Ever Wonder Why Jesus Didn’t Write the New Testament?

I’ve wondered this question before but I thought about it more this morning as I read 2 Peter 1. I believe that all scripture is inspired by God and so you can say, in a broad fashion, that Jesus “wrote” the New Testament but what I mean is why don’t we have Jesus’ words specifically written by Jesus? There are some who want to place more emphasis on the words that Jesus supposedly said that are written down for us in the gospels, but none of those words were actually written by Jesus. The words that Jesus said were written down by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Before Jesus died on the cross, why didn’t He hand over to His disciples a written collection of His own teaching for them to have and to use going forward? Would that have made His words more authoritative for us today? In 2 Peter 1, Peter gives a pretty strong defense for the validity, accuracy and authority of what was written down after Jesus was resurrected. Here is what Peter writes: 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Peter says that they were eye witnesses of the words and the events that they wrote about. They didn’t write fables or stories…but rather actual teaching and events. Peter claims a divine origin for the words that he wrote. I wonder if that is intended to make the words of Jesus even MORE authoritative. These words are not words handed down from God Himself, apart from those who followed Him. Rather, these words are accurately filtered through those who followed Him. For me, it does increase the authority. I hope that you trust the word of God and take it seriously. If not, you are missing out on a real opportunity to experience the power and presence of God in your life.