Another Witness of Jesus – the Scriptures
John 5:39-40 [1]
39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
We studied three other witnesses of Jesus in the past few weeks. Today, let us study another witness of Jesus - the Scriptures.
I. You study the Scriptures diligently (39a, 39b)
The Jews studied the Scriptures diligently (39a). It was because they thought that in them they had eternal life (39b). They were ‘thinking’ or ‘imagining’ as opposed to ‘believing’ or ‘knowing’ [2]. They were liars pretending to ‘know’ God (John 8:55).
The Old Testament promises life not to the mere reader and searcher, but to the doer of the law (Leviticus 18:5) [2]. Their minds were made dull and the veil covers their hearts when the Old Testament is read (2 Corinthians 3:14-15)
II. The Scriptures testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (39c, 40)
The Scriptures testify about Jesus (39c). The veil is taken away whenever anyone turns to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16) [2]. Christ is the life and light of the whole Bible and the only key that unlocks its mysteries to the believing mind [2].
What they sought by their study of the Scriptures could only be found in Jesus [3]. Yet, they refused to come to Jesus to have life. The reason for refusing to come to Jesus [4] is written in John 3:19-20.
- (John 3:19) Because their deeds were evil, they loved darkness instead of light
- (John 3:20) because the light will expose their deeds,
- they hate the light.
- they will not come into the light.
They loved death more than life (Proverbs 8:35-36).
The mind may be more easily convinced of the truth of Christianity than the will may be subdued to the obedience of Christ [2]. Belief and unbelief depend on the heart rather than the head (Proverbs 4:23) [2].
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Lange, J.P.S., Philip, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John. Logos Research ed. 2008, Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Park, Y. Believing the one God sent. 2023 21/05/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/believing-the-one-god-sent/.
