Search the Scriptures.

As the Jewish leaders formed around Christ accusing Him of blasphemy and hastily seeking for a way to condemn their Savior, the one they would not accept, He spoke words which spark my soul:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

Why would He direct these vehement men to the scriptures?  These individuals held leadership positions within the church, and frequently related to scripture doctrine when oppressing and harassing the Savior, as well as others around them that they deemed unworthy of compassion.  Based on their spoken knowledge, these individuals demonstrated that they had experience within the scriptures, so why would the Lord instruct them back to these holy works?

Part of the Savior’s declaration was that these books would bear witness of His actuality, and would assist them in accepting Him as the Messiah who had come to save them from their sins.  Anyone who has read the scriptures can relate truth to that, for they are evidence of Him.  But do we recognize how precisely detailed the scriptures were, and are, in identifying Christ as the Savior of the world?  For they confirm, and verify, that He is, and was, who He claimed to be, even down to His very name.

In second Nephi the first emergence of the full name of the Savior appears in the Book of Mormon as the words, Jesus Christ, are utilized.  Nephi is teaching his people and speaks of the Messiah that the prophets have promised will come.  He distinctly states that this Messiah will bear the name of Jesus Christ.  Nephi quoted these words hundreds of years prior to the Jewish leaders even coming to earth.  Six hundred years before Christ was born, Nephi was aware of His name.  He knew that it would be Jesus Christ that would come to save us all. 

So, where did Nephi receive this information?  We know from our understanding of Nephi and his history that his teachings came from the brass plates.  We know that these plates held the prophetic teachings of the Old Testament, and can be supported by the matching documentation of Isaiah which exists within the chapters of second Nephi.  These exact doctrines were the identical writings that the Jewish leaders had access to.  We can determine that if Nephi could locate the Savior’s name within the scriptures, then the Jewish leaders, who utilized matching works to Nephi, could have known the same thing. 

These leaders of the Jews knew, or should have known, that Jesus was the Messiah because He bore the accurate name.  Furthermore, Nephi knew the exact amount of years until the Savior would be born, and again obtained this information from the writings of the prophets.  Once more, they could, and should, have connected that He was the Redeemer because He was born during the correct year.  And we cannot fail to mention that He satisfied all other prophecies that recognize Him as the Messiah.

Is that not incredible? 

I recently connected this understanding and have been pondering over it ceaselessly.  I have thought of the different scenarios that it offers, and have sought to understand the approach that the leaders took.  What I have established has completely heightened my dedication to the scriptures, and has intensified my yearning to have a personalized understanding of the wonder that these sacred books hold.  All that I have determined can be outlined utilizing two words: search and believe. 

Search

This word was given by the Savior Himself when He requested the Jewish leaders to turn to their books of scripture.  Why did He choose to use the word search?  Why did He not decide to utilize phrases such as: Read the scriptures, or perhaps, Turn to the scriptures?  Because scriptures are books of learning, and to acquire a knowledge of what they hold, we must search them. 

Many Jewish leaders were following worldly patterns that had corrupted divine processes and procedures.  Traditions that were carried down from their earthly father’s became inherited and preferred over directions that were delivered from their Heavenly Patriarch.  Many of these resulted in acquisition of worldly treasures, as well as esteemed positions in society.  They frequently acted with self-righteous behaviors and judged others with a sanctimonious eye.  These attributes and characteristics are not present in the scriptures, for they build us to be more like Christ, and He possesses none of these qualities.  When we really search the scriptures, they link to our souls and become apart of us.  They help construct who and what we are. 

It should be considered that the leaders honestly did not know that Christ was who He claimed to be because they were not familiar with the indications released by prophets of old, who gave recognizable identifiers to help them know the Messiah when He came.  This could be because they were reading the scriptures, but not searching them.  Maybe, they were browsing them, but not releasing the effort to obtain interpretation.  Perhaps, we believe that the plain words of the Savior’s name could not be missed if they had read, but there are many simple things that exists within the scriptures that we overlook and do not discern in our own lives.  Searching the scriptures magnifies even the most noncomplex stories and words, allowing us to discover an expounding that we had not understood prior. 

