November 8, 2022- Reflections on “Verily, I Say Unto You!”

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24. KJV.

     What does the word, Verily, mean? In the ESV translation of The Word, it is replaced by Truly. The words of Jesus, Truly underlines the meaning.

       Oh, how we long to hear the truth instead of lies. After reading I & II Kings, I see lies and devious plans are not new, and God’s concerns have not changed. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteous-ness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18.

         In the Introduction of the “Singing Word! Scripture Songs”, I read what my daughter wrote as she re-published her Grandmother’s scripture songs: Many years ago, my Grandma created scripture songs. When I visited her, she played a scripture song to wake me up. She played for her husband, who loved to listen to the scripture in song. His favorite song was “Verily, I say unto you!”

        I searched the concordance KJV of the Bible. After reading, I realized three categories stood out –Commands, Warnings, and Promises. When Jesus taught, He often used the word, Truly.

            When Thomas asked Jesus, How can we know the way you are going? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7. ESV.

            Why should we believe the words of Jesus? Mark 9 tells of James, John, and Peter on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them. Verse 9 is for all of us… And a cloud overshadowed them, and a Voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.”

Do the Commands and Promises of Jesus matter? Yes. They show us how to follow Jesus and what pleases Him. Jesus paid the price on the cross to give us the gift of Salvation.

         Commands (KJV)

        Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you; The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. John 5:24-25.

        Verily, verily, I say unto you; The servant is not greater than his lord; neither He that is sent greater than He that sent Him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:16-17.

      Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:53-54. This refers to meeting at the Lord’s table and having communion, representing the body and blood of Jesus.)

      Warning (KJV)

       Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:34.

         Promises. (KJV)
         Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keeps my saying, he shall never see death. John 8:51.

         Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12.

         One of my favorite promises comes from Matthew 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 

         There are more ‘Verily’ scriptures. Who is this Jesus? In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:2-3.

         The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meall the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1,6.