Gods

John 10:31-42

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” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;38 b ut if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

Notes

Jesus explained that no one could take His sheep from Him because the Father, who is greater than all, protects them, and He and the Father are one. Jesus claimed to be greater than all, as the Father is. The Jewish leaders would not accept such a claim. For them, it was blasphemy to claim to be God. They expressed their unbelief with an intent to commit violence. But it was not yet time for the Lord to sacrifice Himself. Thus, He escaped their grasp.

1. Violent Objection

   Despite the works that Jesus displayed, the religious leaders remained in unbelief. The Jews expressed their objection to His claim of divinity. They picked up stones with the intent to stone Jesus because they thought He spoke of a blasphemous statement.

   
   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” (John 10:31-33).

   Application: Many people will not believe in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Son of God Moreover, some of them will react violently against the claims of the Savior and will reject the significance of His work. We must expect different responses from people who hear the gospel.

2. Son of God

   Jesus responded by quoting Psalm 82, which was about the nation’s judges who failed God and His people. They were called gods or sons of God because they represented God's justice to the people. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were like the judges who were called gods who failed God. Jesus explained that if such humans were given such titles, why not the Son of God Himself?

   34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;38 b ut if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands (John 10:34-39).

   Application: We believe in the claims of Christ; He is God. We also believe in the witness of His apostles as they revealed through their writings in the Holy Scriptures. However, we know that not everyone will believe in the Son of God. Despite this, we will persist in proclaiming the gospel.

3. Some Believed

   The writer repeated a theme found in the Gospel of John: Even though many would not believe, some would. Some believers cited the words of John the Baptist, saying that all the Baptist said about Jesus was true.

   
   40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there (John 10:40-42).

   Application: Not everyone will believe in the saving power of the gospel, but some will believe. Therefore, we must never stop proclaiming the gospel. Like John the Baptist, we have a role to fulfill. John pointed to the coming of the Messiah. We point back to what He did, which is His suffering, death, and resurrection. By His grace, our lives will be useful in the plan of the Father.

Reflection & Discussion

1. Why did the Jews intend to throw stones at Jesus?

2. Explain, based on the context, why Jesus cited Psalm 82, “ye are gods.”

3. What happened across the Jordan?