A Witness To Jesus

First Christian Church of Chicago
3 days ago
2 min read

Scripture Focus: John 5:39

“These are the very Scriptures that testify about me…” (NIV)

Devotional Thought

The internet has allowed us the luxury of knowing all about people we have never met. But you can study every letter written about someone and still never know the person themselves. Jesus confronts leaders who knew Scripture deeply yet missed the One it was pointing toward.

Interpretation

John 5:39 shows Jesus addressing religious leaders who diligently searched the Scriptures, convinced those pages held eternal life within them. Yet Jesus reveals the Bible's true role: it serves as a powerful witness, testifying about him as the Messiah through its prophecies, promises, and patterns from Moses onward. The verse underscores that Scripture is not an end in itself but a signpost pointing to Jesus, the source of that life they sought. This truth invites believers to read the Bible with eyes open to see Christ everywhere in its pages.

Contemporary Relevance

It is possible today to master biblical knowledge and still bypass the heart of Scripture. But Scripture is a witness meant to bring you to Jesus — into trust, loyalty, transformation, and shared mission. A Jesus-centered reading keeps the Bible from becoming a rulebook or trivia archive. Its purpose is relational — to lead us to the Messiah who fulfills the story. Too many people in churches today still approach the Bible today much like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, looking for rules to follow, or validation of their personal beliefs as a way to be superior to others. However, when Christ is the lens for our reading, Scripture becomes a place of encounter, trust, and transformation. You begin to see how its teachings shape not just private belief, but communal life, justice, hope, and God’s renewing work in the world.