I wrote this piece in honour of the great Author who entered His Story to demonstrate His love and provide a way for us to be saved from sin, Hell and death.

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Have you ever contemplated the voice of God?

I say “contemplate” because I know we cannot hear His voice with our physical ears.

But as we page through Scripture, I believe that there is a sense in which we can hear His voice.

His voice rang out at the dawn of time: God said, “Let there be light.” (Gen. 1:3)

His voice thundered from Mount Sinai and made the children of Israel tremble.

His voice rejoices over His people with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)

Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah and countless others heard His voice.

Sometimes it was thunderous and terrifying. Sometimes it was still and small.

And then, in the fullness of time, the Word became flesh.

For 33 years, human beings were able to hear the voice of God as clearly as they heard the voices of their friends.

And many of them did not even know to whom they were listening.

At first, (oh what mystery!) the voice of Jesus would have been a baby’s voice.

As a 12-year-old, talking among the temple priests, it would have been a developing young man’s voice.

The day came when His voice rang out as He preached to thousands of people.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

As in the centuries past, His voice was sometimes commanding, sometimes gentle.

He commanded the wind and the waves and they obeyed. (Matt. 8:26) He said “Talitha, cumi” and the little girl arose. (Mark 5:41-42)

And then the night came when His voice was lifted in a long, high priestly prayer. A precious prayer recorded for us in John 17.

When He had finished praying, He went into a garden.

Not a lovely, picturesque garden, but an olive garden and a place where olives were pressed to make oil.

Slowly crushed to bring forth the precious liquid.

The garden was near the Kidron Brook. The brook that King David had crossed as he fled for his life from the people who rejected him as king. Now the stream was murky with the blood from temple sacrifices.

A garden of suffering.

Jesus said to His disciples: “Sit here, while I go and pray over there.” (Matt. 26:36)

So He left them, and now His voice was lifted in anguish to His Father. “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt. 26:39)

What humility. What obedience. What courage.

The story progresses quickly.

Again, we hear Jesus’ voice — soft, patient, but strong. Sometimes we do not hear Him at all.

The last hour approaches.

Even as He hangs on the cross, we hear Him speak again.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

“Woman, behold your son”… and to John: “Behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27)

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46)

“I thirst.” (John 19:28)

The time comes.

But stop a moment, reflect.

He has been on the cross for three hours. He is being slowly suffocated. He is at the end of His strength.

He cries out. With a loud voice.

Only God could do that.

Even to the last breath, He had power.

Power to come down from the cross.

Power to retain His life.

But He gave Himself willingly.

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

He died, but death could not hold the sinless Lamb of God.

His voice was heard again on earth:

“Peace to you!” (John 20:19)

“Lo, I am with you always.” (Matt 28:20)

So we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

We await the day when we will hear Your voice again with our physical ears.

But until then, we listen eagerly with the ears of our hearts.

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*Scripture quotations taken from the New King James Version