And Jesus doesn't leave it there.

He presses in a little bit deeper.

Now, after the disciples answer, then he says, well, who do you say I am?

Oh, oh, now it gets personal.

Now it's not about what your pastor said.

It's not about what your parents believed.

It's not even about what your denominational teachers are saying about Jesus.

It's all about you.

Who do you say he is?

Hahaha.

And when Jesus asked that question to his disciples, the only one that answered was Peter.

Or at least he was the first to respond.

He said, you're the Christ.

You're the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Jesus turned to him and said, flesh and blood did not reveal that to you.

That means you cannot arrive at this decision casually, folks.

This is not something that you pick up by accident.

This is not something that you inherit from your parents or your denomination or whatever.

This is something that is only revealed.

Here's why that matters so much.

Because the revelation, that revelation creates responsibility.

And once you see it, you can't go back to pretending you don't.

Because once you understand who who Jesus really is, everything else has to align with that truth.

And this is where the divide happens.

Because some receive the revelation and their life changes.

Others hear the same exact truth, turn around and walk away unchanged.

Not because it wasn't clear.

No, but.

But because they didn't want the responsibility that came with it.

Because when you recognize who Jesus is, you don't get to stay in control anymore about anything.

Amen.

Let's just pause here for just a moment.

This question deserves to settle in.

Jesus asks, who do you say I am?

That's not just a question for the disciples.

No, this.

That is not just a moment in Scripture that we read about.

It's a question that follows every single one of us.

And we have to answer that for ourselves.

Not for society, not for our family, for ourselves.

Amen.

You with me?

Because you can grow up, you can grow up around Jesus and still not know who he is.

You can hear about him your entire life and still never truly see him.

That's where a lot of people are living right now today.

They know the name, they know all about the Bible stories, they know the language, but they don't know the person.

And the danger of that subtle.

Because it feels like you're close.

It feels like you understand.

But folks, without revelation, you're building your life on something that is incomplete.

Jesus didn't just ask that question to create a conversation.

He asked it to create clarity in the disciples lives.

Clarity in your life.

Not somebody else's life.

Your life.

Because once you answer that question, everything else in your life has to line up behind it.

Your life is a reflection of what values you possess.

Where your emphasis is at.

Look at your life right now on a daily basis.

If all you focus on is work and making money, that's where your heart is.

If all you focus on is watching soap operas and eating bon bons all day, that's where your heart is.

If all you focus on is taking care of your family and kids and grandkids, that's where your heart is.

Not that any of those things are wrong.

Okay, don't misunderstand me what I'm saying here.

Don't email me saying, well, the family's far.

Working and making money is important in today's society.

I get it, okay?

Oh, do I get it.

But it should never be your sole desire.

You should make money to take care of yourself and your family.

Yes.

But it should never interfere with your Bible study time, your church time, your prayer time and your relationship with the most important person in your life, which should be Jesus.

Amen.

You with me?

Alright.

I mean, if you're a housewife, that's great.

You're the envy of so many women who cannot stay at home for family reasons.

But you should make sure you put Jesus first too.

Once you have your downtime during the day and you're waiting for the kids or your husband to come home, get into the Word.

Even if it's only for a few minutes.

Get into the Word.

If your focus is on family and kids and grandkids, be sure to talk about and represent Jesus to them.

Plant those seeds early.

Amen.

Because folks, if he's just a teacher, then you can take him or leave.

What he said doesn't matter.

If he's just a prophet, then you can admire him without really obeying him.

But if he's the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

As we just read, everything has to change now.

His words are no longer optional.

Now his words command authority.

Now, your life is no longer your own once you give your life to him.

And that's why this question divides people.

Not because it's not clear, but because of what it demands once it's answered.

And the way you live your life right now is the evidence that will be used for you or against you in the very near future.

Oh, amen.

Amen.

Praise God.

Now, here's where things get interesting.

Because Jesus didn't always speak about himself the way we'd expect him to speak.

Instead of constantly saying I, I, I, he would say something that almost sounds indirect.

