Study in John’s Gospel

1. Study in John’s Gospel Presentation 37

2. The Deity Of Christ Chap 10:31-42 Presentation 37

3. Introduction John’s goal in writing this epistle is threefold: First, he is concerned to establish the identity of Jesus - the way in which he sets out the sign miracles and the “I am” sayings of Jesus makes this clear. Secondly, he intends to leave us in no doubt about the nature of Jesus’ mission - this comes into particular focus in the upper room teaching prior to Jesus’ death on the cross. Note that John is the only gospel writer not to record the transfiguration narrative. Why? Perhaps because for John the clearest revelation of the glory of Christ’s person is found in his death on the cross – the climax of his mission. Presentation 37

4. Introduction Thirdly, the very practical and evangelistic goal of this epistle is stated in 20v31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” John is writing because he wants men and women to commit their lives to Jesus. In the passage before us we have one of the clearest and most succinct expressions of Jesus’ identity, “I and the Father are one”. Make no mistake the alternatives are radical. Jesus is either who he claims to be or, he is a fraud, a blasphemer, or a mad man and therefore not to be listened to. Presentation 37

5. Jesus’ Claim What did Jesus mean by the expression, “I and the Father are one”? Was he merely implying ‘we are of one mind’ - that they were in perfect agreement? Earlier in Chap. 4 Jesus had said, “my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”, these words were not considered a stoning offence. But this new claim of Jesus, which the Jews clearly understood to be a claim to be one in substance with the Father, was quite different. The fury of the religious establishment was unfettered. By making himself equal with God, Jesus was viewed as ‘a blasphemer, worthy of stoning to death’. Presentation 37

6. Jesus’ Claim Without meeting Jesus and seeing his works it would be difficult to accept that a man could be God. But the Jews had met him, heard him and seen his sign miracles. And so with scathing irony Jesus asks, ‘for which of my miracles are you stoning me’? v32. Normally, we evaluate a person by their performance. A child may claim to have been good, while his mum was out shopping but that claim is seldom accepted at face value. She will look around the house first. Is their flour or, sugar all over the kitchen floor, is the sink overflowing in the bathroom, has the furniture in the living room been arranged to form a makeshift trampoline? The child’s claim has to be verified! Presentation 37

7. Jesus’ Claim Jesus says, ‘My claim has been verified. I’ve healed the sick, cured lepers and raised the dead’. Did his works contradict his claim? No they supported it. But his opponents were so intent on his destruction that they refused to consider or recognise his performance. It was his words that had offended them. Similarly, today some people cannot bring themselves to accept Jesus’ claim to be God and they close their eyes to his works. Recently, a woman wrote: “I do not doubt that Jesus was a good man and did many wonderful things but I will not accept the claim that he is God.” Some people refuse to allow signpost miracles to authenticate Jesus’ identity - not because they question the miracles themselves but they are uncomfortable with the conclusion that they point to. Presentation 37

8. Jesus’ Claim Jesus’ then reasons that if they truly accepted the O.T. scriptures, then they could not fault his words. He quotes Psalm 82, which describes human judges in Israel as follows, “you are gods”. But if scripture describes other men as gods, doesn’t that undermine the uniqueness of Jesus’ claim? No! These judges are called ‘gods’ because in God’s name they exercised authority and power. Jesus’ argument goes like this, ‘I too exercise authority and power like those judges. And if the word ‘gods’ can be used of mere men because of their function, then how much more should I be called God in the fullest sense since I am the Messiah - the God-man?’ If the word ‘gods’ was appropriate to describe mere men in the Psalms, how much more appropriate is it to describe Jesus, who is more than a mere man, as God? He is the eternal Son of God. Presentation 37

9. Jesus’ Claim Jesus’ final argument is one to which the other two lead. Since there was nothing in Jesus’ words to which men could properly object, and since they acknowledged his deeds - his sign miracles - then these deeds alone should lead men to faith in him. It is as simple as that! This argument confronts every uncommitted individual. Can you accuse Jesus of sin? Hardly! Do you find his works inadequate or his words unsupportable? Certainly not! Many in Christ’s own time could say, ‘No one ever spoke like this man… No one ever did what this man has done.’ Well then, let the facts carry you forward towards belief. Don’t harden your hearts like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Run to Jesus Christ and put your faith in him. Presentation 37

10. Believing the Claim It may be of help to recognise that there are three levels of belief. The first is simply believing a piece of factual information. Many people believe only on this level. They believe that Jesus lived, taught and died and in some cases that he rose again from the dead. But that is not saving faith it is merely accepting certain facts. The Bible tells us that the devil believes on this level. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.” Jas.2v19 Presentation 37

11. Believing the Claim Secondly, it is possible to believe in something in a way that introduces an element of judgement on our part. This belief will often go as far as valuing a certain thing. So that we may say that we believe in ‘the family’ or ‘in the British sense of fair play’. Some believe in Jesus Christ in this way that he did a good work. We have already come across such people in Jn. 8v31-33“Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him…” This faith is not saving faith either and it is clear from Jesus’ words that yet more was expected of this group, “if you continue in my word you are truly my disciples...” Presentation 37

12. Believing the Claim Thirdly, there is a level of belief, which involves trust in action. We exercise this kind of faith when we step onto a boat. We are persuaded of the vessels seaworthiness, that it will not sink and so cause us to drown. Again we exercise this active faith when we sit down in a chair. We believe that it will not collapse under our weight leaving us sprawling all over the floor. Saving faith involves an active trust in who Jesus is and in what he has done upon the cross. It is this kind of belief that Christ looks for in our lives! Presentation 37

13. Believing the Claim When I accept the facts about Jesus and commit myself to him in this way, he promises to save me from my sin and to and give peace, freedom and victory over every circumstance in life and, eventually, to take me home to be with him in heaven. It is in this sense that we are to understand Jesus’ words, “He who comes to me I will in no way cast out”. Are you able to say that this third kind of belief is the one that truly characterises your life? If not, then do something about it today. Presentation 37

14. Believing the Claim You may have done so and your commitment to Christ is real. Well there is a further application. Jesus made it clear that it was his works and not just his words that should have had a persuasive power upon his hearers. People’s words often belie their performance hence the expression, “He talks a good game”. Christians often claim great commitment to God but sadly there is little in their lives that attract others to Jesus. Often their manner of speech, attitude of heart and behaviour of life, is not attractive. If we repel people from Jesus rather than attract them to him there is something wrong! Presentation 37

15. Believing the Claim Many have been challenged by the philosopher Nietzsche’s response to the professing Christians he was exposed to in his youth. He wrote, “His [Jesus’] disciples have to look more saved if I am to believe in the Saviour.” What an indictment from a man who then went on to provide the intellectual and philosophical framework on which the Nazi movement was built. Might the direction of his life have been different if he had met Christians who were more like Jesus? Might that not have shaped his thinking and set his life in a different direction from one that sought to provide legitimacy to a movement that justified the extermination of millions of Jews? Presentation 37

16. Conclusion The fact that professing Christians can have a negative influence on others should cause us all to run regularly to God and ask him to make us more like Jesus. We will never be more than reflectors - little lights in the world - but if our lives are sufficiently polished we will increasingly be equipped to reflect Christ’s brilliance. A little prayer that many have sung in Sunday school says: Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All His wonderful passion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, All my nature refine, Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Presentation 37

17. Conclusion We have no brightness in ourselves. We are incapable of doing works worthy of his presence within us. Tell God that you want him to use you to reflect his glory in the world. That you want to be the light, the signpost he has called you to be. Then people may say of you, as they said of John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus, ‘all that he said about this man is true’ Presentation 37