John 5
September 19, 2022
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (v39-40
Many of the Pharisees had the entire Old Testament memorized. They prided themselves on their knowledge of the Scriptures. And yet, because their motivation for study was to impress men (v42-44), they missed the Messiah, to whom the Scriptures point. Jesus, here, is not slighting the study of the Scriptures, but revealing how He is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. In other words, if our Bible study doesn’t lead us to see our need for Jesus and to grow in our love for Jesus, we’re not reading the Bible in the right way.
Father, I praise You for the way Your written Word leads me to see more clearly the Living Word: Jesus. Guard my study of the Scriptures from simply leading to a knowledge that puffs up my pride. Instead, may my reading of the Scriptures lead me to see and savor Jesus, the One to whom every page of Your Word is pointing!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
