July 28, 2024 Devo

July 28th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Jesus and the Jewish Leaders (John 5:16-47)
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” – John 5:39 (NLT)
“Know the Author”

If we’re honest, the Bible can be a bit confusing at times. Why was there so much violence in the Old Testament? What’s with all the sacrifices and festivals and feasts? And could someone PLEASE explain the craziness of Revelation?! In fact, the Bible can be downright frustrating if you don’t keep one important fact in mind. It’s all about Jesus.
The Old Testament is Jewish history. But all those patriarchs and all those prophets were simply paving the way for God to show that only HE could do what really needed to be done. They alluded to Him. They pointed to Him. They often even foretold about Him. The Old Testament was never meant to be an end in itself. It only served to prove that laws and commandments were not enough, feasts and festivals were not enough, and the sacrifices and rituals were not enough. When Jesus passed the cup at the Last Supper, He said, “This is the New Covenant.” All that came before Him was simply prologue. That’s why when Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is FINISHED.” He was the fulfillment of it all.
What Jesus was pointing out to the Jewish leaders is important for us to keep in mind as well. The Bible is an amazing and wonderful gift to us by God. It shows us all that God has done, and it gives us hope and faith in all that God can do. It gives us promises to stand on and guidelines to live by. It can lift us when we are discouraged, and it can help us find our back when we get confused or lost. But for all that is wonderful and helpful about the Bible, it is not an end in itself. Its goal is to point us to Jesus and help us be like Jesus.
The reason this is so important is because you can be a Bible scholar and still not know Jesus. That’s why I’m not really impressed by people who want to tell me how much Bible they know. When the Devil was tempting Jesus in the wilderness, HE quoted Scripture! Please hear my heart. I love the Scriptures. I love spending time reflecting on its truth and reflecting on its wisdom. But the Bible in my head is not nearly enough. I need Jesus in my heart and in my life. So, listen to the Bible, read the Bible, and study the Bible. Just make sure your focus is becoming like The Author. That’s God’s Word for you today.