The Bible and Jesus

Chuckle: "Ever wonder why the IRS calls it Form 1040?" asks Jay Leno. "For every $50 you earn, you get 10 and they get 40."

Quote: "The Bible is so deep that theologians can never touch the bottom, yet so shallow that babes cannot drown." --Unknown source 

Jesus said: "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.' David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son? The crowd listened to him with delight" (Mark 12:36-37 NIV).

What is the Bible to you personally? How important is it to you in making life's decisions? Are you faithful in studying it and meditating upon it? Do you teach it to your children and grandchildren? The Bible is the Word of God through which he reveals Himself to the world. It's all we need to guide our lives and bring us into conformance with God's plan for us. We should never neglect it. As Jesus taught his followers, He often referred to Old Testament Scriptures. In this lesson, let's explore Jesus' view of the Bible.

In the New Testament, Jesus often brings attention to the Old Testament Scriptures. In our text, Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1 and says that David wrote those words as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. In essence, He was saying that David was God's human instrument to proclaim a Devine revelation. This concept is expanded in 2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV: "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. . . But men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Not only did God give us His Holy Spirit inspired Word, He also gave us His Holy Spirit to reside within us to help us interpret and understand His Word. The Spirit teaches, guides, convicts, and comforts us as Christians.

The Bible speaks to us with authority. In the days before His crucifixion, Jesus was constantly facing people who were bent on tripping him up. In verse 35 of our text, Jesus said that a descendant of David would be the Christ, but He was also the Son of God. Such a claim sounds ridiculous and foolish unless you believe that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . ." (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). Today, many think there is no such thing as absolute truth. They believe truth is relative to a set of given circumstances. But the Bible says truth is from God and is absolute and unchanging. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32 NIV).

The Bible delights us as God's Word. In verse 37 of our text, we are told that "The crowd listened to Jesus with delight." They responded to the words of Jesus with joy and excitement. Jesus said, "Blessed (happy) are those who hear the Word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28 NIV). How could we not respond to God's Word with gratitude and happiness? After all, it's God's love letter to you, me, and everyone. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him" (I John 4:9 NIV). Do you delight in the Holy Scriptures?

Love, Jerry  & Dotse