The Gospel of John: John 10.34-42

Read and meditate on John 10.34.
Jesus’ response to those who objected to His making Himself equal to God the Father presents a challenge to us. On the one hand, it is strictly Scriptural, and offers important insights to understanding God’s relationship with Israel during the period of the Old Testament. On the other hand, it might seem to be evading the question. It’s not; indeed, by choosing this approach, Jesus re-emphasized His claim to have been sent by the Father, and to be One with Him. Let’s take our time working through these next few verses.

                                                                            ³⁴Again,
He answered, “It is written in your law,
‘I said, “You are gods.”’”

- John 10.34

Reflect
1.  We have been going quite slowly through the Gospel of John, I think you’ll agree. Well, we need to slow down even a bit more, because the tack Jesus chose to follow here is revealing in many ways. Certain of the religious leaders who heard Jesus wanted to stone Him, because, as they claimed, He “blasphemed.” That is, as they saw it, He had dragged God’s Name down by suggesting God would become a man, or would be identified with men as Jesus was suggesting. Jesus simply pointed them to Psalm 82.6. The rulers – elders or judges – of the cities and towns of Israel were called “gods”, not “God” (the word is the same, but the meanings are quite different, though obviously related). This title applied to leaders in two senses, each of which plays on the word elohim (“gods” and “God”) in powerful ways. First, they represented God as His earthly magistrates, and they were to be men who knew God’s Word and embodied God’s character. Second, they were entrusted with His Law, to ensure that works of love for God and neighbor would be maintained in each community. To bring a case “to God” – or “to the gods” – was to bring it before the elders and judges of the community, as in Ruth 4. What does this suggest about how these judges were to be regarded? About the kind of men they were supposed to be? Complete this prayer: Thank You, Lord, for giving Your churches elders and leaders who…

2.  Read Psalm 82. What’s happening here? Have the “gods” lived up to God’s expectations? How did God assess them? The people who were objecting to Jesus were the “gods” of Israel in His day. What was Jesus saying about them by citing this psalm? Can you see how Jesus was using the Word of God, which they accepted and believed, to back up His own words and to indict their unbelief? Explain. Lord, I pray for the “gods” of our church, that they may understand their calling and do…

3.  By citing Psalm 82.6, Jesus, in effect, set His conversation with the “gods” of His day in the context of this psalm. Jesus was saying to these religious leaders, in effect, that God had associated Himself with them, and they were failing in their calling. According to Psalm 82.6-8, of what was Jesus warning them? Who was the “God” of verses 1 and 8, standing in the midst and judging these “gods”? Lord, help us always to remember that we live our lives and do our work before You, so that…

4.  It’s interesting to note that Jesus said the passage He cited was in the Law of God. But it was in Psalm 82, not the books of Moses, as we have seen. What does this suggest about the meaning of Law in the Old Testament? About the relationship of the Psalms and prophets to the Law? Would we be accurate in saying that the Law of God – the five books of Moses – is the acorn to the oak of Scripture? Explain. Your Law weaves through every part of Scripture, Lord. Help me to understand Your Law, so that…

5.  Jesus, using Scripture, suddenly turned a conversation that had Him on the defensive and was becoming increasingly heated, into a street drama, the effect of which was to turn the tables on His interlocutors and to vindicate His claims. Do you see any parallels in Psalm 82 to the work of shepherding Jesus said He had come to do? How does citing this psalm reinforce all that Jesus had been saying about being the Good Shepherd of God’s people, and not a “hireling” like you-know-who? Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“If the word of God came to people, that they might be called gods, how can the very Word of God, who is with God, be other than God? If by the word of God people become gods, if by participation they become gods, can he in whom they participate not be God? If lights that are lit are gods, is the light that enlightens not God? If through being warmed in a way by saving fire they are constituted gods, is he who gives them the warmth other than God? You approach the light and are enlightened and numbered among the children of God. If you withdraw from the light, you fall into obscurity and are counted as being in darkness; but that light does not approach because it never recedes from itself. If, then, the word of God makes you gods, how can the Word of God be other than God?” Augustine (354-430 AD)

Jesus demonstrates the power of Scripture in bearing witness. How do the Scriptures factor in your own witness for the Lord?

Closing Prayer
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.
How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked?
Selah
Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.
They do not know, nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High.
But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For You shall inherit all nations.

Psalm 82

Psalm 82.1, 2, 8 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
God stands amid His people to judge their rulers all;
How long will they oppress those who on His favor call?
How long will they the wicked show partiality,
And treat with scorn the meek who their proper care should be?

Rise up, O God in splendor, according to Your worth!
Rise up in pow’r to judge all the nations of the earth!
Rise up, O God our Savior, and hear our fervent call,
For You possess and rule o’er the nations one and all.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.