“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me,” John 5:39, KJV.
“You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!” John 5:39, AMP.
The importance of studying the scriptures is noted here in this very scripture. In this context, Jesus was speaking to those who question His true identity. Today, there are many who challenge Jesus’ identity although the Old Testament is available for research. The problem that exists is that no matter how much evidence you provide, they still won’t believe. And they wonder why certain things occur in their lives.
Not only is Jesus real, He’s alive. When He accomplished the mission here on Earth, he sat down on the right hand side of God (Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12). In His absence from Earth, the Holy Spirit was sent to comfort. The Holy Spirit is our guide here and intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27) even so Christ Himself (Romans 8:34) as He is seated next to God.
What will it take for some people to believe and receive? Proof they say, yet reject the very Word that’s placed in front of them. It’s similar to when some are told of the danger ahead of them, but decide to proceed anyway. Many are warned about relationships that they should not be in, but they enter them anyway. Some are told of the chance they may be taking by traveling a certain road, yet go regardless. The examples can span a thousand miles, but some may never learn. Is this an example of a reprobate mind?
There is still hope because we can equip ourselves with the Word, which is the sword. We are to gain wisdom, and with our getting—understanding. As growing Christians, we must study and show ourselves approved. If we’re not studying, what are we proving except the fact that we own a Bible? What does that say? It could be collecting dust or serving a nice show piece when our “brothers and sisters in Christ” visit the house. Jesus instructs us to search the scriptures because that’s where we’ll find Him.
Let us take a look at the book of Isaiah 7:14, KJV, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” When I read this passage I thought of the name Immanuel. I know that Jesus is the son of God, but I was trying to figure out why Isaiah said His name would be Immanuel and He was named Jesus. Well, it didn’t take long to understand that Immanuel means “God is with us.” Isn’t Jesus with us? Furthermore, in Isaiah 9:6, KJV, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” proves that He has many names. And how many names have we made for Him today? He is Healer, Comforter, Provider, and many more.
In chapter eleven of the book of Isaiah, there we will find more prophecy about His coming. Isaiah 11:1 speaks, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Of course Jesse is the father of King David which means Jesus belonged to this lineage. Many scriptures testify of Jesus before He ever arrived in human form. “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God,” Isaiah 40:3. Confirmed in the New Testament, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,” Matthew 3:1-3, KJV.
There are many scriptures that testify of His existence. I believe that God may have chosen to establish the world this way, speaking of Christ so that we’ll have the “evidence” needed to satisfy our human nature. He knows us because He made us. Just as if we were meeting someone in person for the first time and a description is given so that we could identify them, God did so for us. As we might say, “She’ll be wearing a pair of green pants, a blue sweater, a tan leather coat, and holding a red book in her left hand.” How could you mix that person up with another? It is so unique. So is Jesus Christ as he was described so many years before He arrived.
Search the scriptures…there you will find Him.
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