I once heard that as W.C. Fields approached the end of his life, a friend saw him reading the Bible.  When his friend inquired as to why he was reading the Bible, Mr. Fields replied, “I am looking for loopholes.”

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew the words of their canon.  They knew what the prophets wrote and what the writings said.  These men knew the Law of Moses.  But they seemed to look for the wrong things.  Like Mr. Fields, they looked for loopholes or at least they read scripture with the blinders of their preconceived ideas.  Jesus chides them in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life; . . .” What?  I thought the Law, prophets, and writings were from God and taught how to live for God?  Yes, but they missed something.  They saw the regulations, but missed the focus.  Jesus continues, “. . . and it is they that bear witness about me.”

Jesus is the focus of Scripture. John narrows the message of scripture to eight words, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14). He is the focus of what we as Christians call the Old and New Testaments.  If you are reading the Bible to look for a loophole, there it is — Jesus and the sacrifice He made for your sin.  The loophole is simple.  He paid the price you and I cannot.  He paid that price of death for us.  By grace He freely offers that blessing that we receive by obedient faith (Eph 2:8-10;    Titus 2:11-3:7).

Jesus is THE answer!

-Scott