Verdict(s)
Opening Prayer
Lord, “I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes” (Psa. 119:125).
Read John 10:22–42
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 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.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
“If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they
have hated both me and my Father” (John 15:24).
The purpose of a trial is to reach a verdict by establishing the truth, based on the presentation of evidence and testimony.
An official trial awaits Jesus just a few days later (John 18:19–24; 18:28—19:16), but in this passage he receives some “interim verdicts” prior to the adjournment of the ad hoc “proceedings” against him that have dominated much of the past five chapters of John’s narrative. The prosecution is willfully ignoring the most compelling exonerative evidence: the miracles. This will turn them into defendants when the tables are turned.
The verdict of the accusers is that this man’s messianic claims are false and that he is therefore guilty of blasphemy (33). Though they pay lip service to the goodness of his works (33), they refuse to accept that Jesus’ works are from the Father and therefore prove him to be the agent of the Father, endowed with power and status equal to that of the Father (25,28–30,37–38). Readers should reflect that, however compelling the arguments for faith may be or however creatively they are presented, there
will always be those who refuse to believe. Jesus is his true Son, to whom God entrusts his works. As the Father’s agent, Jesus succeeds where Israel has failed, i.e., by obeying God’s law, thereby demonstrating the goodness of his Father’s reign (34–36). Jesus’ works substantiate his messianic claims. An auxiliary verdict is delivered outside the “courtroom,” that of the ordinary folk living across the Jordan, where Jesus seeks sanctuary away from Jerusalem. On encountering Jesus in their midst, many believed in him (40–42).
Faced with contradictory opinions among others regarding the claims of Christ, readers must arrive at their own verdict and choose to locate themselves either within or without the discipleship community Jesus gathers to himself. There is no middle ground (Matt. 12:30).
Apply
“The call today to Jesus’ true sheep is to listen for his voice, and to find in him and him alone the life which is overflowing life indeed” (N. T. Wright, John for Everyone, Part 1).
Closing prayer
Lord, I do hear Your voice and follow You (27). Thank You for giving me eternal life (28).
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