Monday: The Authoritative Role of Scripture
Daily Lesson for Monday 18th of November 2024
In addition to the specific signs and testimonies that John used to point to Jesus as the Messiah, John also appealed to the authority of the Old Testament and to its prophecies, which foretold the work of Christ. The Old Testament is central, not just to John’s Gospel but to all the New Testament. Justification for Jesus, for who He was, where He came from, what He did, and what He will do—is based on Scripture, in this case the Old Testament.
Read the following texts: John 5:39-40,46-47. What do they teach us about Jesus’ attitude toward the authority of Scripture?
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All through the Gospels, time and again, Jesus points to the authority of Scripture as a key witness to Him. For instance, Jesus often uses events from the Old Testament to help point to Himself and to what He does. The following is one case, where He takes an event from Numbers 21:5-9. “ ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up’ ” (John 3:14, NKJV). Here, not only does Jesus refer to the story, but by using it to point to Himself, He basically gives us the authoritative interpretation of what the story meant to convey.
And not just Jesus, but others, as well, use the Old Testament to point to Jesus. For example, early on in John, we read the words of Philip: “ ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote’ ” (John 1:45, NKJV).
Read the following texts: John 13:18; John 17:12; and John 19:24,28,36. What do they teach about the authority of Scripture as understood by Jesus and John? What should this tell us about the crucial role all Scripture must have for our faith, as well?
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What are the forces today that either subtly or openly work to undermine our faith in the authority of the Bible? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath. |
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Psalm 22 is worth reading so we get the full meaning of its messianic prophecy rather than just cherry-picking the verses quoted in John's Gospel. It is attributed to David and is a prayer reflecting his own anguish in times he feels abandoned by God. Jesus used that Psalm on several occasions as a prophecy of his suffering and feeling of rejection by God. In doing so he identifies himself with suffering humanity. It is that identification that helps us appreciate the big picture of salvation.
When you read the whole psalm you are not left with despair and discouragement but it ends with a picture of hope and assurance.
Look at the contrast in these two quotes:
... and a few verses later:
Both quotes are prophetic and both have a significant message for us living in the light of the Cross.
Looking at the last paragraph of Tuesday’s lesson - when Jesus was resurrected, this wasn’t just when the disciples understood but it was when they were full of joy because they understood. The disciples could not hear or understand the warnings Jesus was telling them beforehand about how he would be killed because this was overwhelming, shocking and sad. This stopped them from seeing the way things were going to be and they could do nothing but fall asleep in the garden of Gethsemane. When something so awful is happening we deny it or pretend it’s not happening.
This happened to me yesterday when I read Psalm 22! I had trouble praying continuously and my talking to God was all disconnected. I couldn’t understand what was happening. Today I see the resurrection means what Jesus did is full of joy. His strength and beauty of character can carry us through his death to live in him.
Obvious I know but experienced personally I praise God.
Looking forward to know God through scriptures
Verse 21 caught my eye. Quite the contrary to the text one of our politicians daughter-in-law quoted at a rally 4 months ago.
Proverbs 28:1 NKJV
[1] The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
In all sincerity, Christ suffered the mental anguish of uncertainty, so we should not have to. There is so much Biblical evidence to support that we have the asurence of salvation if we will just hold onto Christ.
Proverbs 4:13.
Philippians 3:12.
After thinking about it. Proverbs 28:1 is an answer to the prayer request of Psalms 22:21, rather than contrary.
The Bible is a book that has so many facets. It's a storyteller. However, from all the variety of subjects, the most important one is the report about humankind's salvation. Salvation is predicted, fulfilled, and is present today in the name of Love, a name with the Power to rebuild anything, from a broken heart to a coffin view. The Scriptures have Jesus as the most precious and present living Truth.
Thanks to the lesson writers who help us understand the bible through the lessons
I wonder how much information a person needs to gather before it is enough to ‘convince’ them of that which they search for? Seeking after Truth, as long as they continue to doubt, there will remain the need for more evidence. Nothing will suffice to convince them that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, if they only look to be convinced by/through ‘records’.
Recorded in John 5:39-40, Jesus addresses this problem saying: ”You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are NOT willing to come to ME that you may have life.”
I think for mankind to come to Jesus is all about the desire/ability to obtain eternal life. Some hope for this, others do not. I consider the example of those bitten by the snakes and dying to be a metaphor of mankind 'dying in the wilderness’ without knowing their God provides sustenance. Unless they look upon Jesus as their Savior, they too will die.
Does the authority of Scripture really matter to those who reject the Son of God, and with this also His Father? John 10:27-29 speaks to those who have ‘come to Him that they may have life. Nothing can take them out of His Father’s hand; they will be healed! But what about those still wandering in the wilderness?
God gave us Jesus to be the One we lift up high in our lives to be seen by all who seek healing from 'injuries' inflicted upon them by the spirit of this world. Jesus is everyone's Savior! His is the ongoing work of rescuing mankind from certain death that, though bitten by the ‘snake’, we may yet have Life eternal.