Over the years I have preferred Bibles with the words of Jesus in red. After all, it was His words that created the world; all things were created through Him and for Him; and He is the heir of all things.* Don’t His words stand out as worthy of special recognition?
My pastor recently said that he had been reading through the red letters in the New Testament and was finding it helpful. I want to know Jesus better, so I gave it a try. The first time through I just read the red letters without much context, and it brought out more of the character of Jesus and how He communicated. Wow, He really “said it like it is” in the face of hypocrisy, and other times His compassion was in full light! I’m on my second time through now and am taking more time to consider the context, and I like that too.
We need the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments. We need the history of the OT, and I have been so instructed by it’s many “If, then – – -” scenarios. The consequences of obeying or disobeying God are so clearly portrayed in the earthly nation of Israel, and today they affect our life in the spiritual Kingdom of God, present and eternal.
Be sure to read the red letters in Revelation, too. Everything in the Bible up to that point, points toward the events described there, and Jesus’ words as in Revelation 22:12 ought to jolt some professing Christians out of their lethargy. This is serious – – obedience matters.
*Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
Sept. 11, 2025
Printable pdf at www.10minas.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/25-10-The-Red-Letters.pdf
Also on Facebook at: Ken Stoltzfus – Kidron