The Gospel of John: John 10.34-42

Read and meditate on John 10.34, 35.
Again, by using carefully-crafted questions, Jesus forced His detractors to look at the Word, to see how the Scriptures would answer their question about Him.

                                ³⁵If God chose to call
them gods, to whom the Word was given (and
the Scriptures are unbreakable), ³⁶how can
you say of Him the Father sanctified,
and sent into the world, ‘Now You have lied,
and are blaspheming,’ just because I said,
‘I am the Son of God’?

- John 10.34, 35

Reflect
1.  Let’s continue our slow walk through Jesus’ response to His accusers, keeping in mind as we do, that these people have stones in hand to throw at Him, even as He talks.They were acting passionately and irrationally; Jesus, however, continued to regard them as thinking people. He expected them to be able to see the inconsistencies in their objections. He said – citing Psalm 82 – that God called the judges and elders of Israel “gods.” Why did He call them that? What in particular, as Jesus understood it, gave them such an exalted status? Complete this prayer: You have given Your Word to church leaders, Lord, and I pray that they…

2.  OK, so the Word of God came to the judges of Israel, and “the Scripture cannot be broken.” That is, they could not receive that Word and make it say whatever they wanted it to say. Look again at Psalm 82. If those to whom the Word came failed to receive it as such, and to follow what it taught, what would happen? Do You still judge Your people today, Lord? And are we, in our church, guilty in any way of…

3.  If those entrusted with the Word tried to break that Word, by denying, altering, or failing to implement its teaching, the Word would not be broken, but they would. Can you see how Jesus was gently but firmly warning His hearers? Can you see that, rather than calling them out and publicly embarrassing them, He was giving them an opportunity to reach a proper conclusion on their own? Explain. How does this counsel us in our witness to the Lord? Lord, I don’t want to embarrass anyone or put anyone down as I’m proclaiming the Good News. Instead, help me to…

4.  In the first part of verse 36, Jesus appears to have equated Himself with the Word (sent from God and sanctified or unbreakable) that came to the judges of ancient Israel. He had come to the judges (“gods”) of His day as surely as the Word of God came to the judges (“gods”) of Asaph’s day (Asaph wrote Psalm 82). How did this strengthen Jesus’ claims? Why did Jesus continue to link Himself with this passage? You are the Word of God, Lord Jesus, whether in Old Testament or the New. Help me always to see You…

5.  Finally, at the end of verse 36, Jesus acknowledged that He was, in fact, claiming to be the Son of God. He didn’t make that claim Himself, but seems to have been agreeing with their conclusion based on His other claims and His works. They concluded that He was claiming to be the Son of God. He was affirming their conclusion. Emily Dickinson again: “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant/Success in circuit lies…” Why do you suppose Jesus took such a circuitous route to make this point? Was He trying to baffle and confuse, or to help those who were objecting to Him? Explain. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from 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)

“Think, people, think!” This is what Jesus seemed to be saying to those enraged people who only wanted to kill Him. He knew they wouldn’t think, but He continued to force them into the Scripture, and to encourage them to tease out the implications of its teaching. He was letting the Scripture do the work of teaching and convicting the people, even though most of them were to hardened of heart to hear with understanding. Just because people will not or can not hear the Scripture, does this mean we should avoid Scripture in our witness to Jesus? Why or why not?

Closing Prayer
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40.1-3

Psalm 40.1-5 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
Lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save!

Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
Lord, Your worth who can declare? None with You can e’er compare.

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.