He'd say, the Son of Man must do this.

Now, at first glance, that can feel distant, almost like he's stepping back from the statement.

But he wasn't stepping back.

He was stepping deeper into it.

Because that phrase was loaded, loaded with meaning that's lost to us today.

But to the people he was speaking to, that phrase, the Son of Man meant something very, very specific.

When Jesus said the Son of Man, he was reaching back into time, back Into Daniel, chapter 7, verse 13 and 14, where the Prophet saw one like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion and glory in an everlasting kingdom.

That was not casual language, folks.

That was a title of authority.

So when Jesus says, like in Luke and Mark, the Son of Man shall be delivered.

The Son of Man should be condemned and mocked.

The Son of Man should be killed.

He's not being vague here.

He's doing something nobody else has ever done, said.

And it's something nobody expected.

He's taking that powerful ruling figure from Daniel that all the Jewish people waiting for and attached it to suffering.

And that's where a lot of people stumbled in his day, because they were fine with the Son of Man coming as the ruling Messiah.

They were not ready for one who had to suffer.

They wanted a throne.

He talked about a cross, a symbol of torture.

Today, we equate it with lynching.

Lynching today.

If I could use that as an example, that's the horror that it brought about.

I mean, we look at lynching as despicable, horrible, barbaric.

And that's how they looked at the cross in their day.

The people wanted victory, and he talked about sacrifice.

It just did not match their expectations.

They missed what he was saying.

Now, here's the connection we cannot ignore.

A lot of people still do that today.

They don't reject Jesus outright.

They just reshape him and what he was saying.

They take the parts they like and ignore the parts that confront them.

They soften what he said so it fits better into their life today.

They want to feel good about themselves.

But Jesus didn't come to make us feel good about ourselves.

No, not at all.

And Jesus didn't speak in fragments either.

He spoke with authority and clarity and intention.

The Son of Man.

That was not a disguise.

That was a declaration.

The problem was never what he said.

The problem was what people wanted him to mean.

And the reason Jesus used the the Son of Man so consistently wasn't just theological.

It was a strategic declaration because it revealed truth without triggering premature rejection.

I mean, if he had walked into every town saying, hey, folks, I'm the Messiah, I'm the Son of God, and I'm here to save you, that confrontation would have escalated immediately.

But instead, he used language that require people to lean in to get the meaning of what he was saying.

They'd ask each other, what did he just say?

So they gather around even closer and try to listen and to think and try and connect the dots.

And those who were hungry did exactly that.

Those who were resistant, they stayed confused.

Amen.

And that's what that scripture shows us.

Jesus never forced revelation on anyone.

Never.

He presented truth in a way that separated the sincere from the casual.

Because if someone truly wanted to know, they could know.

Yeah, but if someone only wanted to argue, they'd stay in the dark.

And you see that when he's arguing with the Pharisees and all them.

And really, this connects directly to how people respond to Jesus today.

Because even now, today, Jesus is not hidden.

His words are available.

But understanding still requires a word, willingness to know.

Because truth is not just something that you hear.

Truth is something you can receive.

Amen.

Because Jesus revealed himself to those who were willing to hear, not just the curious.

I mean, there were moments when people pressed Jesus for clarity.

They say, if you're the Christian, speak to us plainly.

John, chapter 10.

Right.

Well, now, that sounds reasonable.

It's a reasonable expectation, right?

Until you hear what Jesus said.

What did he say?

He said, I told you, but you don't believe it.

That response cuts right through everything, like, because now the issue is no longer clarity.

He's speaking clear, it's how they receive it.

Jesus saying, this is not about me being unclear.

This is about you not accepting what I've already said.

Oh.

Or I should say, oh, Right.

Because that statement reveals something Jesus does not Reveal himself just to satisfy your curiosity.

He reveals himself to those who are willing to respond.

Turn to John, chapter 8.

Let's turn over there.

John, chapter 8.

Praise the Lord.

And look at verse 25, John 8.

25.

