Sermon Central
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The Son Of God.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 1, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: If these mere created beings were called ‘gods’ to whom “the word of God CAME,” how can Jesus’ assailants accuse Him of blasphemy, “whom the Father hath sanctified (set apart as holy), and sent unto the world?”
THE SON OF GOD.
John 10:31-36.
JOHN 10:31. It is hardly surprising that the mob were in the mood to lynch Jesus! Jesus had just made the bold declaration, ‘I and my Father are one’ (cf. John 10:30). His opponents clearly understood this to be a claim to equality with God, (something which even some so-called Christians of today struggle to comprehend). So, not for the first time, “they took up stones again to stone Him.”
This ‘taking up’ is very purposeful, suggesting some exertion. They were all in a covered area, so this would have involved going to fetch the stones from elsewhere. There would have been plenty of large stones among the building works going on in the temple area outside Solomon’s Porch!
JOHN 10:32. Jesus drew attention to the “good works” which He had showed them “from my Father.” For which of these were they about to stone Him?
The word ‘good’ is the same as in the expression ‘the Good Shepherd.’ The word ‘I have showed’ is significant in that, especially in John’s Gospel, Jesus ‘works’ are to be recognised as ‘signs’ that He is the Messiah. Were they about to stone an innocent man for doing good?
JOHN 10:33. Jesus’ hostile hearers made their accusation clear: “blasphemy!” To them, Jesus appeared to be a mere man, making Himself out to be God. But, unlike Adam, Jesus was not a mere man aspiring to be like God. Jesus IS God.
JOHN 10:34. Jesus’ answer took His foes back to their schoolroom. Jesus said, “Is it not written in your law?”
“Law” here includes the book of Psalms.
“Your” law reminds His hearers that this is the word of God to which THEY profess to submit.
The quotation is ‘I have said, Ye are gods’ (Psalm 82:6).
JOHN 10:35-36. Jesus’ argument is straightforward: “If He called them gods unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of Him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”
We see here, first of all, what a high view Jesus places upon Scripture: it “cannot be broken.”
Second, we see WHO were called ‘gods’ in the Psalm: according to Jesus, it was those “to whom the word of God came.”
If these mere created beings were called ‘gods’ to whom “the word of God CAME,” how can Jesus’ assailants accuse Him of blasphemy, “whom the Father hath sanctified (set apart as holy), and sent unto the world?”
Jesus is not a mere man to whom the word of God “came.” He is the one commissioned by God from all eternity to be the only Saviour of sinners. From the incarnation onward, this was always His unique mission.
