One With God
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John 10:24-38
24. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25. Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; 26. but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28. and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30. I and the Father are one." 31. The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" 33. The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we 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. 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."
The subtitle to this section of chapter 10 is “The Unbelief of the Jews.” The Jews weren’t questioning Jesus’ miracles. They believed they came through divine appointment – the ability to perform them. That’s how they were thinking at this time: that priests and kings – and prophets – were divinely appointed. But to declare that you were one with God? That was just more than they could wrap their minds around! Even though way back in Psalm 82 man is declared to be “God’s representative” on earth. But there is still a subtle difference, isn’t there?
To say, “I am a representative of God” is okay with everyone. We can accept and understand that. To be an emissary, or an ambassador is acceptable, even to be divinely appointed or selected doesn’t send us over the top. But to say “I am God” by announcing I am “of” God and “from” God and I am one with God?! That’s just over the top! But wait a minute. . . how can we believe the works are divinely inspired, without accepting that in order to do the works—in the name of God—he was not “part” of God? Even John the Baptist announced that the Messiah – divinely appointed and incarnated in the form of a man – was about to appear on the scene!
Jesus talks about the unbelievers not being his sheep. Shepherds were pretty amazing! Sheep are pretty dumb! The shepherds recognized the bleat of every single sheep—they heard the nuances of each one’s call—out of hundreds of sheep! And they literally risked their lives to protect them from predators, from falling off a cliff, or from harm of any kind. They were devoted to their sheep, beyond reason. Sound familiar? Maybe that’s why Jesus is referred to as “The Good Shepherd.” Jesus loves us even more than a shepherd loves his sheep! And he is able to do that because he is God!
But he goes one step farther – here’s the kicker – he says that we are all God—each of us individually was divinely planned, created and born into this world by God’s will. Thinking about ourselves as “part of God” presents us with a tremendous dilemma! It holds us to a much higher standard of behavior and thinking than if we were merely “believers” in God. Since we are of God, we have the promise of his divine protection and care. If we are of God, we are one with Christ – God’s son. If we are of God, we have the promise of eternal life in heaven with him!
It’s almost too much to bear—the honor, the privilege, the responsibility! Jesus was offering these Jews something so incredible, so incomprehensible, so amazing and radical, that they just couldn’t accept it! He performed miracles, he lived the life he told others to live, he “practiced what he preached” and still they did not believe. What do we need in order to believe, accept and understand this radical truth? Jesus already died on the cross! What else can be done, or said?
What miracle are we waiting for?
I hope today you feel the loving hand of God upon his beloved sheep. And that you stay within the sound of his voice, so you don’t stray too far from his protection and care.
Mary
