Life is not Found in the Scripture

John 5:37-40 - "And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

Life is not found in the Scripture. What a radical statement to make as a teacher of God's Word. Yet, Jesus said it. Eternal life is found only in Jesus Christ. We must have a relationship with the Son to have life.

There are many who know the Scriptures and study them who do not have eternal life. They think in studying them and obeying them brings eternal life. The problem is that they obey the Scripture without coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This doesn't mean that there is not life in the Scriptures, but this is contingent on our relationship with Christ.

How does this Scripture relate to us who already have eternal life, study and teach the Word? It reminds us that knowing and even obeying the Scripture is not enough. We need to spend time in God's presence and seeking His face, not seeking a greater knowledge of His Word for knowledge sake.I think that as teachers and preachers of the Word, we must be careful not be so caught up in the doing that we don't sit at Jesus feet to hear is voice. We can study the Scripture, and not hear the Word of the Father for us.


There is many a minister of God who has fallen. One of the reasons is that they were a student and minster of God's Word, but failed to maintain that relationship with the Lord. There focus was on the written Word of God, but not on Jesus, the bread of life.