How can John 5:39 deepen our understanding of Old Testament prophecies about Christ? Hearing Jesus Speak in John 5:39 “You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me.” (John 5:39) What Jesus Is Saying • The written Word is accurate and sufficient. • Eternal life is not in the ink on the page but in the Person the page reveals. • Every scroll of the Old Testament carries a witness to Christ—direct prophecy, foreshadowing, or type. Why This Changes How We Read the Old Testament • We no longer view prophecies as cryptic puzzles; we see them as God’s intentional roadmap to Christ. • Literal fulfillment in Jesus validates the reliability of every promise God has made. • The Old and New Testaments form one seamless revelation; what was concealed is now unveiled. Tracing the Prophetic Thread 1. Promised Redeemer – Genesis 3:15: “He will crush your head.” Jesus, the Seed, literally defeats sin and death. 2. Substitutionary Lamb – Exodus 12:5-13: Passover points to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). 3. Bronze Serpent Raised Up – Numbers 21:8-9 fulfilled in John 3:14-15. 4. Prophet Like Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22 confirms Jesus as that Prophet. 5. Son of David – 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Luke 1:32-33 records the angel affirming this covenant. 6. Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53:5-6: “By His stripes we are healed.” Jesus literally bears our sin (1 Peter 2:24). 7. Virgin Birth – Isaiah 7:14 cited in Matthew 1:22-23. 8. Triumphal Entry – Zechariah 9:9 fulfilled in John 12:14-15. 9. Pierced Messiah – Zechariah 12:10 fulfilled in John 19:34-37. 10. Eternal King – Daniel 7:13-14 echoed in Revelation 11:15. Seeing the Unity of Scripture • Luke 24:27—Jesus “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, explained to them what was written…about Himself.” • 1 Peter 1:10-11—Prophets searched intently, “predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.” • Hebrews 10:7—“Here I am—it is written about Me in the scroll.” Practical Steps for Deeper Study • Read an Old Testament passage, then note how the New Testament references or fulfills it. • Look for repeated themes—lamb, king, servant, branch, shepherd—and trace them to Christ. • Compare direct quotes: margins in most Bibles list where New Testament writers cite the Old. • Memorize key prophecy-fulfillment pairs to reinforce confidence in God’s Word. • Celebrate each literal fulfillment as fresh evidence that every remaining promise will also be kept. Living Out the Revelation Because John 5:39 anchors every prophecy to Jesus, our faith rests on solid ground. The same Scriptures that foretold His first coming guarantee His return, encourage steadfast obedience, and offer unshakable hope. |
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