Jesus is Better than the Bible
I tend to imagine that in every generation of Christianity, there comes a point when we stop following Jesus and start following our well-developed religion. And in some ways, we can even put the Bible above Jesus or think that Jesus is synonymous with the Bible. Jesus is not the Bible. I have gone through seasons of having great confidence (or pride) of my “perfected” wisdom, having things figured out, or had my focus on anything but the main thing. Jesus is the main thing.
In the book of Hebrews, the writer compares Jesus with many different things. He concludes in all of them that Jesus is better. He even went as far to say that Jesus is better than Moses! To us that might not sound like that radical of a statement, but it would be to a Jew in that day. Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible (The Law) and his name was synonymous with the traditions that they were to follow (Mark 12:26). This is stepping on some religious toes!
“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ a bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:3–6
I am not putting down the Bible in any way. But, in comparing Jesus to the Bible, I am saying that Jesus is better than anything in this world. Jesus is better than church. Jesus is better than religion. Jesus is than America. Jesus is better than my wife (and that’s saying something)! 😉 We must turn our eyes to Jesus, the Son of God, worship him, love him, pray in him, serve him, listen to him, and follow him.
Peter made the mistake of putting Jesus on the same plane as Moses and Elijah. These were two other figures that revealed more of the Bible to the Jews and they followed them. But, God the Father’s response was to listen to his Son!
“And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”” Matthew 17:4–5
Now, don’t take this to mean you shouldn’t read the Bible. You should and we need it (2 Timothy 3:16)! But, read the Scriptures with a listening ear allowing Holy Spirit (another member of the Godhead) to reveal Jesus to you and how you are to follow him.
““You study the Scriptures carefully. You study them because you think they will give you eternal life. The Scriptures you study give witness about me.” John 5:39
Jesus is a real living person who is alive today, actively making intercession for us, ruling on his throne, actively speaking and leading through the Holy Spirit, answering prayers, actively saving people through the power of the Good News of his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The Bible reveals Jesus to us, but is not Jesus himself. Don’t be content with a relationship with a book or religion. But, let the Book reveal the beauty of our possible relationship with Jesus himself.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” Hebrews 1:1–4
