John 10:34-39 - Lesson #108

The Jews had asked Jesus to plainly tell them if He was the Christ (John 10:24). However, though they wanted clarity from Jesus, they were not prepared for His answer; "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30). The implication of His answer was so clear that they responded with murderous anger. And when Jesus asked why they wanted to kill Him, they revealed their understanding of His claim; "because You, being a Man, make Yourself God" (John 10:33). Jesus replied in a manner consistent with how a rabbi would debate.

John 10:34-39
"Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your law, "I said, 'You are gods'"? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming," because I said, "I am the Son of God"? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.' Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand."

Sometimes the law referred to the first five books of the Bible or the books of Moses; but in this passage Jesus was referring to all of the highly respected Jewish Scripture, what we now call the Old Testament. He quoted from a passage in Psalm 82 in which God as the true judge is contrasted with the unjust and wicked judges of the world. Therefore, the passage "I said, 'You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High'" (Psalm 82:6) refers to the judges who are being called unjust.

By appealing to the Jewish scripture, Jesus showed the baseless nature of their charge. How could they say Jesus was blaspheming when their own Scripture referred to unjust judges as gods? Jesus was certainly not going against Scripture by saying He was the Son of God. And to strengthen His point He added that the Scripture cannot be broken - it was the standard of truth. Jesus made the case that His words could not be used to condemn Him. However, He now needed to make the case that His words ought to be believed.

Jesus next appealed to the works He had been doing during His ministry. These works were the miraculous signs which pointed to Him as the Saving Christ, but they were also the daily works performed consistent with God. These consistent works testified that "the Father is in Me, and I in Him" (John 10:38). In being intimately united with the Father, Jesus did the works of the Father; "for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (John 5:19). Though Jesus won the debate, His claim was more than they could bear.

Would we dare attempt a similar strategy of debate? Would our lives have the authority to gently say, "If you do not believe my words, judge me by my works." Our works can never save, but our consistent works ought to reveal a life in Christ. Let's commit to living a life of faith and good deeds such that the world can see that we are united and passionately in love with the Son of God.