The scriptures must be approached with studious techniques.  These words have been delivered from a heavenly sphere to explain things we don’t comprehend because of veiled memory, or because it is knowledge we have not yet gained, not even in a our premortal existence.  They add light to our darkened sphere.  We can easily relate this to a temporal example.   Just as in any other area of secular study, to become competent, proficient, or masterful, we have to apply ourselves.  We cannot simply pick up a medical book, scan through it, and then be prepared to administer an important medical procedure.  It takes time, study, focus, and application to be ready to assume such a position.  Knowledge is established with experience and exertion.

The scriptures can be difficult to understand.  In some books there are language barriers.  Imagery is frequently utilized.  Many prophecies have dual nature, meaning that they speak of circumstances which were present during the time of writing, but are also pertinent to our day.  Parables are given frequently by the Savior.  These stories have to be reflected upon to grasp the significance of the message that the Lord is releasing.  Commonly, scriptures are intensified each time they are searched, with supplementary comprehension being given during each study session.  We begin to find that scriptures have the capability to blossom.  They start as simple words and evolve into masterpieces of unveiled recognition.  The best part about that, we flourish along with them. 

We might ask, Why must the scriptures be provided in such a complex manner if they hold such important information?  Why cannot they not be more comprehensible?  The first answer would be a natural one.  The prophets are of ancient generations, clearly with continuation of time our words have not sustained congruity.  However, my favorite determination is that it is due to our Father offering us an opportunity to have the mysteries of His kingdom illuminated through our efforts, by employing our divinity.  We are His heavenly children with potential that matches a celestial realm.  We have the capability to comprehend the meaning and messages that rest within the scriptures, because within us god-like abilities exist.  However, engaging this part of our spirit always necessitate exertion, sometimes with patient laborious efforts.  But we must always recall that we have been designed after a divine pattern, and our capacity will repeatedly astonish us.

Our Father, our Savior, they trust in us.  They have faith in our abilities and show confidence in our potentialities.  What love this demonstrates!  I feel so full of gratitude for a Father that believes in me in such a way that He enables me to gain a comprehension of His kingdom, of His methods, of His path, of His requirements by way of study, instead of providing it for me in a fashion that would deny me the opportunity of individual development.  I crave to be like Him, and He, so tenderly and lovingly, provides me a way to do so.  I will forever love Him for it. 

Our Father does not conduct Himself, nor exhibit His love by controlling methods.  He has provided us with all we need to endure every single circumstance, hardship, or experience that we will encounter in this life.  He has supplied us with forewarning of future events, and has informed us of promised blessings.   He has provided a way for us to hear His voice and to understand His words in an unmistakable way, but He will never force us to partake or listen to His counsel.  He continually encourages, but never coerces, and always permits our agency.  He has utilized His prophets to document, protect, and preserve His words for us individually.  He has specific words in there that He knows you will need to hear during starry or starless moments of life.  He has left them to be a source of light, of direction, and of joy which cannot dim no matter how dark the world becomes.  But it is up to us to decide to partake of that brilliance. 

When we search the scriptures our hearts will come alive.  As we pray prior, during, and after, the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion.  He will take small verses and make them mountains of revelation for us.  We will discover clarity to a confused world that mixes and complicates the beauty of mortal life.  We will find peace and comfort as we realize promises that will be ours as we righteously endure.  These assurances make even the most dire of tribulation endurable.  Our vision becomes better aligned with a celestial perspective, and our temporal viewpoints begin to obscure.  We find that worldly logic always falls short, and that divine communication produces perpetual truth. 

The scriptures prepare us.  They provide instruction and produce insight regarding what is to come, and grant enlightenment that we may never be surprised, nor caught off guard, but instead will be able to recognize the events as fulfillment of prophecy.  They teach us what is required to gain blessings, how to discern good from evil, and how to secure characteristics that escort us towards a perfected state.

