John 10:31-39 The ultimate proof of God’s existence: You

The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture 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’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. John 10:31-39

Background

This is yet another attempt by the Jews to prosecute Jesus for blasphemy because He called Himself the Son of God. Jesus graciously defended His position using the Law and drew their attention towards His miraculous works that transformed the world. As Jesus and His works became the ultimate proof of God’s existence, similarly we and our works would become the living proof of God in the world.

Observation

1.     The Jews picked up stones wanting to kill Jesus because He said, “I and the Father are one” making Himself the Son of God which means being equal with God. Their motivation to kill Jesus stamped from Jesus’ relentless call for repentance as well as His increasing popularity among the people. The Jewish leaders lived a life of sin well hidden in hypocrisy; they felt threatened as Jesus’ message exposed their falsehood in turning the people towards the truth.

2.     Jesus took on the Jews’ accusations by challenging them to prove His guilt: “for which of the works are you stoning Me?” The Jew charged Jesus for being blasphemous because He made Himself the Son of God. Jesus defended Himself by citing the Law in Psalm 82:6: I said, “You are God’s. And all of you are sons of the Most High”, that addressed the Jews as being the sons of God themselves. Even after Jesus overturned their charge, the Jews were still bent on killing Him.

3.     Jesus directed the Jew’s attention towards His own works: “… though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Jesus’ miraculous signs and His teachings are works that prove that the Father is in Him.

Truth

1.      The authenticity of the gospel can only be proven by our works. Some believers try to prove the authenticity of the gospel by quoting verses from the bible. This circular method of argument proves futile in the work of evangelism. The only way to prove the authenticity of the message is through the works of the messenger. It is through the messenger’s love, acts kindness and miraculous works can God be made real to them.

2.     Once people sense God’s love and experience His miracles, their convictions concerning God would change. People do not believe what they hear but what they see. And very often, people express their disagreement with God masked as a doctrinal issue. I know of many who did not believe in the gifts of the Spirit because for some reason they did not obtain them. People do not believe in God just because you tell them to; they believe only when they encounter God, being convicted through His miraculous works. Instead of going on a path of logical and emotional persuasion, invite them to experience God through the Holy Spirit. Hence, Jesus called the Jews to believe Him on account of His miraculous works.

3.     All believers are called the sons of God and carry the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” Since we have come to know of such a great blessing, we believe and express the nature of God through our words and works so that others may believe.

Application

1.     When evangelizing to non-believing friends, focus on building a relationship of acceptance and love. Be genuinely interested in them and serve them with your works of kindness. Explain to them the love of God shown through the sacrifice of Jesus. The clarity of the gospel must be expressed through your acts of kindness and love.

2.     Always see yourself as God’s son bearing, His nature and His power. This can be achieved by having this understanding and endeavor to grow in Christ’s likeness by actively living in truth and exercising His power in miraculous works. For those who are sick, ask them if they are willing to be prayed over. If they are willing, command the sickness to go in Jesus’ name.

Dear Lord, help me to be patient in perseverance and let my works speak for itself. Vindicate me and display my righteousness like a noonday sun (Psalm 37:6). Use me to wrought miracles in Your name and cause them to encounter You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.