PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 10:31-39
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are ‘gods’” (John 10:34)
Because Jesus calls God his Father, the Jews want to stone him for blasphemy.
Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6, which addresses those whom God calls ‘gods’.
Apparently even God, according to Psalm 82:6, is willing to share the god title.
To be clear, neither God nor the scriptures say that we ARE God.
But we should not ignore the high value God places on us as image bearers.
To be God’s children, in God’s image, is to be as God in the world.
(See Exodus 4:16,7:1, where Moses is said to be as God to Aaron and Pharoah).
As God’s children, we represent God to the world, as ‘gods’ in this world.
Jesus describes his relationship as “the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” (v.38)
Personally, I see this as an Adam statement, what Adam would have said as well.
He’s not saying he IS God, but one in identity, character and purpose with God.
This is not blasphemy, this is humbly accepting God’s high value placed on us.
It’s also a huge responsibility: we are ‘gods’ in the world but we have messed up.
Thankfully Jesus came to restore us by being Adam for us!
PRAYER
Lord, I am your brother, and I am God’s son. This ought to shock me and shake me out of my careless living. Help me to live into, and up to, my identity and responsibility in the world!
Believe – whatever the reason – but believe. “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” Whether by words – by the scriptures – or experientially – through event or nature – whatever – believing is the important thing. I can look at a beautiful vista and praise God the creator – the Father of all creator – or I can rationalize and contemplate how it all randomly came to be! I choose to believe in a Creator God – and that gives me hope. I my belief is affirmed experientially as I see how the spirit moves in me – nudges me – encourages me- gives me insights especially when I read God’s word or the book of nature! I’m blessed and it affirms my believing!! Lord help me overcome vestiges of unbelief especially in the face of what’s wrong in this world!
I wonder how frustrating it was for Jesus to be accused of lying all the time. I know when I get accused of lying I bristle up, and do my best to demonstrate that I was being truthful.
Its powerful that Jesus lets that go. He says “even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father”. He let it go because He doesn’t need people to believe Him like we need people to believe us. Even when accused of lying, Jesus’ concern was the people’s knowledge and understanding of the Father, not clearing his own name.
Kids of the kingdom. That’s who we are. Children of the Father doing His will which is shown by our actions as well as our words. Word and deed. Indeed. I need to be a doer of the Word walking in His ‘SonShine.’ Help me this day Lord to live in joy for the joy of the Lord God is my strength.
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
Oh, the joy of the LORD is my strength.
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
For the joy of the LORD is my strength
If you want joy you must sing for it
If you want joy you must sing for it
If you want joy you must sing for it
For the joy of the LORD is my strength
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
For the joy of the LORD is my strength