John 10:22-42
Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” I am amazed (and pleased) at how much better I understand our Gospel readings now that we have been working through them for 7+ months! This is especially true of the issue of Jesus being the Messiah. Carol’s guidance on that item has been particularly helpful, of how the Jews were constantly testing all potential messiahs.
In today’s reading, Jesus is being tested again, this time point-blank: So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (v. 24) He answers “Yes” with what they consider blasphemy, …I and the Father are one. (v. 30) He then forestalls their stoning by talking about His “works”, but they are still ready to stone Him on the charge of blasphemy: “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God. (v. 33) The Chronological Study Bible pointed out that the Jews never expected a divine Messiah (but only a human in the line of David who would deliver them from their Roman oppressors). So Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah if he was claiming Sonship with the Father. It was His claim of divinity that was blasphemous to them.
Although I understand more and more, my increased understanding only highlights how much more I do not understand!
Slava Bohu!
Very interesting. I just assume they understood the Messiah the way we do—divine attributes! Plus, they expected him to do miracles like healing leprosy and casting out demons. But they also expected someone in the line of David (i.e. human). The OT passages are certainly equivocal, so I guess it was easy to be expecting what they really ultimately wanted, a deliverer from Roman occupation.