Inspire 21-Day Devotional: Illuminating God's Wordਨਮੂਨਾ

WEEK 1, DAY 1: WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

In this week’s readings, we’ll explore the nature of the Bible itself—who it is all about, why it matters, and how it’s unlike any other book in history. Understanding the Bible’s purpose and its divine inspiration will lay a solid foundation for your journey.

The Bible Is All About Jesus

What’s the Bible all about? Why are people still reading it after two millennia? Unlike so many other ancient texts, the Bible is not primarily a set of teachings, the history of a group of people, or even a theology text. The Bible is about a person. Standing at the center of the Bible and running like a crimson thread through every page is a person, Jesus of Nazareth. He was born in a tiny corner of the world, in an obscure little town too small to show up on a map, but he changed the world forever. By any account, he is the most significant person who has ever lived, and the Bible is his story; it’s all about him.

On a sabbath morning in Nazareth, Jesus walked into the synagogue in his hometown. In those days, synagogues were not just used for religious services. They were community centers. They hosted town meetings. Jesus may have attended school there with other kids his age, and he’d been there to learn about the Hebrew Scriptures and the grand story of his people, the Israelites. Having moved away from Nazareth, Jesus returned and walked into the synagogue once again, but this time, he would amaze everyone there with what he said. In those days, if a notable person or a famous guest was in attendance, they would let them give the sermon! And since Jesus was back in town that morning, he had the honor of reading the passage and giving a short message afterward.

Jesus walked over to the scroll and turned to find the passage. He began to read from the prophet Isaiah, who had written more than seven hundred years earlier about what would happen when God returned for his people. It might have been a familiar passage to those seated in the synagogue, but what came next was a breathtaking surprise. Jesus sat down, and when all the eyes in the room turned to him, he said, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” You could hear a pin drop in the room. Could this be the one? Jesus, from their own hometown? Jesus’s life would prove to be a resounding yes. He was the chosen one, the Son of God, the God-man who came to save his people from their sins. He would fulfill all of God’s promises and bring all of his blessings to the earth. He would live, die, and rise from the dead to save his people from their sins. The Bible is the story of how he did it, why he did it, and how you can be a part of it.

Artifact: The Great Isaiah Scroll facsimile

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. Dating more than 1,000 years before other extant Old Testament manuscripts, they showcase God’s care to preserve his word from the time of Christ up to today. The crown jewel of this collection of over 900 manuscripts is called the Great Isaiah Scroll. It is an almost complete copy of the prophet Isaiah from the 2nd century BC, and it is the largest and best preserved of the whole collection. From the material to the handwriting, this manuscript looks almost exactly like the one Jesus would have read from in the synagogue at Nazareth.

See a facsimile of this artifact on the 4th floor of the Museum of the Bible.

Q1. What are the main themes or ideas of the Scripture passage?

Q2. What does this devotional tell me about who God is?

Q3. How does this devotional challenge or encourage me?

Q4. What specific action can I take to live out this teaching?

Q5. Who should I share this with for encouragement or accountability?