Good morning, church! As we turn to our passage this morning, I wanted us to consider what our attitude should be as we approach God’s Word. 1 Pet 2:2-3 tells us that:
[2] Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— [3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
If you and I have tasted that the Lord is good, then we are instructed to long and crave for God’s Word just like a newborn infant is frequently hungry and longs for milk. Do you and I crave God’s Word? Do we long for it badly so that we grow up as mature believers? God’s desire is that we would long for God’s Word.
And I think that’s a good place for us to start from as we turn to God’s Word this morning. Would you join me as we pray and ask God for help?
Pray
As a church, we’ve been going through a series titled Believing and Knowing Jesus from the gospel of John. Right now we find ourselves in Chapter 10 where the Jews are increasingly becoming hostile and aggressive towards Jesus.
Let’s do a quick recap. The setting is the Feast of Dedication. Jesus is walking in the Temple during the festival, when Jews surround Him and ask Him to tell them clearly if He was the Christ or not. As we heard last week, the intention was not to genuinely find out, but it was to trap Him so that they could have some charge to make against Him.
Jesus responds by telling them that He’s already told them that but they don’t want to believe. Jesus gives the reason why they don’t believe, and it’s because they aren’t His sheep. Jesus using the imagery of a shepherd and His sheep tells them that if they were His sheep, they would hear His voice and follow Him.
Jesus follows it up by revealing what He provides for His sheep. He knows them by name. He gives them eternal life. They will never perish. No one can snatch them out of His hand and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. What wonderful promises and assurances for His sheep to hold on to.
But then Jesus ends with a controversial statement in V30 by saying “I and the Father are one” and that becomes the premise for the extreme reaction and response that we see play out in today’s passage.
Today we’re going to spend some time unpacking the 2 Responses to Jesus. There’s the Unbelieving response and the Believing Response.
1. Unbelieving Response
- Not believing in Jesus’ identity and purpose (V31-36)
[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’?
There’s a lot that is happening in these verses, so let’s break it down verse by verse.
[31] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
This is the second time in a few chapters where we see the Jews get enraged to the extent that they pick up stones to kill Jesus. Now why did they do this? It’s because stoning was the punishment for blasphemy in the OT (Lev 24:16). However, it was to be done after a careful examination and the evidence of 2-3 witnesses (Deut 17:2-6). Stoning was not to be done as an impulsive mob reaction.
But why such a harsh punishment for blasphemy? It was to demonstrate to God’s people that they were dealing with a Holy God. In many of these passages, it mentions “purge the evil from within you”. God’s name and God’s character were to be treated with seriousness and reverence.
Their extreme reaction reveals that they understood whom Jesus was claiming to be. It was not a subtle suggestion. Jesus was claiming to be God!
[32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”
It’s another way of Jesus asking them to state what crime has He committed. Everything that Jesus has done till this point has been to glorify God and love people. For which of these deeds is He being targeted and killed?
[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.”
It’s clear that their main problem is His claim to be God. In their minds they are thinking “How dare Jesus refer to Himself as God when He’s only a mere human!”
[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’?
Jesus is quoting from Ps 82 where the leaders and shepherds of Israel were referred to as gods.
Psalm 82:1-7 ESV
[1] God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: [2] “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [3] Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. [4] Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” [5] They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. [6] I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; [7] nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
Now by quoting this, Jesus is not saying that leaders and shepherds of Israel were divine. What Jesus is saying is that Scripture refers to these leaders of Israel as “gods” in the sense that they were appointed as representatives of God to do justice for God’s people. They were appointed to rule God’s people on behalf of God.
And then He makes the argument from the lesser to the greater. If Scripture refers to these leaders and shepherds of Israel as gods because they were representatives of God, how much more significant should they consider Jesus the Son of God who was “consecrated” and “sent into the world” by God? The Jews were so caught up in the blasphemy charges, that they were missing the point of who Jesus was and what He came to do.
How did Jesus view His own identity and purpose in this world? Let’s quickly look at those two words that Jesus refers to because that gives us
Consecrated: The word “consecrated” means sanctified, some made ceremonially pure, set apart and dedicated for God’s special purposes. Before anyone or anything can be used for the Lord’s service, it was required that they be “consecrated” (Ex 28:41).
So Jesus saw Himself as being set apart and dedicated for God’s purposes. But what was that special purpose?
Sent into the world: That phrase refers to being sent on a special mission. John 3:16-17:
John 3:16-17 ESV
[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Luke 19:10 ESV
[10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He was on a Saving Mission. He was on a Rescue Mission. That was the sole purpose for which Jesus came into the world. It was God’s Plan A. It wasn’t an after thought. He came into the world so that He could save us – save us from what? The wrath and punishment of God that was upon us because of our sins.
