New Hope Church

Day 22 – Lenten Devotional

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL – DAY 22 – SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2019

Jesus defended and affirmed Scripture in His teachings

John 7:15 The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?”

Jesus taught with authority, He taught with knowledge, He taught with complete familiarity of the subject matter… but Jesus never went to school!?   The religious leaders at the time of Christ went through exhaustive study to get to the level of “Rabbi” (teacher of the law).  They would leave their homes around the age of thirteen to study in the one of the rabbinical schools until around 30 years of age; 18 years of memorization, writing and study of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (the Hebrew Scriptures or our Old Testament).

In dramatic contrast Jesus grew up as a son of His carpenter step-father, Joseph, which caused both wonder and disrespect among the people (Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-5).   Wonder at the authority and knowledge of His teaching and disrespect because He did not have the learned background of the “teachers of the law.”  However, Jesus did not need a PhD, Doctorate of Ministry (D.Min.), or Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) because He wrote the book that these learned “teachers of the law” studied.  The very Scriptures that the Holy Spirit moved men to write (2 Peter 1:20-21)!  He knew every word because He was the Word made flesh (John 1:1-3; 14).

What can Jesus teach us today about the veracity of the Scriptures He spoke of?

  1. Jesus NEVER spoke in opposition to Scripture.  There is not one instance where Jesus denied any part of the Old Testament.
  2. Jesus knew the Scriptures intimately and could recall them at will; demonstrated throughout the gospels and are too numerous to reference.
  3. He affirmed various writers; Moses (Matt 19:7-8; Mark 7:10; 10:2-9; Luke 24:27; John 7:19-24), Isaiah (Matt 13:14-15; 15:7; Mark 7:6-13; John 12:37-41), Jonah (Matt 12:39-41), Daniel (Matt 24:15).
  4. He used it to reject the temptation of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13).
  5. He believed in the prophecies concerning Him as the Messiah (Matthew 26:53–56; Luke 24:25–27; John 5:39–47).

These examples, among others too numerous to list (see: http://davelivingston.com/JCreScripture.htm for a more detailed reading), clearly show that Jesus (obviously) believed that the Bible is God’s Word, written by men who were inspired (God breathed) by the Holy Spirit.  The New Living Testament in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 puts it this way, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

REFLECT:  If you truly believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then what do you believe about what He believed?  How often do you read His word to you? Do you understand that the Bible: is the authoritative and infallible word of God; is your rule of faith and life; is the tutor to lead one to Christ; convicts you of disobedience and teaches and encourages you to grow in your new life in Christ?

REPENT:  Change your ways. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse your heart and mind of sin.  Ask Him to teach you through God’s word.  Ask the Spirit to give you clear understanding, knowledge and wisdom as you read Scripture.

RESTORE:  Jesus wants you to come closer to Him so that you may grow in His grace and knowledge. Your persistent, regular reading of His word will help your vertical (Spiritual) understanding of Jesus life and work so that you are better equipped to horizontally (earthly) share His message of great love through the salvation that only Jesus offers.

1 Peter 2:2-3 “…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

Blessings,
Pastor Tom Bellhy