Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
Mark 12:24 NIV
This verse comes in the midst of attempts by the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem to discredit Jesus by asking him challenging questions. The specific question being responded to here was put forward by the Sadducees, the group that generally controlled the temple activities. Jesus answered their question, as well as their underlying presupposition concerning the resurrection. And then he charged them with a failure to know the Scriptures and the power of God.
These were men who had an intimate knowledge of the Torah, debating it among themselves and with other Jewish sects. But their knowledge was only in their head where it was used as a weapon against their opponents.
The Power of the Scripture
But the power of the Scripture is not in individual words and verses. It is in its ability to transform the lives of those who meditate on it and allow the Holy Spirit to teach them from its pages. It is tempting to study the Bible looking for passages that support specific beliefs. But instead, we should allow the Scripture to draw us into an ever-growing relationship with God and his purpose for each of us. You can make it say almost anything you want it to. But how much better to listen to what it actually has to teach us.
