Finding Comfort In The "Red Letters"

Finding Comfort in the Red Letters

John 14:1-6

The words in red in many Bibles are neither more nor less important than the words in black. Jesus said to the seventy: "He that heareth you heareth me" (Luke 10:16). This was his position concerning every divinely inspired writer or speaker. While millions read the Bible daily, few know why some Bible publishers print the words of Christ in red. Mr. William Emmett Shelton, author, of Mogadore, Ohio, and Mr. Laurence S. Heely, Jr., publisher of Christian Herald Magazine, say that the idea originated with Louis KIopsch, the first editor for the Christian Herald. The November 1901 issue of that monthly ran a large advertisement offering a red letter Bible to the readers.

Mr. KIopsch was born March 7, 1852, in Germany. In 1853 his mother died. The next year his father, Osmar KIopsch, M.D., brought him to the United States. Louis studied journalism at what is now Columbia University. He graduated with high honours. He rose from stock boy to editor with religious publishers, and by about 1889 he was the owner-editor of the American edition of the Christian Herald Magazine.

He and his father worshiped at Brooklyn Temple, where T. DeWitt Talmadge was the minister. June 19, 1899, Dr. KIopseh was writing an editorial for the Christian Herald when his eyes fell upon Luke 22:20 and the words:

"This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

Dr. KIopsch realized that these were the words of our Savior when he instituted the Lord’s Supper. Reasoning that all blood was red, he asked himself, Why not a red letter Bible with the red words to be those of our Lord? Dr. Talmadge, his preacher, encouraged him greatly by saying: "It could do no harm, and it most certainly could do much good."

The editor besought Bible scholars in America and Europe to submit passages they regarded as spoken by Christ while on earth. (Some publishers have since expanded this feature to include all words in red spoken by Christ.)

The first printing of a red letter Bible [Copyright 1899&1900(?) by Louis Klopsch] numbered sixty thousand copies. They were printed on presses owned by Dr. KIopsch. The edition sold quickly. Presses were run day and night to supply the demand. The King of Sweden sent a congratulatory cablegram. The telegram that thrilled publisher KIopsch the most, perhaps, was one from President Theodore Roosevelt. There followed a letter on White House stationery inviting him to dine with the chief executive. He accepted.

Dr. KIopsch died March 28, 1910, and was buried at Mont Lawn near Tonawanda, New York, where he had established an orphanage. The New York Tribune said:

"He will not be easily replaced. He lived and died by his own motto:

Do All the Good You Can for All the People You Can.

This, he truly did."

(Source: History of the Red-Letter Bible -http://www.angelfire.com/la/prophet1/redlettered.html

Apart from the Psalms, I believe that many people will also turn to the words of Christ for comfort and support. To look at what He had to say to the people of His day gives us a sense and feeling that He was speaking directly to us. We find the comfort and protection for our daily lives in what Jesus had shared with those who would listen.

A few years ago the Christian contemporary music group, dc Talk, released a song about the red-lettered words of Jesus found within the Gospels. The lyrics of the chorus are as such:

There is love in the red letters

There is truth in the red letters

There is hope for the hopeless

Peace and forgiveness

There is life in the red letters

Today, I want to look at just one of the “red-lettered” passages from the book of John. It is within this passage that, I believe, we can find hope and comfort for ourselves today. (Read John 14:1-7a)

In this passage, we find Jesus and His disciples gathered around a table for the Passover meal. Jesus’ earthly ministry is quickly drawing to a close. He is just minutes away from being turned over to the Jewish authorities because of Judas’ betrayal. Soon the other will have deserted Him, and Peter will have denied Him three times. His death was imminent.

This was weighing heavy on the hearts of those around Him. Jesus looked upon them with compassion, and He addressed their current gloomy status. He saw not only their faces, but He also so deep into their hearts. He does the same with us. “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."(1 Samuel 16:7)

While looking at the disciples and empathizing with their current suffering, Jesus offers the following comfort: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1) As a way to bolster their lagging faith in the moment, Jesus tries to comfort them with these words. Jesus, more than anybody, understood the anguish of those troubled, and so He offered His comfort.