As we saw in chapter 3 with Nicodemus, you can have a PhD in Theology and not know Jesus.
The classic verse in John 5 is verses 39-40. I can hardly preach any passage without mentioning these verses! Why? Because many in our culture are experts in God’s word (or they think they are), but they’ve never allowed God’s word to take them to a personal, real, vibrant relationship with Jesus. May that not be us!
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
John continues….
John 5:46, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Jesus says Moses “wrote of me.” Apparently, Moses wrote about Jesus enough that Jesus felt it fair to cite it as evidence that convicted the Jews of their ignorance and unbelief. Also interesting is Jesus’ assumption that reading the Pentateuch can lead, indeed, should lead, one to believe in Jesus. That was his point. Like Nicodemus, they had read Moses (the Pentateuch) and yet had not figured out that eternal life was found not in reading and mastering the O.T., rather it was found in the one to whom all the O.T. points to.
Where did Moses “write about Jesus”?
Let’s take a look at a few passages in the Pentateuch that point to Jesus.
In Genesis 3:15, Jesus is the offspring of the woman that would crush the head of Satan, which he did.
In Genesis 22:18, Jesus is the one through whom all the nations on earth shall be blessed. 22:18 “…and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."
In Genesis 49:8 (and Rev. 5:5) Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
In Genesis 49:10 Jesus is the scepter that “shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
In Genesis, Jesus is the fulfillment of the life of Joseph, who was the beloved Son, envied, hated, and betrayed by His own for the price of a slave, only to be resurrected, and provide salvation for His own.
In Exodus 12:29, Jesus is the Passover Lamb, the source of forgiveness for those who put their faith in His innocent shed blood (John 3:16-18).
In Exodus 16, Jesus is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:51) - like the manna in the desert.
In Numbers 20, Jesus is the living water, like the water that sprung from the rock (John 7:37).
In Numbers 21, Jesus is like the snake that was lifted up in the wilderness for salvation in that all who look with belief to him could be saved.
In Numbers 24:17-19, Jesus is the descendant of Jacob (“the star from Jacob”), the ruler that will arise out of Israel and have universal dominion.
In Deut. 18:15 Moses said that God would raise up "a prophet like me", a clear reference to the coming Messiah.
Do you believe Moses and what he wrote about Jesus in the Pentateuch?
May we allow our reading of God’s word to lead us to a personal, vibrant walk with Jesus today!
Enjoy Walking with the Savior,
John
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