But God did not commission the scriptures to give the KNOWLEDGE of eternal life, he commissioned them to testify to his son Jesus, the Messiah, the SOURCE of eternal life. Moses and the prophets testify to the Messiah who was to come. Gospel writers like John testify to the Messiah who was here incarnate, crucified, and raised from the dead. Revelation testifies to the Messiah who will return. This testimony is given, so that people will come to Jesus to have life and salvation. This testimony is given at Jesus' baptism, where God declares Jesus as his beloved Son. This testimony is given through the signs and wonders of Jesus, doing what he sees his Father doing. This testimony is given through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, that God has granted Jesus to have life in himself. And this testimony is given through God giving Jesus the authority to execute judgment, because he is also the Son of Man, and has experienced humanity's trials and temptations.
As people called by God, and particularly as people holding Martin Luther in high regard, we take scripture seriously. We give bibles to baptized infants and confirmation students alike, we take the time for bible study, we're even using a new lectionary – the Narrative Lectionary - to encounter different scripture in the context of the worship service. But we're not doing it to win bible trivia contests or search for secret knowledge. We want to have a relationship with the judge, and so we dig deep into the prophecies about him, into his miracles and teachings, into the way the early church built relationship with him. We study what Jesus did, so that we can trust what Jesus will do. We hear the testimony about Jesus, so that we can declare him to be OUR Messiah. And we listen to his voice, so that we can be the kind of people to whomsoever the Son wishes to give life.
Gracious God, we thank you for your testimony to your Son Jesus, given so that we may have eternal life. Enable us to testify also, so that others may be saved, in Jesus' name, amen.