Dr. Dan Hayden •
If you have your eyes open when you search the Scriptures, they will lead you to Jesus—every time.
Our word for today is “search.” The search part of “search and rescue” is an intensive endeavor. Often search teams will cover miles of terrain, probing every possible bit of cover over a span of days and even weeks, if necessary, to find a lost person. “Keep searching,” are words you hear over and over—“keep searching.”
That’s the idea behind the verse in John 5:39. Jesus is speaking, and He says to the religious leaders of Israel, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of me.”
“You search the Scriptures.” That’s a strong word meaning to investigate deeply, and examine thoroughly.
They investigated and examined the Scriptures because that’s where they thought they would find eternal life. It was an intense search. They even counted the letters in words, and tried to find hidden meanings in the verses. But in the process of searching, they forgot what they were looking for. They were originally looking for a Messiah, a Savior…a Person. But eventually the search process itself began to be more important than the objective. So they thought that the Scriptures would save them. But Bible study alone can’t save anybody, no matter how hard you search and study. Only Jesus can save. And when you find Him, the search is over.
Say—if you’re searching for eternal life—Jesus is the end of your search.
For further study, see: Bible Study is Not Enough