You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me - John 5:39 ESV
In this verse Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees - the most religiously devout people in Israel. The Pharisees were required to memorize huge portions of the Hebrew Bible. They spent many hours praying and reciting scripture in the public square. And yet it was precisely these people who were most blind to the message of Jesus.
They thought they could earn their righteousness through human wisdom and human deeds. They had the scriptures memorized but they did not know what their meaning was - for if they had known the meaning they would have recognized Jesus as the Son of their God.
Instead they satisfied themselves with human praise.
Today we must make sure not to fall into the same trap. We must not be so focused on an intellectual understanding of the scriptures that we forget who they are pointing to.
The night Jesus was betrayed He told His disciples, "by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The purpose of the scriptures is to orient us towards Jesus Christ. God does not want us spending each of our days simply bolstering our collection of knowledge, He wants us to shine His light to the world.
The Bible provides us a truthful theological framework for our faith - and because of this it is the most important book ever written. But the point of the Bible is to shift our focus toward Jesus. The Bible tells us to live a certain way. If we read the Bible and do not attempt to live our lives based upon it, it is as if we never read it at all.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I like where we are instructed to shine HIS light - it reminds me of the WWJD era!
Keep your eyes on Jesus May we see clearly so that our lives magnify Him.