Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 26.1-16
and John 10.19-42
(Jesus said) “I and
the Father are one.” The Judeans took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good
works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Judeans answered, “It is not for a good
work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though
only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not
written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ —and the scripture
cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and
sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am
not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them,
even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and
understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (John
10:30-38)
Now it is amazing enough that Jesus says, “I and the Father
are one.” but even more amazing is Jesus’ suggestion that the scripture says
that we, too, are gods. What scripture is he quoting? And why?
The passage he refers to is Psalm 82. Read these words.
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I say, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince.”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
for all the nations belong to you!
Here God is addressing the rulers of the earth who claim
divine status and the right to judge the people entrusted to them. Now the
judges are to be judged. God’s standard for justice is how the weak and the needy
are treated. By this standard these judges are complete failures. But here is
the surprising part, God declares all these people and, by Jesus’ implication,
all of us to be gods, and children of God. This is radical stuff, and the
rulers of Judea don’t like it one bit. They have bought in to the Roman system.
Tiberius Caesar is god, son of the Augustus (divine) Octavian, son of the
divine Julius. The rulers represent this god, not the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. And, Jesus would say, you can tell this by their works, tyranny,
exploitation and violence. All these are in direct contrast to Jesus’ works of justice,
generosity and gentleness. So who is the true child of God? Jesus claims this
for himself, but also for us or at least those who care about the weak and the
needy. John puts it in another way in 1 John 4:16, “God is love, and those who
live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
The love for all (even those who would stone him to death)
which overflows from Jesus’ heart is how Jesus knows that he and the Father are
one. When we open our hearts to that love and allow ourselves to be filled to
overflowing, we find ourselves as true children of God, doing the works of
Jesus, caring for the weak and the needy, standing up to those who oppress them,
and being the body of Christ given in love for the world. And we have this
promise from him, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out
of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
Prayer: God of
grace and growth and glory, live in us as we live in you, that we might do the
works of love, justice and mercy which enable all to realize that they are your
children. In the name of the one who came to bring good news to the poor and to
let the oppressed go free, Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Rev. Tom Downing, Pastor Emeritus/Minister of Senior Adult Ministries
