To read the texts click on the texts: Jer20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42
The text of today begins
with the Jews picking up stones to stone Jesus. While the immediate context is
the last words of Jesus in his response to who he is, namely “The Father and I
are one”, this reaction must also be seen in the larger context of the
revelations that Jesus has been making.
Jesus’ question to the Jews immediately after their attempt to stone him is indicative of this. He asks them for which of his good works they want to stone him. In response they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. Though it is true that Jesus is equal to God, they do not realize that it is not he who makes such a claim on his own accord. It is God who confirms him. Jesus uses “their” law to prove his claims and disprove theirs. He begins by citing the first half of Ps 82:6 in which human beings are regarded as “gods” because they receive the Word of God and then goes on to prove from the lesser to the greater, that thus it cannot be blasphemy if Jesus speaks of himself as God’s Son. It is the Father who sanctified and thus set apart Jesus and sent him into the world and thus he always does what the Father commands him to do.
Jesus’ question to the Jews immediately after their attempt to stone him is indicative of this. He asks them for which of his good works they want to stone him. In response they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. Though it is true that Jesus is equal to God, they do not realize that it is not he who makes such a claim on his own accord. It is God who confirms him. Jesus uses “their” law to prove his claims and disprove theirs. He begins by citing the first half of Ps 82:6 in which human beings are regarded as “gods” because they receive the Word of God and then goes on to prove from the lesser to the greater, that thus it cannot be blasphemy if Jesus speaks of himself as God’s Son. It is the Father who sanctified and thus set apart Jesus and sent him into the world and thus he always does what the Father commands him to do.
Jesus goes on to appeal to
his works as a proof of the fact that he has indeed been sent by God. His
works, which are in keeping with God’s plan for the world, are clear indication
that he and the Father are one. He is in the Father and the Father is in him.
To be able to recognize this is to come to faith. These words do not go down
well with the listeners who try to arrest him. Again as in the past Jesus
escapes because his hour had not yet come.
The last three verses of the
text look back to 1:28 and to John’s witness of Jesus at Bethany. John’s
witness and the truth of that witness manifested in Jesus leads people to
believe in Jesus.
In these verses, Jesus does
not claim to be another God or to replace God or even make himself equal to
God. He claims to make God known as never before. He reveals God as loving
Father and as one whose only will for the world is its salvation. This is
evident in the works that he performs, which are works of unconditional and
redeeming love.
Jesus’ offer of recognizing him
in the world is an offer that is relevant and available even today. The “good
works” he inaugurated are on view whenever one goes beyond oneself and reaches
out in love and compassion. They are continued when one speaks an enhancing
word or performs a loving action. There are visible in selfless service and
forgiveness. They are visible when love is made real.
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