#26: JESUS REVEALS, “I AM THE SON OF GOD”
(John 10:22-39)
Comment: Several years ago I was talking with a Hindu young man about Jesus being the only begotten Son of God. He challenged me and insisted that Jesus never said that he was the Son of God. Since he had converted from Catholicism to Hinduism, he did respect the Bible to some degree, especially the gospels. I showed him what Jesus said in John 10:36: “As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How then, can you say that I blaspheme because I said that I am the Son of God?” (Good News Bible) He read it out of my Bible and then apologized.
Let’s read this Scripture in context:
At the feast of Dedication in the winter of A. D. 29, some Jewish teachers in Jerusalem approach Jesus and ask him if he is the Messiah or not. Jesus answers that he has already told them the answer to that. Next he stuns those religious leaders by saying, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). Even though these Jews expect the Messiah to come at any time, they do not expect him to be God's Son, or to be one with the Father. These declarations he makes about himself greatly upset them. However, the Scriptures foretold the Messiah would be God's Son:
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 1050 B. C.)
“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, `You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You'. . .
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him”
(Psalm 2:6-7, 12b, NKJV).
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 1015 B. C.)
“Who has ascended into Heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in His garment?
Who has established the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?”
(Proverbs 30:4, AMP)
Also, the Scriptures imply that the Father and the Son worked together in Creation: “And God (Elohim) said, let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .” (Genesis 1:26a, LITV, my words in parenthesis). However, the preconceived ideas of these men about who the Messiah is supposed to be hinder their ability to see him. They protest, “This is blasphemy and an outrage! He is making himself out to be God!” They treat Jesus with ridicule, anger and hatred, even as the brothers of Joseph first responded to his message.
Past Events Repeated:
“`Shall you indeed reign over us, or shall you really rule over us?'
And they hated him still more . . . because of his words”
(Genesis 37:8, LITV).
As their ancestors conspired to kill Joseph because of their jealousy, these men, without even conducting a trial, hastily grab stones to throw at Jesus:
Past Events Repeated:
“Then they said to one another, . . . let us now kill him”
(Genesis 37:19a, 20b, NKJV).
Jesus asks them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” (John 10:32, NIV)
“We stone you, not for good works, but for your blasphemous claims, because you, a man, make yourself to be God!”
“Is it not written in your Law, `I have said you are gods?' . . . what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, `I am God's Son?' Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father” (John 10:34, 36-38, NIV, Psalm 82:6).
These men don't want to consider any Scripture or any of the supernatural works Jesus does in his Father's Name. They only want to kill him. But when they surround him and attempt to murder him with stones, God’s protection encircles him and he supernaturally passes out of their midst! (John 10:39)
Old Testament Promises Fulfilled:
“The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life . . .
Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, have helped me . . .” (Psalm 86:14, 17, NIV)
"But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head”
(Psalm 3:3, NKJV).
Comment: I am happy to be one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. My favorite Scripture passage is: “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:4-5, NKJV)
I believe we are getting to a season in which we are going to have many opportunities to tell all kinds of people about what Jesus has done for us. Let’s get ready and prepared to work with Mighty Holy Spirit to gather in the harvest. Continue to pray it in and be ready to share your faith.
Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, pages 197-200.