But over all, the scriptures introduce us to our Savior.  They teach us what His name is, who He is, how He lived and lives.  They tell us of His love, and of the sacrifices He willing gave that we may have entrance home again.  Searching the scriptures allows us to acquire an everlasting recognition and eternal bond with our Savior.  When we create this connection during this mortal probation, our identification of Him will be uncomplicated when He returns to us, or when we go home to Him.  We will not question if He is truly the Messiah, our Redeemer, our Savior, because our introduction happened long ago.  Instead, we will have the ability to realize His presence, without delay, and hasten to Him, ever rejoicing that the One in whom we have longed for, is at our side.  We will simply be with Him, the One we love, not wondering, nor determining, if He is truth.

Search the scriptures, don’t read them.  Study them, don’t browse.  Make them your source of guidance.  Allow them to be where you turn when questions arise.  Where you go when things seem obscure and uncertain.  Where you fall when life’s burdens are oppressive.  Where you come to find your Savior.  Where you begin your ceaseless attachment to Him.  For within the scriptures we find Him, and within Him, we discover us.

Believe

My first thought when considering this situation with the Jewish leaders was that they did know that Christ was the Messiah, but rejected Him because they disliked what He required, simply because He didn’t match what they pictured Him to be.  During the time of Christ, the Jews were intensely persecuted by the Romans.  They may have believed that the Messiah would enter like a raging solider to bring restitution of their freedom and peace.  When Christ emerged as one who was meek, humble, and forgiving, their hopes of a Messiah who carried a destroying sword of victory were dashed.  They could not, and would not, accept Him because He did not coordinate with their self-produced description of who and what He was.  Perhaps, these individuals searched the scriptures but did not believe in them, or did not believe that the fulfillment of them was heaven sent.

Satan despises that we have such a wealth of sublime knowledge at our fingertips.  He recognizes that even small involvements with the scriptures lessen his power, and intensify our ability to discern his workings.  When we empower ourselves by engaging in searching the scriptures, his next objective is to encourage uncertainties and doubts.  He seeks to have us distrust the words of the prophets, and to compare their words with mortal history or with societal acceptances.  He wants us to create our own version of Christ.  Many times this definition abandons virtuous behaviors and moral characteristics, and instead decides upon a Christ that is forgiving of all, one who overlooks sin, and one who supplies mercy without justice, covering wickedness with His grace.  Essentially, he seeks for us to believe in a Christ that is more compatible with worldly practices, leading us to a place where we basically worship Satan, not the Savior.

Believe in the descriptions of Christ that explain who He is within the scriptures.  Be knowledgeable regarding the stories of His life, His ministry, His teachings.  Recognize what He requires, and how He defines righteousness.  Understand what He promises to us, and what we pledge to Him as we seek towards eternal life.  As we come to know Christ better by way of scripture study we will never be startled at who He is when we meet again, because He became familiar to us through a perfected illustration long ago.

Perhaps, we shy away from the scriptures because what they contain make us uncomfortable.  Scriptures will embrace correction, and we will not find congruous application in all areas, because we are in an imperfect state.  They may produce uneasy feelings about our current choices, situations, or decisions.  We may not like that they hold strict counsel and speak of severe consequence to sinful living.  We cannot flinch from truth because it makes us aware of our areas in need of improvement, for this is one of their exact purposes, to diminish the gray, and the black, that Satan produces to conceal the light.  We should allow the words of the prophets to revitalize our commitment to what is right.  We should permit them to carry us to the Savior’s feet, seeking after the healing that is found within His Atonement.  After all, they are given to lead us to Him.  We must believe in the words of the scriptures, incorporating them into our lives in a way that refines and transforms who we are.  We have to permit them to teach us, to develop us. 

The scriptures are remarkable blessings.  Within the pages of the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, we can discover a light that will radiate throughout our entire existence.  These books truly testify of our Savior.  He desires for us to know of Him, which is why He has provided them for us.  He wants us to have knowledge of who He is, how He loves us, and to provide assurance that He will return.  He seeks for us to cleave unto Him, as desperately as He cleaves unto us.  May we do more than read these hallowed words, but search them that they may be a source of revelation and illumination.  An origin for our testimonies, the birthplace of our heartfelt conversion.  May we believe in the words of the prophets, these inspired vessels of the Lord, that we may never be deceived, nor confused, and that we will ever be looking for the events that bring Him back to us.