Even the same that I said to you from the beginning.

Even the same I said to you from the beginning.

In other words, nothing's changed.

The message had been consistent.

The words have been clear.

The truth has already been presented, just like I told you at the beginning.

But people were hearing without receiving.

And that's where the divide shows up.

Because throughout his entire ministry, you see two groups of people forming.

Those who come to analyze and those who come to follow.

Those who question him in order to argue with him, and those who question him to understand deeper.

Those who resisted what he was saying, those who surrendered their lives to him.

And Jesus, Read it for yourself.

He responded differently to each type of person.

The proud walked away frustrated.

The humble walked away changed.

Amen.

Because his words, they just don't inform.

They confront.

They expose motives.

They reveal the true heart of people, and they force you to make a decision.

And when truth exposes something in a person, there's only two responses.

Lean in deeper or pullback.

Folks, that hasn't changed today.

Some people read the words of Jesus like it's a textbook.

Others read them like it's a mirror.

They see themselves in the statements.

One wants to gather information so they can process it.

The other encounters the truth.

And the difference is not your level of intelligence, it's your willingness to receive.

Oh, that's good.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Oh, thank you, Holy Spirit.

This is important.

Let's.

Let's pause here for just a moment and let me make this even clear.

There were people who watched the miracles like it was a show, and they still didn't believe.

They saw the evidence.

They heard the words, they witnessed the authority, and they still walked away unchanged.

Huh?

Think about that.

That tells you something powerful right there.

Unbelief is not always about a lack of evidence.

Sometimes it's about resistance.

Resistance to the truth.

Because accepting who Jesus is comes with consequences on both sides.

It means surrender.

It means change.

It means letting go of control of your life.

Oh, man, that's good.

Thank you, Jesus.

And that's why Jesus said what he did in John, chapter 7, verse 17.

He says here, if any man will, will do his will, he shall know the doctrine.

Now, notice the orders here.

Not if you understand them, the words will you obey.

But if you're willing to obey, then you're going to Understand?

Think about what Jesus just said right here, because that flips everything on its head.

Revelation does not just come to the curious.

No, it comes to the willing.

The willing.

Amen.

Praise God.

Hallelujah.

Now,.

If you take Jesus at his own words, not filtered, not softened, not reinterpreted, you run straight into something.

That demotion commands you to make a decision.

He's not wasting time beating around the bush here.

He didn't speak like a man offering helpful suggestions for a better life, like you hear so many motivational speakers and mega church pastors talk about today.

No, he spoke like someone who knew exactly who he was and he expected people to respond accordingly.

And he didn't force the issue either.

No, you either said yes or you said no.

In John, chapter 8, verse 58, he says, before Abraham was what I am.

That statement didn't need explanation to the people standing there listening to him.

They knew exactly what he was saying.

So did the Pharisees.

And he wasn't just talking about existing before Abraham.

He was identifying himself with the divine name.

I am.

And the reaction was immediate.

They picked up stones wanting to kill him.

Yeah.

Why?

Because if that statement is not true, it's blasphemy.

But what they did not stop to consider, if it is true, it changes everything.

And Jesus didn't leave any room for people to casually admire him and walk away?

No, none at all.

John, chapter 5, verse 21 to 23.

For as the Father raised up the dead and gave them life, so the Son quickens them as well.

He didn't say, you know, you need to respect me like a prophet.

He didn't say that.

He didn't say, listen to me like a teacher.

He said, honor him in the same way you honor God.

And that changes everything.

Right?

For the Father raised up dead gives him life.

Even so, the Son gives life to whom he will.

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father.

He that honors not the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

Verily I say to you, he that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life.

And he shall not come into condemnation, but it is passed from death to life.

Many of those standing there listening to that, that's exactly what they did.

Because here he says, if you keep on reading, says, you've come to kill me.

And they wanted to kill him because he was interrupting their lives.

He was interrupting the way they wanted to live.

I pray you're getting this.

Praise the Lord.

Hallelujah.

And here is the problem people still try to avoid even to today.

