Monday, June 24, 2013

Jesus' Works (John 10:31-39)


Today's scripture: John 10:31-39

Most people don't like to hear things that don't align with their own beliefs. That's human nature, I guess. The Pharisees didn't like that Jesus claimed to be God. It went against their belief that the Messiah would be a warrior, saving them from their oppressors. They, according to that belief, accused Him of blaspheming.

We need to give them a break, initially at least. Think about it. You've been raised to believe a particular "truth." You believe it with all your heart. Then someone comes and refutes everything you've believed to be true. You, too, might make such an accusation.

However, if the refutation offers proof of its veracity, then you might (hopefully) begin to change your beliefs. That's where the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders failed. They didn't let the proof of Jesus' miracles and teachings—that they observed with their own eyes—change their long-held beliefs.

Jesus offered abundant proof of His divinity. We've seen that over and over again as we've studied John's gospel. As one commentator wrote about today's verses:

The works of his Father are those which God only can do. As Jesus did them, it shows that the name “Son of God,” implying equality with God, was properly applied to him. This shows conclusively that he meant to be understood as claiming to be equal with God [v. 37]. [We can therefore] believe the works. [Jesus was saying,] "Though you do not credit me, yet consider my works, for they prove that I came from God. No one could do them unless he was sent of God" [v. 38]. [In verse 39, Jesus' saying that the Father was in Him] denotes a most intimate union—such as can exist in no other case. (Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)
And as I wrote the other day, we can still see this proof of Jesus' work. One of my online students affirmed this just today as he wrote of a miracle that happened when he was a child. He'd been hit by a car, and initially, the x-rays showed extensive internal injuries. Yet, after a showering of prayer, subsequent x-rays showed no damage. None. A modern-day miracle.

If we observe what Jesus continues to do as He changes lives, we can believe His works. And we can believe His words.

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