Creator, Father, King #191

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

QUIZ TIME!

It’s time to put your Old Testament knowledge to the test.

1. What kind of animal did God require for the annual Passover sacrifice?
2. What tribe of Israel did David descend from?
3. Which Assyrian king attacked Judah during Hezekiah’s reign?
4. How long did it take Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls?
5. Where is the prophecy of Jesus’ birthplace found?

(Answers are below in the “Did You Know?” section.)

Head knowledge of Scripture is great, and it might win you a trivia contest or make you look pretty clever in front of others. But when it comes to salvation, Bible facts alone are no more useful than a chariot without wheels.

This brings us to today’s Scripture passage. In John 5, Jesus was talking to some of the Jewish Sanhedrin members who wanted to kill him for healing a man on the Sabbath and claiming deity.

The religious leaders knew what the Old Testament said. They had studied it their whole lives. But their great error was that they missed its fundamental meaning. They didn’t understand that it all pointed to Jesus as our only Savior from sins.

What’s It Mean?

You can memorize all the books of the Bible. You can rattle off the Ten Commandments, the ten plagues of Egypt, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the fruits of the Spirit. You can even recite some famous chapters such as Psalm 23, Isaiah 53, and Romans 8. But it won’t matter if you don’t trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

This isn’t to minimize Scripture. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is alive and powerful.” It softens hardened hearts to hear the gospel.

But our response to Christ makes all the difference. The ancient Jewish religious leaders got it completely wrong. They were blinded to the truth by pride, self-righteousness, greed, and corruption.

God’s Word reveals God’s Son. As you study it, be receptive as God’s Spirit speaks to your heart. Let Scripture deepen your love and commitment to the Savior who gave his life for yours. Use the Bible to grow in your faith in the God who created you and his Son who died so that you might live.

Knowing Scripture is so important. But Bible knowledge is worthless without personally knowing the one whom Scripture reveals. Without Jesus, knowledge is simply a trivial pursuit.

Now What?

Read John 5 to see Jesus’ relationship to God the Father and the Old Testament.

Did You Know?

Here’s the answer key to the quiz above:

1. a spotless one-year-old male lamb
2. Judah
3. Sennacherib
4. fifty-two days
5. Micah 5:2