USING SCRIPTURE TO KNOW JESUS

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.” – Jeremiah 15:16.

Knowing God is essential; it is more than just learning facts about Him. It’s like trying to get to know your wife by reading her resume. One relevant example is assuming you know a person and thus judging their character and competence based solely on their political party affiliation. We want to go deeper. We need to discover who God is and be drawn into a deeper, more personal relationship with the God of the universe. When you want to deepen your relationship with God, you need to move beyond head knowledge to know Him well enough to seek personal encounters with Him. Daniel 11:32 (TLB) tells us, “…But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.”  

John Piper said this about the subject: “But to enjoy Him, we must know him. Reasoning, thinking, knowing God is the necessary means, and delighting in, being satisfied in, enjoying and treasuring God is the ultimate end of the human soul.”

Scripture finds its focus and fulfillment in Christ. It is possible to study the Bible without Christ as our focus. Understanding Jesus through the Scriptures involves recognizing how the entire Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, points to Him as the central figure of God’s plan of salvation. By studying the Bible, particularly the Gospels, and understanding how it relates to Jesus, believers can gain a deeper appreciation for His identity, His mission, and the implications for their own lives. He is not just the beginning of the Christian faith, but the entirety of it.

Jeremiah was a prophet who was called by God to minister to a people who would not heed God’s Word and rejected His holy instructions. Israel rebelled against God’s truth and treated His faithful servant poorly, but Jeremiah found hope and comfort in God’s Word. Jeremiah 15:16 is a powerful verse that speaks to the joy and delight found in God’s word.. It emphasizes the transformative power of God’s word, likening it to food that nourishes the soul and brings joy.

The purpose and power of God’s Word is for all people, at all times in every circumstance, offering life, truth, and equipping us to live fully for God.

Scripture possesses the power to reveal God’s nature, character, and will, providing a pathway for individuals to understand and connect with Him. It serves as a source of truth, guiding believers in their faith and actions, and offering hope and strength in times of difficulty. There are so many ways you can attempt to learn about Jesus in the world today, but there’s only one way to truly know Him: through the Word of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the Bible reveal Jesus’s character, actions, and teachings? 
2. How do specific passages deepen your understanding of who Jesus is? 
3.  How does studying scripture help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus?