I Am God's Son

Well, this morning we're continuing the story of Jesus, told by John.

So if you have your Bible with you, you can open it up to John chapter 10.

John 10 · chapter mention

John chapter 10.

John 10 · chapter mention

We left Jesus last time at the temple in Jerusalem.

The Jews had gathered around him there, and they were pressing him to make an outright claim to be the Messiah.

And after saying a few things to them, Jesus did them one better.

He said, I and the Father are one.

And the Jews picked up stones in that moment and were ready to throw them at Jesus.

Well, Jesus managed to stay their hands for a moment by asking them this question in John chapter 10, verse 32.

John 10:32

He said, I have shown you many good works from the Father.

For which of these do you stone me?

And their response was, we are not stoning you for any good work, they replied, but for blasphemy.

Because you, a mere man, claim to be God.

And I imagine that again, they're about ready to let the stones fly.

But then Jesus manages to keep the conversation going.

Verse 34.

Jesus answered them,

Is it not written in your law, I have said, you are gods?

If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside,

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.

Now this is quite the response from Jesus.

Basically, Jesus tells them that there is some precedent in the scripture for men being referred to as gods.

And then Jesus argues from the lesser to the greater, and puts a bit of a contrast in there,

and suggests that since they were called gods,

though we'll see in a moment what kind of gods,

how much more can we speak of the one true son of God,

who has been set apart by the Father as being God,

and it's not blasphemy.

So let's explore this a little more.

But before we do, let me just say this.

There are some people out there who will say,

Jesus never outright claimed to be God, or to be the Son of God.

Well, if Jesus never meant to say that he was God,

if he never meant to say that he was divine,

now would be a perfect time to make that crystal clear.

I mean, they're saying,

we're stoning you for blasphemy,

because you, being a man, claim to be God.

If Jesus had never intended to say that,

he could simply have said,

I'm not claiming to be God.

I'm not claiming to be divine.

From our human perspective,

that would be the easiest way to ease the tension of this moment,

and see the stones drop to the ground.

But Jesus doesn't say that,

because it's not true.

The Jews are right about one thing.

What Jesus has said here,

it amounts to,

it is claiming to be divine,

to be God.

And Jesus doesn't backtrack,

not one bit.

He doesn't say,

well,

I said I and the Father are one,

but what I really meant,

no.

He goes the other way.

What he says here amounts to,

yes,

I am claiming to be the divine Son of God,

and it's not blasphemy in my case,

because it's true.

So let's look at this in a little more detail.

The first thing Jesus does,

is quote from Psalm 82.

He says,

is it not written in your law,

I have said,

you are gods.

Let's go back to Psalm 82,

and look at that.

If you want to turn there in your Bible,

you're welcome to.

I'll have it on the screen as well.

It's a short psalm.

We'll read the whole thing.

It's only eight verses.

A psalm of Asaph.

God presides in the great assembly.

He renders judgment among the gods.

How long will you defend the unjust,

and show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the weak and the fatherless.

Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy.

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

The gods know nothing.

They understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness.

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said,

you are gods.

You are all sons of the Most High.

But you will die like mere mortals.

You will fall like every other ruler.

Rise up, O God.

Judge the earth.

For all the nations are your inheritance.

So, it's an interesting little psalm from long ago.

And what do we notice about the gods that are referred to here?

Well, in verse 1 it says that God renders judgment among them.

He renders judgment among the gods.

And our first wondering is, well, what gods is he talking about?

Is he talking about false gods?

Or so-called gods?

Is he talking about those who people would refer to as gods?

Like the ancient pagan gods.

Baal.

Dagon.

Asherah.

Ra.

And if he is referring to these pagan gods,

how does he render judgment among them?

Are each of these so-called gods merely idols?

Whose existence is just a figment of people's imagination?

Or do each of these gods refer to actual beings?

Perhaps fallen angels who've been masquerading as gods

and trying to steal worship away from the one true God.

Now, there are passages that could maybe tip us in either direction.

But as we continue to read this psalm,

I think we see that Asaph takes us in a third direction.

One maybe we wouldn't have considered at first.

So what else does this psalm right here tell us about these gods?

Verses 2 to 4.

