John 10:30-33 -- I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
Thank You Lord for the tiny miracles in life that confirm mountains have been moved. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Jesus has said quite a lot to this group of religious authorities, yet what he says in verse twenty-nine causes them to violently react. The way they react emphasizes the statement Jesus made.
After telling them no one will snatch His sheep from His hand and that no one is able to snatch the sheep from God the Father's hand, Jesus drops the big one on them…"I and the Father are one.".
Why is this statement so important?
It's a big deal because Jesus has claimed to be God. There are some who would argue Jesus was just saying He and the Father were unified in mission or goals, thereby denying Jesus' deity. However, the way these religious authorities react shows they very clearly understood Jesus was claiming to be God. They even say it in verse thirty-three, "because you, being a man, make yourself God.".
This isn't the first time in John the religious authorities picked up stones to kill him on the spot. Back in John chapter eight there was an almost identical situation. Where the pharisees were trying to trap Him by asking questions, then Jesus drops on them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am.". They knew then, just as they know now EXACTLY what Jesus was saying. He was claiming to be one with God. Separate person, same entity. They clearly received His message and meaning.
Back to John chapter ten here. These religious authorities' plan was to get Him to say something political so they could arrest Him and have the Romans execute Him. However, Jesus wasn't there to play politics, He instead drops this religious truth on them that launched them into murder mode.
Christian don’t separate Jesus out so much that you disconnect Him from God the Father and Holy Spirit. That may sound silly at first, but during times like the Christmas season, it's simple to hold Him so far apart you lose sight of the whole of God. There are some portions of Christianity who do the same with Holy Spirit. They focus on and hold Him so far apart they lose sight of the whole of God. It sets us on slippery slope where we can start to lift individual parts of our walk over others. Such as focusing on praise only or studying the Word only or prayer only or healing only, etc…
Just something to think about this Wednesday morning. Don't take my word on anything, be the Berean, get into your Bible and see yourself!
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
Comentarios