You cannot honestly read those words and conclude, well, Jesus just a good man, that's all he was.

Because good men don't claim equality with God.

Do they not hear me now?

Not unless it's true.

Oh, boy.

Hey, man.

So we're left with a choice that cannot be avoided.

Either he is who he said he is, or he's not someone you should follow at all.

There's no comfortable middle ground that you can stand on.

You know, the Muslims believe Jesus was a good man, but not who he claimed to be.

Well, that means just what it says.

They are unbelievers.

Many people today believe the same exact thing.

And again, they are unbelievers.

And think about it.

That's exactly where many people try to live.

They respect Jesus.

Yeah, but they don't submit to him.

They can quote Jesus, but yet they don't obey him.

They admire Jesus and his teachings, but they never surrender to him.

But his own words won't allow that kind of distance.

He didn't present himself as an option.

He presented himself as the authority, the answer.

And this is where.

This is where people try to soften what Jesus said because it makes him feel uncomfortable.

I mean, his claims don't fit neatly into comfortable categories.

You can't reduce him to a motivational speaker when he says, I am.

You can't place him alongside other teachers when he says, he deserves the same honor as the Father.

Father.

Oh boy, that stepped on toes.

That doesn't fit into the comparison.

What it does do is it demands a decision.

Glory to God.

And here's the reality.

Every attempt to make Jesus less than what he said is an attempt to avoid what his words require.

Because if he is truly divine, and he is, then he has authority over every part of your life.

And he does.

Not just your spiritual life, not just your Sunday life.

Every single part.

Your decisions, your priorities, your direction, your obedience, everything he has authority over.

And that is why people today resist it.

Because acknowledging who he is means surrendering total control to him.

And surrender is the one thing the flesh fights the hardest against.

Amen.

Oh, praise the Lord.

Let's slow down here, because this is where people start to get uncomfortable.

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life.

Nobody comes to the Father but by me.

Now, that statement doesn't bend at all.

Not at all.

It does not adjust based on culture.

It does not soften over time.

It stands exactly as he said it.

And the reason it creates tension is because it removes any and all options.

We live in a world that wants options.

Multiple paths that we can take, we seek.

What path?

To the truth?

Multiple truths, multiple ways to arrive at the place we'd intend to go.

Jesus didn't speak about options.

He spoke in absolutes.

I am the way.

That means if he is the way, everything else is not the way.

Everything else.

Amen.

He said, I am the truth.

That means if he is the truth, everything else must be measured against Him.

He says, I am the life.

That means outside of him, there is no real life.

And then he closes it with, and no one comes to the Father but by me.

That is not exclusion for the sake of rejection.

That is clarity for the sake of the truth.

Because if there was another way, he would have said so.

If there was another path, he would have pointed to that too.

But he didn't do that, did He?

No.

Amen.

I'm glad you said that.

And here's where it gets personal again, because this is not just a theological statement.

This is a decision point.

You either accept that truth or you try and replace it with your own truth.

And most people, they don't openly reject it.

They just quietly adjusted a little bit.

Well, Jesus is away.

No, he didn't say that.

They'll say something like, well, we know that there's many paths to God.

No, he didn't say that either.

They said, well, you know, I believe that as long as you're sincere and as long as you're a good person.

That's not what he said.

Jesus never, never said that.

Amen.

And the moment we start changing his words to fit into our comfort zone, we're no longer following Him.

We're expecting him to follow us, or we're following a version of him that we created.

And that's the danger.

Because a redefined Jesus has no authority.

Only the Jesus who actually spoke the does.

He has all authority.

All say all.

All.

All means what all.

And Jesus never asked people to believe blindly either, did he?

He didn't say, just trust what I'm saying here.

No, he never said, just trust me.

You don't need any evidence.

No, he.

What did he do?

He spoke.

Then he backed it up, over and over and over again.

Blind eyes didn't improve.

They just opened immediately.

Not partially restored, not slowly recovering.

They opened immediately.

And that matters, because nobody can fake that.