How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the weak and the fatherless.

Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy.

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

These verses seem to describe the judgment that God renders among them.

His verdict against the gods.

They're guilty of something.

They're guilty of defending the unjust.

Of showing partiality to the wicked.

And then God, speaking through Asaph, seems to exhort these gods to stop doing that.

And instead to start doing what is right.

To defend the weak and the fatherless.

To uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

So we see here that these gods are guilty.

They've been doing things that are wrong.

Which means that they're definitely real beings that he's talking about here.

Then on to verse 5.

He says,

The gods know nothing.

They understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness.

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

So not only are these gods guilty.

But they're also ignorant.

Maybe even foolish or blind.

They know nothing.

Says Asaph.

They lack understanding.

They lack true wisdom and true knowledge.

And then finally we come to verse 6.

The part of the psalm that Jesus quoted.

I said,

You are gods.

You are all sons of the most high.

But you will die like mere mortals.

You will fall like every other ruler.

Now there are several different views of who these gods are.

Some people see them as fallen angels.

And they have some pretty good observations and supporting passages which seem to fit with that.

Others see them as men.

Specifically corrupt leaders or officials in Israel.

And I think this understanding fits just a little bit better.

I won't get into all the reasons.

But I think when Asaph refers to them as gods,

he does so in a bit of a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

He's being a little bit facetious or sarcastic.

These are corrupt men who conceive of themselves as being gods,

as being sons of the most high,

the untouchables,

the all-powerfuls in the land.

And yet the truth,

which comes from the Lord's judgment,

is that they know nothing.

They walk about in darkness.

They can't even see what's coming for them.

And even though they think themselves to be gods,

to be untouchable,

Asaph says they will die

just like men do.

They will fall

just like all the other rulers

of earth do

eventually.

The psalm ends with Asaph

calling on God

to bring about

the judgment that they deserve.

Rise up, O God.

Judge the earth.

For all the nations

are your inheritance.

There is in here a plea

for the Lord to

make things right.

Put these gods

in their place.

So now we come back

to what Jesus said.

And I'll read it again.

Back in John chapter 10,

John 10:34

verse 34.

Is it not written in your law,

I have said,

you are gods.

If he called them gods

to whom the word of God came,

and scripture cannot be set aside,

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?

So Jesus is basically saying

there is some precedent

in the scriptures

for men

being referred to

as gods.

Long ago,

God spoke through Asaph

and called the corrupt

leaders of Israel

gods.

He even called them

sons of the Most High

or translation,

sons of God.

But there's a big difference

between those corrupt leaders

of Israel

of Israel

who think that they are

untouchable,

hint, hint,

and the one whom God

has specially set apart

for himself

and sent into the world.

Jesus is setting up

a brilliant contrast here.

He's not saying,

well,

they were truly divine

back then

and so am I.

No.

He's not saying that.

Rather,

he's inviting them

to reflect

on those men

in Psalm 82,

those gods,

and see that actually

they were not.

look at their works.

Look at what they did.

They were corrupt.

They were unjust.

They were partial

to the wicked.

They were blind

and their fate

was not that of a true God.

Their fate,

they died just like

every other man dies.

They fell just like

every other ruler falls.

And so it's clear

in that Psalm

where God speaks

of them as gods

that they are not gods.

It's clear that

their conception

of themselves,

those men back

in Psalm 82

was blasphemous

and false.

But will you

now accuse me,

says Jesus,

the one whom

the Father

has specially set apart

for himself

and sent into the world

of blasphemy

because I claim

to be

the Son of God.

It really is brilliant

what Jesus has done

and said here.

He's pushing them

to acknowledge

that there are

two different categories.

There are those

who claim to be God

like those in Psalm 82

and obviously

the title does not fit.

And then

there is the one

whom the Father

has specially chosen

and set apart

and sent into the world.

He comes also

claiming to be

a Son of God,

the Son of God.

and will you accuse him

of blasphemy?

In the case of those

corrupt rulers

of Israel long ago,

it was obvious.

Look at their works.

Look at their behavior.

Did the title of

gods

or sons of God

fit

for them?

Obviously not.

but now

look at the works

that I do

says Jesus

and does the title

fit me?

Verse 37

Do not believe me

says Jesus

unless I do

the works

of my Father.

If I'm like them

in Psalm 82

don't believe me

says Jesus.

Don't listen

to what I'm saying.

Don't take me seriously.

But if I'm not like them

and instead

I do the works

of my Father,

the works of God,

believe me.

In the case of Jesus

it's so obvious.

Look at his works.

The grace

and the goodness

the kindness

and the compassion

the miracles

the signs

the wonders

the sick

healed

the injured

and diseased

restored

the corruption

and the wickedness

of people's hearts

exposed

the people

in the wilderness

provided for

the raging

storm

calmed

the call

to repent

and turn to God

proclaimed

the call

to live righteously

and love God

with all your heart

declared

help

for the widows

for the outcast

and the oppressed

given

all things

that God did

throughout the Old Testament

time and time again

Jesus does the exact

same things

and therefore

the title of God

and Son of God

fits

perfectly

it's not

blasphemy

because Jesus

is the one

specially

set apart

by the Father

and sent

into the world

from heaven

the divine

Son

and Jesus

continues to plead

with them

that they might

see it

that they might

have a change

of heart

and recognize

just who he is

he says

in the next verse

but if I do them

if I do the works

of my Father

even though you

don't believe me

believe the works

that you may know

and understand

that the Father

is in me

and I

in the Father

look at the evidence

of the works

I'm doing

says Jesus

there's a path

here

right now

they have an aversion

to Jesus

they don't believe

in him

they are not

his sheep

and yet

Jesus

is aiming

to draw

their attention

yet again

to the things

that he has been

doing

to his works

he says

believe the works

there's something

about the works

of Jesus

which if people

will really

just look

at them

and consider

them

may lead

to a change

of mind

about who

Jesus is

this is why

it's so critical

that when we

preach the good

news of Jesus

we preach

the whole good

news of Jesus

not just his

death

and resurrection

and ascension

but also

everything that he

did in his life

his works

these words

make me think

again of

Nicodemus

Nicodemus

had to come

and see Jesus

because even

though

Jesus knew

that he didn't

believe at first

there was

just something

about these

things that

Jesus was

doing

that kept

nagging at

him

I don't want

to put words

in Nicodemus

mouth

but it was

almost as if

he was saying

I hate to

admit this

to you

Jesus

but we know

that you are

a teacher

who has

come from

God

for no one

could perform

the signs

that you are

doing

if God

were not

with him

sometimes we

get all

focused on

Christian

apologetics

or Christian

philosophical

arguments

or theological

arguments

but I believe

that the greatest

apologetic of all

is simply to do

what Jesus did

right here

and say

to someone

even though

you

don't believe

in Jesus

you've made

that clear

what about

the things

that Jesus

did

how do you

explain

those miracles

how did

he do

that

what about

the undeniable

goodness

and kindness

of Jesus

that's woven

through all

the things

that he

did

will you

look at

that

one more

time

read the

story

of Jesus

again

how could

a deceiver

or a

common

man

be so

selfless

how could

an insane

man

do these

kinds

of

things

do you

have loved

ones

who do

not

believe

maybe

who

have even

expressed

to you

that they

don't

believe

in

Jesus

maybe

who

have

even

expressed

that

with

a bit

of

hostility

or even

anger

I want to

encourage you

this morning

don't give

up on

them

don't write

them off

encourage

them yet

again to

read the

story of

Jesus

for

themselves

tell them

what you

see

that's so

beautiful

and glorious

about

Jesus

maybe

they'll

misrepresent

Jesus

or

mischaracterize

Jesus

take that

opportunity

to say

that's not

what I

see

in the

Bible

there was

that one

time that

Jesus did

this and

look at

the kind

of person

he is

and what

he did

he's not

like that

there is a

path here

for the

unbelieving

for people

to go

from those

who do

not believe

maybe are

even ready

to throw

the stone

to knowing

and understanding

the truth

about Jesus

and that

path begins

with a

call and

a plea

for people

to look

again at

the works

of Jesus

at what

he did

as he

walked and

lived among

us

if I do

the works

of my

father

he said

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

this is

another

astounding

statement

from Jesus

which confirms

that

Jesus is

not backing

down in the

least with

what he's

claiming

he said

earlier

I and

the father

are one

and he

meant it

this is

just another

way of

saying the

same thing

my father

is in

me

God is

in me

I am

in my

father

it's difficult

to say much

more about

that what

Jesus means

when he

says it

but maybe

we could

say it

like this

in this

man

Jesus

God

the

Lord

Yahweh

is here

he walks

among us

he speaks

to us

he does

works

among us

the father

is in me

and I

am in

the father

and the

response of

the people

is this

again

they tried

to seize

him

but he

escaped

their grasp

then Jesus

went back

across the

Jordan

to the

place where

John had

been baptizing

in the early

days

there he

stayed

and many

people came

to him

they said

though John

never performed

a sign

all that John

said about

this man

was true

and in that

place

many

believed in

Jesus

so yet again

we see a

mixed response

some try to

seize Jesus

as in

grab him

arrest him

but he

slips away

and it's

now time

for Jesus

to put

some distance

in between

himself

and them

and so

John tells

us that

he heads

east

out of

Jerusalem

all the

way across

the Jordan

River

to the

place where

John had

been baptizing

in the

earlier days

so not

only some

distance

but also

some

geographical

barrier

with the

river

between

where Jesus

is and

these Jews

who are so

hostile to

him

and while

Jesus is

out of

their reach

we get

some good

news here

there were

many who

had been

listening to

Jesus

hearing what

he had been

saying

and they

actually went

out looking

for him

and went

to him

they came

to the

place where

he was

on the

other side

of the

Jordan

and it

says that

many

believed

in Jesus

in that

place

we don't

know for

sure

but perhaps

some of

them had

even been

there in

the temple

courts

this day

maybe

even some

of them

had had a

stone in

their hands

but heard

what Jesus

said that

day and

realized there's

something not

right

he's right

look at the

things he's

been doing

healing the

blind

the sick

flipping the

tables and

driving the

sellers out

of the

marketplace

sellers out

of the

temple

courts

he is a

good man

is it

possible that

what he's

saying is

true that

he really

is divine

God here

among us

the true

son of

God

what do we

take from

all this

I think

it's a good

reminder that

we ourselves

never really

know just

where people

are at in

their hearts

we don't

really know

why they're

resisting or

rejecting the

truth of who

Jesus is

why they get

angry or upset

if we try to

share with

them

but if

Jesus pleaded

with them

like this

even as the

stones are in

their hands

and reasoned

with them

then we

should too

we shouldn't

grow weary

or be

discouraged

with trying

to share

the good

news

with our

unbelieving

friends

family

neighbors

co-workers

whatever the

cost

will it

not be

worth it

if because

of what

you say

to them

they say

huh

and they

go back

into the

scriptures

and they

read

and they

look at the

works of

Jesus

and they

huh

and believe

and are

saved

will it

not be

worth it

is it

not worth

risking

the relationship

for that

so let's not

give up on our

unbelieving friends

and family

and co-workers

and neighbors

no matter how

resistant or

antagonistic

they seem

let's just

keep pointing

people

gently

graciously

humbly

to the words

and the works

of Jesus

because it's

there that

they may yet

come to see

the truth

and believe

and be saved

let's pray

father in

heaven

thank you

for

these

words

we

tremble

at the

thought

that

your

son

was

almost

stoned

in this

moment

and that

at the

same

time

he was

revealing

so

fully

so

truly

who

he

is

i pray

lord

that

none

of us

would

grow

weary

of

trying

to

share

the

good

news

of

jesus

that

people

need

to

hear

and

maybe

if

we

have

lord

i

pray

that

you

would

renew

the

desire

to

to

to

speak

out

to

have

courage

would

you

put

names

of

people

in

our

minds

this

week

and

ready

us

and

prepare

us

for

conversations

would

you

draw

our

attention

to

those

things

in

the

gospel

that

we

most

need

to

highlight

to

people

as

those

conversations

come

up

so

that

people

might

be

saved

and

so

that

you

might

be

glorified

in

us

we

ask

this

in

Christ

precious

name

amen