Redundancy

Does this sign seem to you like it’s stating the obvious?

As if we couldn’t tell the sign was posted there? Thank you for letting us know on the sign that you put up a sign.

I saw a related warning sign yesterday that said, “Posted: No Trespassing”. What is that all about??

Enough folks want their warning signs to contain the word “posted” that factories make them that way, so there must be a reason behind it.

For the landowner to have a legal standing, the law says that signs must be “posted”. Posting a sign simply means putting up a sign out in the open where everyone can see it so there’s no question.

But to make double sure they’re covered by the law, adding the word “posted” somehow seems make the sign more significant. It’s an extra, “Hey! Pay attention!!”

The Truth Speaks Truth

Jesus used this same technique when teaching. As he was talking, he would sometimes say, “Truly, truly, I say to you . . .”

1. As “the way, the truth and the life” he always spoke truth, so nothing he said was more true than anything else.
2. He was already talking, so he didn’t have to tell them that he was about to say something.

He was basically saying, “Hey, this is important! Pay attention!”

Truly, Truly Important

What are some of the really important messages he wanted to get across?

Here are just a few to ponder:

From Slavery to Freedom

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin'” (John 8:34).

How do we get out of this slavery? The answer: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God'” (John 3:3).

How can one be born again? By believing that Jesus is who he says he is, and has come to free us from slavery to sin by purchasing our freedom.

From Death to Life

Jesus doesn’t only promise life in the here and now, but life forever!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24 ESV).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (John 5:25). Praise God, physical death is not the end!

Shared Authority

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me” (John 13:20).

How we respond to fellow followers of Christ is important. Do we see them as having received the same authority we ourselves have received? Or do we think we’ve got an inside track? Or perhaps we think they’ve got a closer connection to Jesus than we do.

Every follower of Christ has been sent to share his light and good news with the world. How do we receive one another? Are we willing to listen? Are we willing to share? Something to think about . . .

Shared Servanthood

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:14-17).

I pray that we never get so high and mighty in our own eyes that we’re above stooping down to serve one another in love.

Now it’s your turn!

This was just a small sampling of Christ’s “Truly, truly” sayings. Which one spoke loudest to you?

Did I miss one that is special to you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

The next time you see a “Posted” sign, perhaps you’ll remember one of these emphasized teachings of Jesus.

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Featured photo by Joshua Olsen on Unsplash