Ben Wilson

And that makes me want to focus more on not being hurried, not being busy, but making time for serendipity and happy coincidences in my life. Okay, so he used his gaze. Another thing that Johnson draws out is his use of silence.

He says, quote, he was habitually silent about his powers except when necessary and about his divinity as it was important to establish the nature of his character as a man. When told thou art the Christ, the son of the living God, he enjoins silence again. He was usually silent to direct questions. He preferred to answer the thought rather than the words.

He says, quote, he was habitually silent about his powers except when necessary and about his divinity as it was important to establish the nature of his character as a man. When told thou art the Christ, the son of the living God, he enjoins silence again. He was usually silent to direct questions. He preferred to answer the thought rather than the words.

He expresses the silence of shame when presented with the woman taken in adultery. Shame not at her sin, but at the sins of those who wish to stone her to death. He prefers to write their name in the dust rather than speak it. In the whole incident, one of the most vivid and moving in the entire New Testament, he uses only two sentences. Woman, where are those thine accusers?

He expresses the silence of shame when presented with the woman taken in adultery. Shame not at her sin, but at the sins of those who wish to stone her to death. He prefers to write their name in the dust rather than speak it. In the whole incident, one of the most vivid and moving in the entire New Testament, he uses only two sentences. Woman, where are those thine accusers?

Hath no man condemned thee? And neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. He is silent on horrors, at the death of John the Baptist, for instance. He is silent with indignation before Caiaphas. He shows the silence of contempt before Herod Antipas. In his physical sufferings, he is silent with self-absorption and pity for his assailants and mockers.

Hath no man condemned thee? And neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. He is silent on horrors, at the death of John the Baptist, for instance. He is silent with indignation before Caiaphas. He shows the silence of contempt before Herod Antipas. In his physical sufferings, he is silent with self-absorption and pity for his assailants and mockers.

His silence on the cross was as striking as his rare words, the seven last sayings. Okay. And I think that's an excellent point that when you have something very profound to say, silence can often speak as loud as your actual words. And Jesus used silence to great effect. And I think, you know, another person that makes me think of is George Washington, who used silence very effectively.

His silence on the cross was as striking as his rare words, the seven last sayings. Okay. And I think that's an excellent point that when you have something very profound to say, silence can often speak as loud as your actual words. And Jesus used silence to great effect. And I think, you know, another person that makes me think of is George Washington, who used silence very effectively.

And so that's something I'm mulling over my mind. How can I use silence more effectively? I'm a podcaster, so that's tough. But I think putting more meaning behind fewer words and having more silence can make your words more meaningful. Okay. Some more quotes on his openness and friendliness.

And so that's something I'm mulling over my mind. How can I use silence more effectively? I'm a podcaster, so that's tough. But I think putting more meaning behind fewer words and having more silence can make your words more meaningful. Okay. Some more quotes on his openness and friendliness.

I do think this is one of my favorite things about studying Jesus is realizing just how open and sociable he was. So here's a good quote from Paul Johnson. There was something about Jesus' appearance, the way he held himself, the steadiness of his gaze, which attracted people. They felt he was open, that he would receive them as a friend and talk to them.

I do think this is one of my favorite things about studying Jesus is realizing just how open and sociable he was. So here's a good quote from Paul Johnson. There was something about Jesus' appearance, the way he held himself, the steadiness of his gaze, which attracted people. They felt he was open, that he would receive them as a friend and talk to them.

Indeed, Jesus' manifest and responsive friendliness was his most striking quality, and it was apparent from the start. He directed it to all, but made each feel selected and treasured. Yet there was nothing professional about it. It came from the heart. There could be no mistake about that." With the exception of spreading news of his miracles, Jesus was always open.

Indeed, Jesus' manifest and responsive friendliness was his most striking quality, and it was apparent from the start. He directed it to all, but made each feel selected and treasured. Yet there was nothing professional about it. It came from the heart. There could be no mistake about that." With the exception of spreading news of his miracles, Jesus was always open.

He enjoyed food, the wine circulated, the talk flowed, but he respected the need of privacy for others, even secrecy. One of the most striking of his encounters was with Nicodemus, a Jew of high position, a Pharisee and a spiritual ruler who was prominent in the hierarchy. He came to Jesus by night so as not to jeopardize his position, and Jesus did not rebuke him for cowardice.

He enjoyed food, the wine circulated, the talk flowed, but he respected the need of privacy for others, even secrecy. One of the most striking of his encounters was with Nicodemus, a Jew of high position, a Pharisee and a spiritual ruler who was prominent in the hierarchy. He came to Jesus by night so as not to jeopardize his position, and Jesus did not rebuke him for cowardice.

On the contrary, he received him kindly and explained to him in memorable words much of his inner message. OK, another quote on his self-control. This again from Paul Johnson. But, you know, I really liked N.T. Wright's book, The New Testament and its world. It's an excellent resource for understanding the New Testament. Having said that, it is more.

On the contrary, he received him kindly and explained to him in memorable words much of his inner message. OK, another quote on his self-control. This again from Paul Johnson. But, you know, I really liked N.T. Wright's book, The New Testament and its world. It's an excellent resource for understanding the New Testament. Having said that, it is more.

I think it is a textbook, like I think it's actually used as a textbook in some seminaries, and so it reads like it. Paul Johnson's account is much more poetic. And so I like that because it helps bring home who Jesus was as a person. So that's why I'm using more of his quotes in these end notes. But here's another one, Paul Johnson on his self-control.