30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 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’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 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 in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

 

 Notice some other things Jesus is saying in His conversation with His critics.  "I and the Father are one".  Boy has that ever-caused controversy!  He is talking about essence. If it was Jesus’ intent to stay out of trouble with His hearers, He certainly would not have said this.  If He had a chance to clarify His identity so no one would misunderstand, He would not have said this, unless hH is who He is. This is as clear a statement of His deity as you will find anywhere in Scripture. This was even stronger than His statement that He had come down from heaven or that He existed before Abraham ever lived.

 

The word, one, does not suggest that the Father and the Son are identical persons.  Rather, it means that they are one in essence: The Father is God and the Son is God, but the Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father. He is speaking about essence and unity, not identity.  Now Jewish leaders understood clearly what He was saying!  Some modern liberal theologians would water down our Lord's statement, but the people who heard it knew exactly what He was saying, "I am God." vs.  33 says, "We are not stoning you for any of these, replied to the Jews, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

 

If Jesus was not claiming to be God what would He say?  Wouldn't He say, “No you got that all wrong."  Let me tell you a parable of the difference between a Father and Son.  Instead He pointed out an interested argument that you almost need a Hebrew mind to understand, Our Lord quoted Psalm 82:6. The picture in Psalm 82 is that of a court, where God has assembled the judges of the earth, to warn them that they too will one day be judged.  The problem is not all judges are just.  They need to cease from unjust ways; defend the poor and the innocent  The judge is commissioned by God to bring God's help and justice to men.  He is as God to men. The Hebrew word Elohim can be translated as "god" or as "judges,". It is also one of the Old Testament names for God.  They were to declare the judgement of God, they were referred to as gods, standing in His place. The Jewish teachers knew their own language and they knew that Jesus was speaking the truth.  If God called human judges gods, then why should they stone Him for applying the same title to Himself?

 

He even goes further than placing Himself in the category of one of the human judges. He makes a greater distinction by saying, "He is set apart for the Father as his very own and sent into the world" vs.36.  He is not just like the human judges, but the Son of God. He is holy and He is sent.  This is even a title the others cannot claim.

 

Jesus also points out that the tasks of the Father and the Son are identical. If they cannot believe the words, as least look at what He is doing and the power by which He is doing it. A word is something about which a man can argue; but a deed is something about which there is no argument. His claims are not only on what He said, but who He is and what He does.

 

His conversation includes the words, "believe the miracles, that you may learn and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Instead of believing, they tried to seize Him, so Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier. There many came to Him. There they remembered the words and teaching of John the Baptist. Many became believers and followers.

 

Unbelief is not to be justified on the ground of the lack of evidence. We have heard the words and seen the works. They have been told and we have been told.  They have seen and we have seen the evidences and testimonies of changed lives. The explanation of unbelief lies in the rejection of spiritual commitment. They had a lack of humility, lack of desire, lack of the touch of the Spirit of God. If you have been convicted of your need for a savior, that conviction comes from God. Respond to it. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shalt be saved."

 

If you are a believer, listen to His voice. What would He have you do according to His word? Do you want to hear? Read the Scriptures, pray, and devote your heart to Jesus.  Follow Christ in your everyday living.

      Dale