The blind knew they were blind.

The crowd knew they were blind.

And then when he touched them, suddenly they could see.

Amen.

Praise God that's not inspiration, folks.

That's demonstrated authority.

And it didn't stop there.

I mean, he spoke the storms.

He didn't pray about them.

He didn't ask God to intervene and protect him from the storm.

No, he spoke, the wind stopped.

I mean, go outside and try to do that yourself.

Amen.

Amen.

Praise God.

That's not normal.

That's not prophetic either.

What it is, it's being sovereign, demonstrating sovereign authority.

The disciples didn't say, wow, what a man.

No, they said, what manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The fact they even asked that question tells you something.

They were starting to realize this is not just another leader here.

This is someone whom creation itself responds to.

Glory to God.

Right here in the boat with us.

Amen.

Wow.

And then, on top of all that, came the demons.

They didn't need any introduction.

They didn't need an explanation.

They recognized who he was immediately, didn't they?

Are you come to torment us before the designated time?

Notice that Hell knew who he was before many of the people did.

Oh, they knew and know there is an appointed time for their demise.

They know it.

And they know there's nothing that they can do about it.

And they knew then, hey, it's not time yet for this to happen.

What are you doing here?

Yeah, so, yes, why are you doing this when it isn't the time for you to come back and do it yet?

Notice though, Jesus didn't engage in their silly little games, did he?

No.

He just spoke and they left.

That's it.

No argument, no counter arguments, no resistance, just total and complete authority.

Now step back and look at that pattern for a moment.

Authority over sickness, authority over nature, authority over demons.

And then he demonstrated authority over death itself.

In John, chapter 11, Jesus doesn't rush to the problem, talk about Lazarus.

He wait.

I love the story about Lazarus.

Amen.

Jesus receives word, Lazarus is dead, but he doesn't react.

How many of us get a word that a loved one or a good friend has died and one of the first things we do is get on the phone, find out what happened, book an airline ticket, or make arrangements to get there as soon as possible to be with the family or whatever?

Not Jesus.

What he do, he waits.

And he waits another day, folks.

That alone is powerful.

He didn't panic because he wasn't solving.

He wasn't just solving a situation.

He was revealing something that when he arrives, things change.

Because when he finally does arrive, Lazarus has already been dead for four days.

Now, why is that important real quick.

In Jewish tradition, three days is the preparation for the funeral.

And is believed the dead person is still hanging around there, seeing the events and everything.

Then on the fourth day, they go to their reward.

That's that when Jesus decides to go.

Lazarus has already been dead for four days.

So he's not barely gone, not recently expired, they were gonna do CPR on him or bring him back.

He's dead, buried, it's done.

And he's just not dead.

He's dead, dead.

Okay, Amen.

Then Jesus says something that connects directly to his identity.

He said, I am the resurrection and the life.

Now that's not symbolic language, that's identity language.

The same kind of language he's been using with people for healing and everything else.

And then he proves it.

He says, roll a stone away, Lord.

He's been dead four days already.

Stinks by now.

Roll it away.

And he says, lazarus come forth.

And a dead man walks out.

Not figuratively, not spiritually, physically, physically walked out.

That moment was not just about Lazarus.

It was all about Jesus and his authority.

It was a declaration.

I just don't teach about life.

My words continue contain life.

Oh, amen.

Praise God.

Now if his words contain life, why do you quote people who don't have life containing power, huh?

How can you know about the words that contain life if you don't study the words that contain life?

And how can you find those words?

Easily.

Oh, I'm so glad you asked me that question.

Praise the Lord.

Because this book right here, what did Jesus say?

Seven messages from the master contain only the words Jesus spoke.

It's only the red letters.

There's no commentary, no personal opinions involved.

Only the words of Jesus taken directly from the red letter words of the Bible.

Amen.

That means as you read this book, those same life giving words are now entering your heart, your mind, your soul too.

Just as if Jesus was sitting right there with you speaking the same words.

Praise God.

You need to.

