11.06.2025 | More Than Pages Full of Words | HEART ANCHOR
When the Bible Points to Christ
John 5:39

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Bible Text

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.”
– John 5:39

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 Devotional

Many people read the Bible to find answers, plan goals, or fortify themselves morally. But Jesus reminds us: the Scriptures primarily bear witness to Him. If we merely accumulate facts and stories, we miss the true treasure—the encounter with the living Christ.

Genuine Bible study begins when we don’t just collect information, but open our hearts to meet Jesus. Then God’s Word takes on a new dimension: it becomes a source of life, a guide for our path, and a comfort in times of need.

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Story – The Spark in the Old Papers

Jonas was seventeen and known among his friends as “the scanner”: he knew every fact, every YouTube tutorial, and had a quick Internet answer for any question. Yet his heart was empty. One afternoon he helped his grandmother clear out the attic boxes. Among yellowed letters and dusty photo albums he discovered an old, leather-bound Bible with brittle pages. Curious, he opened it—not for homework, but simply to look.

On page 397 he found a handwritten note: “Here I found Jesus – E.G., 1946.” Who was E.G., and what had they experienced? Jonas wondered as his eyes fell on John 5:39: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.”

That night he lay awake for hours. A new melody played in his mind: What if these pages held not just facts, but a living invitation? The next morning he stood in his room holding his phone in one hand and the old Bible in the other. He pressed the pages to his ear, as if trying to hear Jesus speak to him.

He began reading the verses out loud, slowly, with no phone beside him. When he reached John 6:35—“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never go hungry”—he felt a strange tug in his chest, a mix of longing and comfort. Suddenly the world grew quiet: the coffee machine in the kitchen, the hum of the lightbulb, the bicycle bell outside—all receded into the background.

Over the following days Jonas continued his Bible reading, but differently than before. He read the Psalms and Gospels not to impress others, but to discover whether someone was truly speaking to him in those lines. And indeed: at Isaiah 41:10—“Do not fear, for I am with you…”—tears welled up. For the first time he sensed that Christ was not merely a historical name, but a Friend who stood with him in his fear.

His friends were puzzled when Jonas skipped their nightly gaming sessions. He simply replied, “I’ve met someone who wants to change my life.” They laughed, but Jonas stood firm. When they teased him, asking if he’d become a “Bible Boy,” he smiled: “Call it what you like. But my life finally has purpose.”

One evening his best friend Mika invited him to the skate park. As Jonas watched Mika attempt risky tricks, he felt uneasy. He remembered how Jesus spoke to the fish and filled their nets to overflowing. A thought flashed: “Maybe He can fill this place too.” He pulled the old book from his pocket and quietly read Matthew 4:19: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Mika shot him a mocking glance. “Reading your book again?” Jonas handed it over. “Read Psalm 23—just a minute.” Reluctantly Mika turned the pages and read, “…and lead me beside still waters.” When he looked up, he saw Jonas’s face—calm, certain, alive. A real curiosity stirred in Mika, a longing of his own. He nodded and sat down beside Jonas on the curb. In the silence of that moment, Mika too sensed there was more than the next skate trick.

That week Jonas helped prepare materials for his church youth group—not to display his knowledge, but to help others encounter Christ. He shared the story of his attic discovery and how John 5:39 challenged him: Scripture is not primarily a lesson, but a signpost to Jesus.

At the end of the school year, Jonas and Mika organized a small street outreach: they handed out bookmarks bearing John 5:39 and invited passersby to download a free Bible e-book. Many smiled as they took a bookmark—few read immediately, but three young people asked where they could learn more.

One evening Jonas sat on his bed with the old Bible in his hands and whispered, “Thank You for being more than words on paper.” He knew that his life had been transformed by that spark of encounter—a spark owed not to study or quizzes, but solely to the living Christ.

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Thoughts  – What Does John 5:39 Mean for You?

• Purpose in Reading: Are you seeking mere facts, or do you truly long to meet Jesus?

• Heart Over Head: God’s Word is meant not just to expand your knowledge, but to transform your life.

• Testimony: Scripture doesn’t point to itself, but to Christ as the source of life.

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Impulses for Today

1. Read with Openness: Open your Bible and invite Jesus to meet you personally—not for a test, but for your heart.

2. One Verse, One Prayer: Choose a verse, write it on a card, and pray it today as your own prayer.

3. Share Your Encounter: Tell a friend about a moment when you experienced God in Scripture—beyond just passing on facts.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus,
open my eyes and my heart so that I may discover You in every verse. May I not merely collect knowledge, but sense Your presence and find life in You. Grant me courage to follow Your voice and to share with others the power of this encounter. Amen.