It’s worth asking…
How did the religious leaders miss their Messiah… even though they had intensely studied the Scriptures and tried to follow the laws?
John 9:39-41 AMPC
(39) Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.
(40) Some Pharisees who were near, hearing this remark, said to Him, Are we also blind?
(41) Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.
The Scriptures and the law were meant to drive men into believing that God would grant His righteousness freely to them because of grace alone. This believing was intended to produce relationship with their Father. Instead they believed they were good because they had studied the scriptures and obeyed the laws. They had established their own righteousness.
We must study the Scriptures. However, the study of the scriptures should never become a substitute for fellowshipping with the ever present Person they reveal. Communion with God won’t happen unless we have received His righteousness and refused our own.
Ezekiel 33:13 NKJV
When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.
Romans 10:1-4 NKJV
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (2) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Philippians 3:8-9 NKJV
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith…”
The Lord Jesus is calling… He is saying, “Follow Me!”
John 10:27 NKJV
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