You need to grab a copy of this book right now and I'll make sure you have it today.

Just stick to the end of the well.

Matter of fact, just go to the website what did Jesus say world?

For more information on this.

Praise the Lord.

Hallelujah.

Matter of fact, if you want a free digital download copy of this book right now, just go check out wdjsbookproject.com and the info for a free digital copy is right there on that page.

You get it for free today.

Amen.

Where was I?

Oh yeah.

Jesus goes even further in his declarations Praise the Lord.

He begins to point directly at what is coming, at what is about to happen.

And he tells them, destroy this temple on three days.

I'll raise it back up.

Now, he's just not demonstrating power.

He is predicting the ultimate demonstration of his authority.

He's saying everything you've seen so far is building to something greater.

I mean, where's all this gonna connect to?

Okay, well, if you stop and think about it, every miracle was a marker.

Every act demonstrated was intentional power.

Every healing, every deliverance, every moment, he's leaving a trail of evidence behind him.

And to have them think about, oh, he healed this woman's sickness, he cast.

He healed these people's leprosy, he opened this person's blind eyes.

All that's great, demonstrated authority.

Then he demonstrated he had power and authority over death.

Lazarus came back.

But what happens if he dies?

Who's going to speak those words over him to bring him back to life?

And that's the ultimate demonstration.

You can kill me, I'll get back up.

Think about that.

Right?

And when he now he's not demonstrating just power.

He is predicting the ultimate demonstration of his authority.

Basically, he's saying everything you've seen so far is building to something greater.

And that's where all of this information connects.

Every miracle was a marker.

Every act of power was intentional.

Every healing, every deliverance, every moment.

He was leaving this trail of evidence behind him.

Amen.

So when everything looked lost, when it looked like it's over, he did all this so the disciples would remember.

The blind eyes, the storms, the dead being raised, the authority, the demonstrated authority, all of it.

Because when the cross came, folks, that looked like defeat.

And then when they put him in the tomb and it was sealed, well, that looked like the end.

But then when that stone rolled away, everything changed.

Now all those moments made complete sense to the disciples.

Now all the words were connected to the works.

Now his identity was undeniable.

The resurrection was not just another miracle.

That was the confirmation.

That was the final declaration.

That was the exclamation point at the end of everything.

It was God saying he is exactly who he said he is, not was, is.

And here's the part we cannot ignore, folks.

If the resurrection is true, and it is, then every word he spoke carries absolute authority.

And it does.

Don't miss what Jesus is doing through all of this, he wasn't just proving he had power.

He was revealing who he is in a way that could not be denied later.

Because in the moment people explain things away, they say well, maybe that person really wasn't blind.

Maybe it was something else.

Maybe that storm would have cleared itself off anyway.

Storms come and go.

Well, maybe Lazarus wasn't really dead.

Maybe he set it up.

People always look for an explanation when truth confronts them.

But Jesus didn't build his case on just one demonstrated moment.

He built it over three and a half years, over time, miracle after miracle after miracle, word after word after word after word, moment after moment.

Public settings where crowds sought and could testify to it.

And private moments when only individuals experienced it.

There was no such thing, single point of failure anywhere along his testimony.

It was all layered and consistent and undeniable.

And folks, that matters.

Because Jesus knew something the disciples did not fully grasp yet.

He knew that cross had his name on it.

It was coming.

He knew there would be a moment where everything would look like it fell completely apart.

Where everything they believed would be tested.

Where fear would replace the confidence they were growing in.

Where confusion would replace the clarity they were starting to perceive.

And in that moment, if all they had was inspiration, they'd have turned around, walked away.

If all they had was the emotional high like you get in these churches today, they would have quit.

If all they had was opinions, they would have scattered.

But he gave them something deeper.

He gave them evidence after evidence after evidence after evidence.

He gave them moments they could not forget.

He gave them encounters that would come back to them later and say, this is not the end.

Amen.

And that's exactly, exactly what happened.

Because when the cross came, it looked like defeat.

