Daily Devotions
John
An attempt to stone Jesus to death!
Text: John 10 : 22-42
AN ATTEMPT TO STONE JESUS TO DEATH!
When the Jews heard the last statement of Jesus, “I and My Father are one”, they were consumed with indignant anger! John noted what they sought to do.
‘Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.”
John 10:31
John was correct in using the word “again” even as he noted how the Jews bent down to pick up stones to hurl at Jesus. Not too long ago, they attempted to do that too. On that occasion, He had made another bold declaration.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I Am.”
John 8:58
Why did the Jews contemplate stoning Jesus? Strange as it may seem, it was because they felt that it was only right for them to do. They had heard “blasphemous words” from Jesus, or so they reasoned. That gave them the “right” to stone Him for blasphemy!
A PROTEST FROM JESUS
Jesus naturally protested the attempt to stone Him. He raised a question to them. It was His right to do that.
“Many good works I have shown you from My Father.
For which of those works do you stone Me?
John 10:32
Had the Jews considered the “many good works” that Jesus had done? Had they been properly regarded and appreciated. Apparently not! Jesus was causing the Jews to stop and think through what they were attempting to do! Had they not understood the significance of all the good works that He had done in His Father’s Name? How could a person who had done so many good works be guilty of blasphemy? Surely the Jews were wrong in their attempt to stone Jesus.
A FURIOUS RETORT FROM THE JEWS
The Jews had little or no regard for Jesus and thus they retorted.
“For a good work, we do not stone You,
but for blasphemy, and because You,
being a Man, make yourself God.”
John 10:33
The Jews complained that Jesus had not spoken plainly enough to them concerning His identity (John 10:24). However, when Jesus spoke to them plainly, they were offended by what He said.
There was agreement that Jesus had indeed done many good works. The Jew couldn’t fault His works. However, they took strong exception to His statement that He was one with God. That surely was blasphemy! Thus they felt justified when they attempted to stone Jesus to death.
A PLAY ON WORDS
What a pitiful argument they put up to justify their attempt to stone Jesus! Had they even understood what Jesus said and meant? Jesus attempted to show to the Jews the shallowness of their understanding of the Scriptures. They were making a horrendous mistake in attempting to stone Jesus for so-called blasphemy.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written
in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods?”
If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came
(and the Scriptures cannot be broken), do you say of Him
whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world,
“You are blaspheming,” because I said,
“I am the Son of God?” ‘ “
John 10:34-36
For easier comprehension, let’s enumerate two things Jesus emphasized.
1. The term “god” was used in the Scriptures to refer to men. Jesus was quoting a text found in the Psalms. We read,
“God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods…
I said, ‘You are gods’ and all of you are children
of the Most High.”
Psalm 82: 1, 6
The word “gods” was used to refer to “the mighty”. In the context, the reference was to human beings! In a sense these mighty men, who were judges, kings etc could be likened to God. They wielded tremendous power. The powers that were vested in them made them truly mighty. Jesus was saying that when He used the term “Son of God” He was not guilty of blasphemy! It was correct usage!
2. The term “Son of God” was correctly used by Jesus. He was sanctified or set apart by God the Father for a special ministry. He had come to earth with glorious power which He deployed to perform many good works! Surely the works of Jesus would vindicate Him in His application of the term “Son of God” to Himself! He was not guilty of blasphemy as charged.
The Jews could instead be charged with abuse of their powers! They had not even understood Jesus and yet they were ready to stone Him to death. Who really was the guilty party? Certainly not Jesus!