Jesus spoke firmly to a crowd of religious leaders who contested his connection with God the Father. He said, You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

A person can study the Bible for years and not know Jesus. I’ve met many who do so. Students and professors when I took graduate classes in religious studies, tour guides steeped in biblical history, friends familiar with the teachings of Jesus, and even pastors who refuse to believe all that Jesus claimed.

The words in the text are not magical. No incantation summons up Jesus. Rather, the illumination of the Holy Spirit reveals the teachings of Jesus to our minds and hearts.

To know and understand the Scriptures, I need the Holy Spirit as my guide. I pray, Holy Spirit, open my eyes and show me wonderful things from your law. I lean into impressions as I read. I jot down thoughts. I dive in hoping to discover more about the Lord and myself. The Scriptures are rich when laid open by the Holy Spirit.

It’s possible for diligent study to veer off path. I want my learning to lead me closer to the Lord rather than farther away.

John 5 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Aaron Burden

Sometimes a buffet line is fun, picking and choosing from all the options to pile on my plate. But I’ve discovered that the best places to eat aren’t buffets, but restaurants specializing in a few dishes done really well.

I’m tempted to approach the Bible like a buffet line. The book is huge, filled with thoughtful passages and arcane references. Some lines comfort—the Lord is my shepherd—while others confront—you shall have no other gods before me. Why not pick out the best morsels and leave the rest drying out under the heat lamps?

One reason is Jesus himself. Arguing against his Jewish opponents (men steeped in the Scriptures), Jesus referenced a passage conveniently forgotten. He then reminded them that Scripture cannot be set aside. In other words, the Bible is not a buffet.

Those who claim to follow the ways of God cannot cut and paste from the Good Book. I don’t have the luxury of ignoring the parts I cannot explain, or offend the world around me. I wrestle with these words, because of the all or none nature of the Scriptures.

In this passage Jesus claimed to be the Good Shepherd, and the only gateway to God in heaven. Hard teachings for his opponents, and hard teachings for many today. But Jesus arrives with hard teachings, and I cannot claim the status of disciple without following the full teachings of Scripture. I can contemplate and study and argue, but I cannot ignore.

The buffet approach appears delicious on first glance. But while fills my belly, it leaves my soul wanting more.

John 10 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Ulysse Pointcheval

When something bad happens, I speculate on the cause. The cavities in my teeth result from too much sugar and not enough brushing. My expanding waistline results from too much sugar and not enough exercise. So, I should take a look at my sugar intake, but I’d rather find something else to blame.

Jesus and his disciples walked up on a man born blind. The disciples asked Jesus, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

The disciples revealed a bleak view of God, assuming someone did something bad enough to deserve blindness. It seems ludicrous to question the man himself—what sin might he have committed prior to birth to deserve blindness?

Tonight is Halloween, a spooky evening of dress-up and candy. Personally I never cared much for the costume part, but I’m all in on the candy. Now that my kids are grown I don’t have any bags to raid, so I just buy my own and pretend to pass it out. I’ve been eating Mounds bars all week.

Our neighborhood sprouts more and more yard decorations every year. Bones litter the ground and skeletons beckon children to front doors. Most folks fail to look beyond the fun to the reality lying scattered across their lawn. We’ll all eventually end up mouldering in the dirt. While tempting, I won’t become the crusty old man telling the children of that truth tonight.

It’s easy to miss deeper realities in the swirl of a fun evening. In the same way, it’s easy for me to ignore deeper realities by keeping my life busy. I allow distractions to pull my mind to the immediate, to the candy I enjoy and crave, and rarely get around to pondering the eternal.

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John contrasted light and dark throughout his gospel. Nicodemus first came to Jesus at night, and much later came out as a committed follower in the light of day. Jesus shines a light into the gloomiest of souls.

So it’s good for me to remember the realities behind a night of costumes and candy. Jesus remains my light in the midst of revelry and distractions. Jesus stands as the Lord of Halloween because Jesus stands as the Lord of Life.

In the darkness—especially in the darkness—keep the faith. Follow Jesus. Let the Light of the World give you life, even as you dodge glowing skeletons to get a hand into that pot of candy.

John 8 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by David Menidrey