When Jesus was beaten, mocked and crucified, it looked like everything he said had failed.

But notice, the disciples didn't stand there boldly declaring victory when all of this happened.

No.

Did they?

No.

What'd they do?

They turned around and ran away.

They hid.

And then they started to question everything.

And if the story ended there, they'd have been right to do so.

But, oh, praise God, it did not end there.

Because three days later, the same Jesus who said he would rise, guess what?

He did.

He rose.

And when he did, everything changed.

Now all the miracles made sense.

The authority he demonstrated made sense.

All the words were now connected together.

And the identity, his identity was undeniable.

And here's the part we have to bring into, into today in our day and time, because we look back at the resurrection as history.

They experienced it as revelation.

They just didn't hear about it or read about it.

They saw it.

They saw him alive, speaking, walking, eating, restored.

In that moment, there was no more confusion.

There was no More debates.

There was no more uncertainty.

They knew.

And once they knew that they knew that they knew, everything changed.

Fear turned into boldness.

Doubt turned into conviction.

Silence turned into proclamations.

Because when you truly see who Jesus is, you can't stay the same as you were.

It's impossible.

And that's why this matters so much today.

Because the same Jesus who spoke then, guess what?

He's still speaking today.

The same authority he carried then, he still carries now.

The same identity he revealed then still stands today.

The question is not whether he proved who he is.

The question is whether we are willing to receive it.

Let me tie all this together for a moment.

Because everything we've covered comes back to what one central truth.

If Jesus is who he said he is, then everything he said carries weight you cannot ignore.

If he is the Son of Man from Daniel, then He has authority.

If he is the I Am, then he is divine.

If he is the only way, as he said, then every other path fails.

If he proved it through miracles, then his words were validated.

If he rose from the dead, then his authority is final.

And once you see that, folks, everything shifts.

Now forgiveness is not optional.

Obedience is not negotiable.

Now discipleship is not casual.

Because you are no longer dealing with a teacher.

You're dealing with the Lord of hosts Himself.

Amen.

And this is where the mission comes in.

Because it's not enough for us to know what Jesus said, we're called to help others hear him too.

That's why we're building platforms like Jesuss said tv.

Not just another channel, but as a distribution system.

A place where his words can can go out consistently.

Reaching people who mean that, who may never walk into a church, but they will still encounter the truth.

Because the mission didn't change.

Only the way to reach more people today changes the mission.

Amen.

Praise the Lord.

Thank you, Jesus.

This is where the message folks, it stops being comfortable.

Because once you see it, once you understand who Jesus is, you lose the option to stay neutral anymore.

There is no middle ground.

Jesus didn't give us a middle ground to use.

Amen.

Luke, chapter six 45:6.

Somewhere in there, he asked a question.

He exposed everything.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord?

But don't do the things I say, folks.

That's not a casual question.

That is called confrontation.

Because it forces an answer.

It forces alignment between words and reality.

It's easy to say Lord, Lord.

It's harder to live like he actually is.

And Jesus is not interested in titles.

He's interested in obedience.

Not partial obedience, not selective obedience, total obedience.

Because if he is Lord, and he is, then his words carry all authority.

They're not suggestions, they're not advice, authority.

And to be honest, this is where a lot of people struggle.

Because they want the benefits of Jesus without the authority of Jesus.

They want forgiveness, no doubt about it, but they don't want to surrender to get it.

They want comfort, but they don't want any correction in their lives.

They want salvation, but they don't want to submit to receive it.

But, folks, Jesus never separated those things.

He never said, receive me as Savior, but ignore me as Lord.

He didn't say that.

That's just something we created, not something he said.

John, chapter 8, verse 31.

He said, if you continue in My word, then you are My disciples indeed.

And that word continue is where everything lives.

Because real discipleship is not a moment in time.

It's a pattern of life.

It's not a decision, it's a direction.

You don't follow Jesus once, and that's it.

You need to follow him daily.

Not once a day, all day long, consistently, intentionally.

Here's where the pressure comes in.

