John 10:31-39
Again the Jews picked up stones in order that they should
stone Him. Jesus answered to them, “I
demonstrated many good works to you all out of the Father. Because of which of these works do you stone
me?” The Jews answered to Him, “We do not stone you regarding a good work but
regarding blasphemy. And because you –
while being a man – make yourself a God.”
And Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law that, ‘I said
you all are gods?’ If it called those
ones gods, to whom the Word of God came – and scripture is not possible to be
broken – do you all say of whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world that,
‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am a Son of God?’ If I am not doing the works of the Father, do
not believe me! But if I do them – and if
you should not believe me – believe the works in order that you should know and
you should understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Therefore they were again desiring to seize
Him and He departed out of their hands.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
In this passage we find a very interesting call back to a
very deep spiritual thought. What does
it mean to believe? Many people like to
think that believing is an internal thought process. We think that we can say, “I believe in Jesus
and God,” even if our actions do not demonstrate it. However, the Greek word for believe means “believe,”
“belief,” “faith,” and “faithfulness.”
Dietrich Bonheoffer, a German Lutheran who wrote the Cost of Discipleship, says it best that “Only
those who believe obey; and only those who obey believe.” Bonhoeffer understands what Jesus is getting
at. Believing in God is a mixture of
faith and obedience. Jesus reminds us of
this very fact in this passage. When the
Jews come at Him with stones, Jesus points them not just to the teaching but to
the works through His hands. How do you
know God’s disciple? God’s disciples do
the work of the Father.
Is faith and obedience mixed in your life? Do you believe in God? How does God demonstrate this reality through
you?
Second Thought:
Jesus then makes an
interesting argument. Jesus reminds the
Hebrew people that their scriptures actually speak of people as gods. Psalm 82:6 is the most glaring example, and
this is the one that Jesus quotes. Here
the Psalm is telling us that those who follow God and who show justice and
mercy to the oppressed are sons of God!
Therefore, Jesus extrapolates this phenomenal point. If sinners like the ancient Hebrew people can
be sons of God in those moments that they are obedient to God, then why wouldn’t
that same title apply to someone like Jesus – through whom God’s power was
always on display!
Are you a son (or daughter) of God? How does that designation strike you when
applied to yourself? How do you know you
are a child of God?
Third Thought:
What is sad about this passage is that the Jewish people do
not even accept their own Law. Jesus isn’t
using a logical argument out of human reasoning. Jesus uses a Psalm written in God’s own
perspective to make His point. The
Jewish people were not willing to listen even to scripture. Their focus was on arresting Him and doing
away with Him. When human beings
determine to not listen and have their own way, we are remarkable creatures
with respect to ignoring truth.
When have you ignored truth?
What was your reason for doing so?
How can you prevent a posture of ignoring the truth in the future?
Passage for Tomorrow: John 10:40-42
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