Why does that need saving? Why can’t God just pardon our sins? Why can’t God just write off our debts? The question is if there was a heinous criminal who did something terrible to you, would you want him to be pardoned without receiving just punishment? No, absolutely not. That would be injustice.
The only problem in this case is that we are the heinous criminals who have committed atrocious crimes against God. We have sinned against God in our thoughts, words and deeds because of which God’s wrath and punishment is upon us. If God were to judge us and destroy us completely, He would be perfectly right in doing so.
But instead He has made a way for us to be saved from that. He consecrates His only Son and sends Him into the world to live the life that we needed to live and couldn’t live, and die the death that we deserved. He was buried and raised on the Third Day so that whoever may turn from their sins and trust in Jesus’ saving work will no longer have the wrath of God hanging over them but instead be given a new status and identity as God’s children.
John 1:12 ESV
[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
That’s the good news of the Gospel. Taking sinners and enemies of God and transforming them into sons and daughters of God!
b. Not believing in Jesus’ works (V37-38)
[37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; [38] but 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.”
Jesus was basically telling the Jewish religious leaders that even if they didn’t believe His claims, they couldn’t ignore the works that He did. The works, miracles and signs that He performed clearly point to Him being the Son of God.
Let’s remember that this audience wasn’t an ignorant group of people. They were super religious and well versed in the OT. And in the OT, God provided several clues in the form of prophecies for God’s people to identify who their Messiah was. They weren’t thrown into the dark. Over 300 prophecies were made about Jesus.
One of the key identifiers of the Messiah would be that He would do amazing miracles:
Isaiah 35:5-6 ESV
[5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; [6] then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
We can add to this list with signs that we saw in the gospel of John. Turning water into wine, healing the official’s son who was ill from miles away, feeding 5000 by multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fish, walking on water and calming storms.
These are not normal everyday things. These are extraordinary signs and miracles. You’d have to be delusional in order to ignore it.
But such was the stubbornness of their hearts, such was their unbelief that they overlooked things that should have been obvious and clear as daylight to them.
c. Not believing in Jesus’ relationship with the Father (V38b)
that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father
The goal in Jesus performing all these astonishing signs and miracles was not to attain superstar status among people, not to become the talk of the town, not to become viral. The goal in Jesus doing all of this was so that people could understand the perfect unity and close relationship that Jesus shares with His Father.
So that people would get the dynamic that Jesus shares with His Father. So that they’d understand that the Father looks on Jesus with pure delight saying “This is my beloved in whom I’m well pleased”. So that they’d understand how much Jesus loves and delights in obeying the Father. All of Jesus’ works were to point to that unity and relationship.
And it’s important for us as believers to understand that dynamic because that’s a reality for us as sons and daughters of God in Christ. What would your life look like today if you understood right now God the Father looking at you with pure delight saying “This is my beloved in whom I’m well pleased”.
Do we struggle with sin? Yes. Do we do things to displease God? Yes. But how assuring would it be to know that if you’re a true believer in Christ, God still loves you and accepts you fully? There’s nothing you can do to make God love you anymore. There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any less. In fact it’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. We would not fear returning back to the Lord if we knew how much He takes pleasure in us.
So Jesus gave them enough and more proof to tell them who He was and what He came to do, but what was their ultimate response?
[39] Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
This has to be one of the most saddest parts of Scripture. By picking up stones to stone Jesus, by seeking to arrest Jesus, what were they rejecting? They were rejecting the only way that they could be saved. It’s like they are drowning in their sin and punishment and rejecting the lifeboat of rescue. Who were they ultimately rejecting? God the Father who sent Jesus to them.
So that’s the saddest reality and end for those who have an unbelieving response. But the chapter doesn’t end there, it contrasts with the
2. Believing Response
[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.
It seems that this was the audiencewho was impacted by John the Baptist’s preaching and ministry. They too come to Jesus similar to the Jews surrounding Jesus in the Temple but with different heart motivations. The Jews were trying to trap Jesus while these people across the Jordan wanted to genuinely know Jesus.
Look at what it says in V41. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
They were basically trying to validate John’s witnesses about Jesus by spending time with Him. What were the things that John said about Jesus?
John 1:15 ESV
[15] (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
John 1:26-27 ESV
[26] John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, [27] even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
John 1:29 ESV
[29] The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:32-34 ESV
[32] And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. [33] I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ [34] And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
These are huge claims that John the Baptist made about Jesus and as the people themselves came to Jesus and spent time with Him, they came to the conclusion that everything John said was true.
[42] And many believed in him there.
Same Jesus. Same words. Same works but Two Very Different Responses. This should once more tell us this morning that the difference between unbelief and belief is not always ignorance or a lack of evidence. The difference is a willingness to let down your pride, let down your control of self and humbly turn to the Lord. It’s always the condition of our hearts. What is the condition of your heart today?