Reading Scripture Through Jesus
Scripture Readings
Luke 24:27
John 1:14–18
Matthew 5:17
Opening Reflections
As we continue walking His Word together, we begin this week with a simple but profound question:
How do we read Scripture faithfully?
For many of us, we were taught that faithfulness means accepting every verse at face value, without question or interpretation. We were warned that wrestling with Scripture was dangerous—that to ask too much was to drift from God. And yet, when we turn to the Gospels, we see Jesus doing exactly the opposite.
Jesus does not repeat Scripture uncritically.
He engages it.
He interprets it.
He challenges how it has been taught and enforced.
In Luke’s Gospel, after the resurrection, Jesus walks with his disciples and “interprets to them the things about himself in all the Scriptures.” This tells us something vital: Scripture is not self-interpreting. It must be understood through Christ.
This is where we begin.
Jesus as the Living Word
John’s Gospel tells us that “the Word became flesh and lived among us.” This is not poetic language meant to stay abstract. It is a theological anchor.
If Jesus is the Word made flesh, then Scripture is not merely a rulebook or a legal code—it is a witness pointing toward a lived example. The fullest revelation of God’s will is not found in law alone, but in a person.
This matters because the Bible was written over centuries, in cultures shaped by empires, monarchies, patriarchy, violence, and survival. Its language reflects the political and social realities of its time. Words like kingdom, sovereignty, and authority were not metaphors—they were lived experiences.
Jesus steps directly into that world and does something radical.
He does not seize power.
He does not crown himself king.
He does not overthrow Rome.
Instead, he reframes everything.
“You Have Heard It Said… But I Say to You”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly uses a striking pattern:
“You have heard that it was said… but I say to you…”
This is not a rejection of Scripture. Jesus explicitly tells us he has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Fulfillment, however, is not the same as preservation.
To fulfill something is to bring it to its intended purpose.
Jesus reveals that the law was never meant to be enforced without mercy, applied without wisdom, or wielded as a tool of power. He shows us that righteousness rooted in fear and control misses the heart of God entirely.
This is why Jesus repeatedly clashes with religious leaders—not because they cared about Scripture, but because they cared more about control than compassion, order than justice, authority than love.
The Danger of Scripture Without Christ
When Scripture is separated from Christ’s example, it becomes dangerous.
Without Christ at the center:
- Law becomes punishment
- Morality becomes domination
- Faith becomes identity policing
- God becomes a weapon rather than a refuge
This is not a new problem. It is the very problem Jesus confronts in his own time.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day believed they were defending God’s truth. They believed they were preserving holiness. They believed their authority was divinely justified.
And yet, they missed God standing in front of them.
This should humble us.
A Living, Faithful Interpretation
Walking His Word does not mean freezing faith in the first century. It means faithfully discerning how Christ’s teachings guide us now.
We acknowledge that the Bible has been translated, compiled, and interpreted across generations. This does not weaken Scripture—it invites responsibility. Faithfulness requires discernment, not denial.
To follow Christ is to ask:
- Does this interpretation produce love?
- Does it honor human dignity?
- Does it reflect mercy, justice, and humility?
- Does it align with the life and teachings of Jesus?
If not, we must have the courage to pause, reflect, and re-examine.
This is not rebellion.
This is discipleship.
Why This Matters for Our World Today
We live in a moment when Scripture is frequently invoked to justify power, exclusion, and fear. Christian language is used to support systems and leaders that bear little resemblance to Christ.
If we do not learn to read Scripture through Jesus—rather than reading Jesus through our politics—we will repeat the mistakes of history.
Walking His Word requires us to resist easy answers. It asks us to remain rooted in Christ even when that path feels uncomfortable, uncertain, or countercultural.
Our Commitment
As a community, we commit to:
- Placing Christ at the center of our interpretation
- Wrestling honestly with Scripture
- Rejecting uses of faith that harm rather than heal
- Seeking understanding over certainty
- Choosing discipleship over dominance
We believe that following Jesus will always lead us toward love, humility, and truth—even when it costs us comfort or control.
Closing Reflection
As we move into the week ahead, we invite you to reflect on this question:
Where have we allowed tradition, fear, or power to shape our reading of Scripture more than Christ himself?
May we have the courage to keep walking—together—toward a faith that reflects the heart of Jesus.
Amen.
As we carry this question into the days ahead, we invite you to continue the practice beyond this sermon.
The Scripture in Practice for Week 2 offers space to slow down, read together, and reflect on how Christ teaches us to approach Scripture with humility, discernment, and responsibility. Whether you engage the study on your own or in community, it is designed to help turn reflection into lived discipleship.
Walking His Way 