The Good Shepherd 3 Who is Jesus?

Text - (NIV84) “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’?”

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’?

Topic - The Good Shepherd 3: Who is Jesus?

Observations

Theme - This is the second time they have picked up stones to stone Him. They, like us, have a hard time accepting He is the Messiah. He did not come as they thought He would. He did not teach where they thought He should. He did not say what they wanted to hear. Still He asked them to believe because of what He did. He is still asking us to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Who is this man that comes making Himself equal with God? Is He a demon or the Christ? Was He set apart by the Father and sent into the world ? These are still the questions we ask today if perhaps in a different form. Why must I surrender to Jesus? I a good person why do I need Him?

Jesus directs them to the works/ miracles He has done. His answer is if you do not believe my words believe because of what I have shown you. The deeds Jesus did shows a much more important and powerful authority that just a man.

Who is Jesus? In chapter 1 He is God incarnate. In chapter 2 He is the one with power over natural elements, water to wine. In chapter 3 He is through whom New Birth is discovered. In chapter 4 He is the water of life eternal. In chapter 5 He is the healer of long time disease. In chapter 6 He is the Bread come down from heaven. In chapter 7 He is the one who speaks like no one else. In chapter 8 He is the true light that dispels darkness In Chapter 9 He is the healer of blindness both physical and spiritual. He Chapter 10 He is the Good Shepard.

Much more will be said about Him in the chapters to come but for now this tells us that He has given us every reason to believe and to know He is the Christ.

10:31 Time - Again

For which miracles do you stone me?

Is it not written in your Law "I have said you are gods?

What about the one whom the Father set apart as His

own and send into the world?

Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I

said "I am God's Son?

2. Back to where John preached and many believed

3. Truth unbelieved brings strong arguments

4. Was Jesus hedging a bit when He quoted ?

5. V. 36 seems to be a clear statement of who Jesus is

6. This passage ends with them trying to seize Jesus.

7. Once again upset because He claimed to be God. That is in fact the very point these teachings were designed to show. Now that they are upset about it why leave. Because this was not the proper time to let them take Him.

Analysis

:31 Time - Again

Act - the Jews picked up stones

Purpose - to stone Him

This is becoming a habit. This is the second time they have picked up stones the first was The word used here indicates heavy stone. Perhaps so of the stones used for the temple. The same type of words are used in

Carry His own load.

:32 Response - Jesus said to them,

Act - "I have shown you many great miracles from

the Father.

Father.

Question - For which of these do you stone me?"

The question of reason. Jesus draws a point here which good deed do you wish to punish? The power behind the deed is called forth but does not diminish the hostility. They were anger for religious reasons not humanitarian reasons.

:33 Denial - "We are not stoning You for any of these,"

Response - Replied the Jews,

Contrast - "BUT

Reason - because You a mere man, claim to be God."

This is the central reason for their anger and desire to destroy Jesus. They can clearly see in His deeds His power beyond the human. From the beginning of chapter one this God/man incarnation had been stressed as the very person of who Jesus is. Jesus stated in Chapter 5 that he could only do what the Father gave Him to do and what He had seen the Father do. In verse 30 of this chapter Jesus likewise said that He and the Father are one. Once again this unity and oneness has become the base for aggressive behavior. Jesus did not make Himself God He was the eternal Word/God

:34 Response - Jesus answered them,

Question - "Is it not written in your Law

Quote - 'I have said you are gods'?

This quote comes from where God speaking through the writer is correcting the judges of Israel for their bad conduct.but as God's representatives they are called "gods" So the argument, if these corrupt men as representatives of God can be called "gods" doesn't it apply more to the one that was consecrated and sent from God.

:35 Condition - If He called them 'gods' to whom the

word came-

AND

the Scripture cannot be broken-

Now we receive a little more clarification. While may be speaking about judges, here Jesus is talking about those to whom the the word of God came and that could either be the people of Isreal or the judges that administered the Law. Either way the application of the term "gods" still applies as God Himself is the one who chose both the judges and the people of Isreal.

:36 Point - what about the one whom the Father set apart

as His very own

AND

sent into the world?

Question - Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy

Reason - because I said,

Quote - 'I am God's Son'?

Now getting back to me, the Father set me apart, sent me into the world, why accuse me? So who is Jesus? He is the one spoken of in Scripture. He is the appointed judge that is perfect and carries out the Father's will. He is the one set apart by the Father for this particular mission to come to earth in human form and He is the sent one. Why would anyone think He is blaspheming to say "I am God's Son.

:37 Command -Neg- Do not believe Me

Condition - unless I do what My Father does.

The way to understand if I am leading you right by what I have said is Look at the Father, am I doing what He does or according do His plans. Knowing if Jesus is true starts with His actions and end with His communication between the Father and Himself. .

:38 Condition - But if I do it,

Concession - even though you do not believe Me,

Command - believe the miracles

Purpose - that you may know and understand that the

Father is in Me,

AND

I in the Father."

The thought here is that the deeds Jesus did tell who He is and that what He has said and is saying is true. If that is too much then at least believe the miracles. The purpose behind all this is that you may come to know who Jesus is. This is a starting point out of which faith in Jesus as the Christ may proceed. That you may keep on knowing.

:39 Time - Again

Act - they tried to seize Him,

BUT

He escaped heir grasp.

Once again they sought to take hold of Him and presumable arrest Him but they could not.

:40 Time - Then

Act - Jesus went back

Specific - across the Jordan

to the place where John had been baptizing

In the early days.

Here He stayed

The time has come to begin closing His present ministry and so Jesus returns to the place where it began with John the Baptist. He is here not to recover or contemplate but because it was time to move toward the final phase of Jesus work here.

:41 Continuation - and

Act - many people came to Him

they said,

Specific - "Though John never performed a

miraculous sign

all that John said about this man was true."

Here the stark contrast is seen as people come out to see and hear Jesus. While John did no miracles He did speak of Jesus and the words that he spoke came true. What a relief for Jesus to be once again with people that enjoyed His presence and His teaching.

:42 Results - And in that place many believed in Jesus.

The ground had been prepared and the people were ready. They came and responded to Jesus. Pray that we too will see such an out pouring of the Holy Spirit that many will come and receive the Word gladly.

Related Media

Related Sermons