Summary
During a silent retreat I complied this list of the top 50 greatest one-liners said by creatures in the Gospels.
|
|
Notes
Why A List?
Lists of this kind are typically frivilous, like "the 100 most awesomely bad rock songs", but reflecting upon these can bear spiritual fruit. Perhaps take one-a-day and meditate upon it for a short while. Let it sink in, consider its deeper meaning, and its significance to your life. Some people spend eight minutes a week on their abs. Why not spend seven minutes a week on your soul?
|
Ranking Criteria:
These quotes were ranked based on profundity, gravity, brevity, and spirituality. I favored shorter quotes, those more consequential to the Gospel story, those which convey deep truths (sometimes subtlely, in a way their speakers never realized), and those which are more valuable for spiritual reflection and prayer.
|
|
|
|
|
The 50 Greatest One-Liners
said by Creatures in the Gospels
#50 - Luke 1:68
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free." - Zechariah
#49 - Luke 1:46-48a
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant." - Mary
#48 - Luke 1:48b
"From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name." - Mary
#47 - Luke 2:14
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." - A multitude of angels
#46 - Mark 9:5
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!" - Peter
#45 - Matthew 27:65
"The guard is yours; go secure [the tomb] as best you can." - Pilate to the chief priests and Pharisees
#44 - John 3:4
"How can a person once grown old be born again?" - Nicodemus
#43 - Matthew 3:11c
"He will baptise you with the holy Spirit and fire." - John the Baptist
#42 - Matthew 22:36
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" - A Pharisee scholar of the law
#41 - Matthew 21:27
"We do not know." - The chief priests and elders
#40 - John 19:15
"We have no king but Caesar." - The crowd
#39 - Matthew 27:25
"His blood be upon us and upon our children." - The crowd
#38 - Luke 23:42
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." - Crucified man
#37 - Mark 15:39
"Truly this man was the Son of God." - Roman centurian
#36 - John 9:38
"I do believe, Lord." - The man healed who was born blind
#35 - Luke 7:49
"Who is this who even forgives sins?" - The table guests of Simon the Pharisee
#34 - Mark 7:37
"He has done all things well." - People after the cure of a deaf man.
#33 - Luke 1:41
"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." - A leper
#32 - Luke 10:29
"And who is my neighbor?" - A scholar of the law
#31 - Matthew 26:25
"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" - Judas, who calls Jesus "teacher" rather than "Lord"
#30 - Matthew 3:11b
"I am not worthy to carry his sandals." - John the Baptist
#29 - Luke 18:41
"Lord, please let me see." - A blind beggar
#28 - Luke 15:2
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." - The Pharisees and scribes
#27 - Matthew 20:33
"Lord, let our eyes be opened." - Two blind men
#26 - John 9:25
"One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." - The man born blind
#25 - Luke 2:35a
"And you yourself a sword will piece." - Simeon
#24 - Matthew 27:23a
"[Why?] What evil has he done?" - Pilate
#23 - John 19:5
"Behold, the man!" - Pilate
#22 - John 21:7
"It is the Lord." - The beloved disciple recognising the veiled presence of Christ.
#21 - Luke 17:5
"Increase our faith." - The apostles
#20 - Mark 1:37
"Everyone is looking for you." - Simon Peter and company
#19 - John 12:19
"Look, the whole world has gone after him." - Pharisees
#18 - Mark 4:38
"Teacher, do you not care that we are parishing?" - The disciples on the stormy sea.
#17 - John 18:40
"Not this one but Barabbas!" - The crowd chooses another who is named "son of the father".
#16 - John 1:29
"Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." - John the Baptist
#15 - Luke 1:28
"[Hail, favored one!] The Lord is with you." - Gabriel
#14 - Matthew 14:30
"Lord, save me!" - Peter on the water
#13 - John 3:30
"He must increase; I must decrease." - John the Baptist
#12 - John 6:67a
"Master, to whom shall we go?" - Peter rhetorically, when asked by Jesus "Do you also want to leave me?"
#11 - John 6:67b
"You have the words of eternal life." - Peter
#10 - John 18:38
"What is truth?" - Pilate
#9 - John 20:18
"I have seen the Lord." - Mary of Magdala
#8 - John 20:28
"My Lord and my God!" - Thomas
#7 - Mark 9:24
"I do believe, help my unbelief!" - The father of a possessed boy
#6 - John 21:17
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." - Peter
#5 - Luke 17:13
"[Jesus, Master!] Have pity on us!" - Lepers
#4 - Matthew 3:2
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - John the Baptist
#3 - John 2:5
"Do whatever he tells you." - Mary
#2 - Matthew 16:16
"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." - Simon Peter
#1 - Luke 1:38
"May it be done to me according to your word." - Mary
|
|