Jesus' Words
by Rod Jackson
All verses are quoted from the NASB, unless stated otherwise, anything in [square brackets] is added by me for clarity.
Jesus said
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My [Jesus'] words will not pass away." Matthew 24:35
So Jesus' words will never "pass away".
"Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30 & 31
"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written." John 21:25
Jesus did other things that have "passed away" and presumably said other things that were not recorded and hence "passed away".
"And He [Jesus] said to them [Mary and Joseph], `Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?'" Luke 2:49
These are the first recorded words of Jesus after His incarnation (coming in the flesh). These words are said at the age of 12 (v42). Was Jesus mute before the age of 12 or did He say other words that have "passed away"?
"Early in the morning He [Jesus] came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, `Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, `He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, `Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?' She said, `No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, `I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.' " John 8:2-11
This story above tells about the only time that we know of where Jesus Himself, wrote something down. He wrote on the ground. Nobody knows what words Jesus wrote here. These words have literally "passed away".
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I [Jesus] have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:63
So the letters of the words of that Jesus spoke and wrote are not literally to be remaining, but the spirit of them will not "pass away", for His words are Spirit!