Scripture: John 5:39 (ESV) – “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”
Jesus now brings His charge to its sharpest point. The religious leaders diligently searched the Scriptures, believing that in their study and mastery of the text they would find eternal life. But they missed the very heart of Scripture—Christ Himself.
This is a sobering warning. It’s possible to search the Bible with zeal and precision, and yet completely miss its purpose. Jesus does not rebuke them for studying Scripture—He rebukes them for reading it without faith and recognition of the One it reveals. The Scriptures are not an end in themselves—they are a witness. And their testimony is about Christ.
William Gouge observed that the Scriptures are like signposts: valuable not because they are elaborate or ornate, but because they point us somewhere vital. “To rest in the sign,” he said, “and never reach the destination, is to perish at the foot of salvation.” Christ is the center, the message, the fulfillment of all that the Law and the Prophets anticipated.
This verse reminds us that Bible knowledge without Christ is not saving. It may impress others, it may even fuel pride—but if it does not lead us to love, trust, and follow Jesus, it leaves us no closer to life than the Pharisees themselves.
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean that the Scriptures “bear witness” about Christ?
- Are you tempted to treat Bible reading as an end in itself, rather than as a means to know Jesus more deeply?
- How can your time in the Word become more Christ-centered and life-giving?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me not to read it out of habit or pride, but to find in every page the witness to Your Son. May my study lead me to worship, and may the Scriptures always drive me closer to Christ, who is my life. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:39, shaped by the theological reflections of William Gouge and the pastoral teaching of Pastor Chris Cousine.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 