THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK
S - "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life"
John 5:39-40
O - The Pharisees and the scribes were well read and learned men. They knew the Scriptures and the law. The whole of the Old Covenant with the Mosaic Law foreshadowed the New Covenant of Grace through Jesus Christ. These men would have understood that the Messiah was yet to come. Earlier in our readings we see how the disciples immediately left their careers, family and life to follow Jesus, the Messiah. Simple fishermen were able to understand who Jesus was. They were not able to read the Scriptures. They heard them through the priests, who diligently studied the Scriptures. Here, Jesus challenges those who had advantage and access to truth but were completely blind to his divinity. Not only blind, but rebellious (you refuse to come to me). In contrast, simple men, who were unable to read the Scriptures for themselves were able to see who Jesus was.
A - So often we have so much in our modern era to know Jesus more deeply. We have the Holy Spirit. We have organised religion. We have Bibles and Scriptures in abundance and in every conceivable translation. We can read. We go on to study further through books, commentary's and other resources. We can even read this blog and others like it. We have so much. Yet, are we like the Pharisees, who at times refuse to "come to Jesus", to surrender completely, to make him Lord as well as Saviour of our lives and to live our lives in obedience to his will. Sometimes I wonder if the abundance knowledge about Jesus, leaves little time for real communion with Jesus. This is something we have to watch.
P - Dear Jesus, help me to always see you in the reading of your word. May it never be, that I read the Scriptures for personal ends other than to know you more deeply I pray. Amen.
Daily Reading John Chapter 5
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