Because once you recognize who he is, his words, they're no longer optional.

You don't get to edit them, you don't reinterpret them to fit your lifestyle.

You align your life to fit his words.

And that's the difference between admiration and true discipleship.

Admiration says, I like what he said.

That sounded good.

Discipleship says, I live what he said.

Oh, that's good.

Thank you, Lord.

Most people, they want to stay in admiration because discipleship cost them something.

It requires change.

It requires total surrender.

It requires letting go of control.

But here's the truth.

If he really is who you said he is, and again, he is okay, then anything less than full obedience is contradiction.

And this is why getting back to his actual words matters so much.

Because the moment you remove the noise, the moment you strip away personal opinions, the moment you come face to face with what Jesus actually said, you are forced to respond one way or another.

We don't need more opinions about Jesus.

We just need to return to what he said.

That's why tools like this book.

Again, what did Jesus say?

Seven Messages from the Master by Reverend Terry Allen, Christian.

This book matters.

They help bring people back to the source.

If you want to explore that, go to wdjsbookproject.com download your free ebook copy right now.

But it's so important, because you need to hear clearly.

You cannot.

Once you hear Jesus clearly, you can't stay the same.

So now the question comes back one more time.

Not as information, not as theory, but as a decision.

Who do you say Jesus is?

That's what he asked the disciples.

Your answer to that question already showing up in how you live.

If you want to think about it, folks, right now, this is not about more information.

This is not about adding one more message to what you've already heard.

This is about a decision.

Because Jesus did not leave his identity unclear.

He left zero room for interpretation.

He said who he is, he proved what he said, and he confirmed who he is by what he said.

Now the question comes back to you.

Who do you say Jesus is?

Not what you've heard, not what you've assumed, not what you've been told by others.

Who do you say Jesus is?

What is it you truly believe?

Because if he is who he said he is, and he was, is, then the only response that makes sense is total and complete surrender.

Not partial surrender, not a conditional surrender, not delayed surrender, full surrender.

And that means letting go of total control.

That means laying down your version of Jesus and receiving him as he revealed himself.

That means aligning your life not with comfort, not with culture, but with his words.

And here's the truth.

To be honest, most people try to avoid, you don't truly believe He's Lord until you live like he is.

Your Lord, your master, your boss.

How about your God?

So today, this is your moment.

Not to admire him from a distance, but to follow him up close.

Glory to God.

Not to agree with him in theory, but to obey him in reality.

Because once you see who he really is, everything changes.

If this message stirs something in your heart today, if it made you want to hear Jesus more clearly and study his words more deeply and stay anchored in what Jesus actually said, I want you to pray this short prayer with me right now.

Lord Jesus.

Say it out loud.

Loud enough for your own two ears to hear.

Lord Jesus, all I can say is I believe.

I believe you are my Lord and Savior.

Come now into my heart and into my life.

Help me to surrender completely to you from this day forward to serve you.

And I pray this in Jesus name.

Amen.

Praise God.

If you pray that prayer, email me@brother bobtfm.org and I want to encourage you.

Go check out Jesuss said TV folks.

That platform exists to help keep the words of Jesus going out consistently 24 hours a day, clearly, without compromise across today's media channels.

I mean, it's already on Roku and we're expanding even more.

The mission didn't change.

Only the way we reach other people does.

In a world full of noise and competing voices, we need place where the red letters of Jesus stay front and center.

Amen.

Why?

Simple.

Because his words matter.

Amen.

Right here, his words matter.

Not just yesterday, not just on Sundays, but every single day, every single decision.

Amen.

Praise the Lord.

So don't just hear the red letter words.

Live them, speak them.

Till next time, it's Pastor Bob.

Reminder.

Thank you for joining us for this session of the Red Letter Crusade.

Remember, in a world full of noise, only one voice still speaks with eternal truth.

That's the voice of Jesus through the red letter words in the Bible.

Please hit that like and subscribe button and share this episode with others until next time.

Remember, in a world where clarity is needed now more than ever, his words matter.