The Pursuit - 12 WeeksSample

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day were Bible experts. They memorized massive portions of Scripture, debated theology endlessly, and prided themselves on knowing every commandment. But when Jesus — the One the Scriptures had been pointing to all along — stood right in front of them, they didn’t recognize Him.

Jesus’ words in John 5 are a powerful reminder that it’s possible to know the Bible and still miss the point of the Bible. The Pharisees treated Scripture like a textbook for earning eternal life. They thought if they just obeyed enough rules and kept the right rituals, God would be impressed. But Jesus made it clear: the Bible is not a manual for moral performance; it’s a map that leads to Him.

From the very beginning, the story of Scripture has been about God’s plan to redeem His people through Jesus. In Genesis, He’s the promised offspring who will crush the serpent’s head. In Exodus, He’s the Passover Lamb. In the Psalms, He’s the Shepherd and the King. In Isaiah, He’s the suffering servant. And in the Gospels, He’s the Word made flesh.

If you read the Bible only to learn rules, you’ll end up burdened. But if you read it to find Jesus, you’ll find life. Every page, every prophecy, every parable — they all whisper His name.

Reflection:

When you open your Bible, are you just reading words — or are you looking for the One those words reveal?