It is the most common answer to one of the most common questions that Christians ask one another. Someone asks, “How can I be praying for you?” Then we answer, “That I would be more disciplined in reading the Word.”
We know that this is the right answer. We also know our shortcomings in this area.
Therefore, it is as instructive as it is convicting to consider how quickly, regularly, and profoundly flips to the Bible for his answers. We are all familiar with his battle with Satan in the wilderness where Jesus quotes the Scriptures, slicing up the enemy like Zorro (Matt. 4.1-11). He does the same to Satan’s lieutenants and Bible teachers, the Scribes and Pharisees (cf. Mark 7.1-23). They keep after him and he keeps returning fire with the Bible.
We see this also during Holy Week. As our Lord is making his progress to his impending death he is asked controversial questions by religious leaders. As you might expect, Jesus answers with the Bible. However, the way he gets there may be unexpected.
Matthew 22.23-33:
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying,
“Teacher, Moses said,
‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
But Jesus answered them,
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Did you see that? The setting is ripe for a fight. The Sadducees are trying to spark some theological controversy. Jesus has his mind on the cross. The other religious leaders have been barking at he and his disciples for years now. Satan continues to pursue and press upon him. This begs a frustrated response.
Instead, Jesus calmly and clearly turns and quotes the Bible. And not only does he quote the Bible but he makes a theological point based upon the tense of a verb. In other words, Jesus believes that the very words of God in Scripture are true. Every single one of them. He believes they are also from God, authoritative, clear, enduring, and trustworthy (cf. 2 Tim. 3.16-17; Ps. 19.7-14). He appeals to them to settle the debate and silence the critics.
I love Jesus’ confidence in the Scriptures. I love his love for the Word of God.
Of all weeks, this week, Holy Week, Jesus’ love for the Bible is so fitting. This is fitting because he is not only about to die to pay the penalty for my sin, but his life is here culminating with the active obedience that is to be charged to a sinner like me. His righteousness, earned through perfect obedience to the Law of God, is charged (imputed) to a sinner like me (2 Cor. 5.21).
You can’t help but marvel here. We start off thinking about needing to be more faithful in reading the Word, but we finish off by seeing (in the Word) that Jesus was faithful in all of his living, to include his love for the Bible. It is this soul-stirring, pride-crushing obedience of Jesus that convicts and compels my obedience. It drives me to the Bible, not to curry favor, but in response to the favor he has earned.
Small group conviction and accountability relationships may work in the short-term to produce more Bible reading. However, it is this sight, grasp and appreciation of Jesus’ doing and dying for us that truly changes people in the long-term.
