Scripture to Read: John 10:33–38
The religious leaders declared the problem they had with Jesus in John 10:33, The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” The religious leaders only saw Jesus as a man and nothing more. Therefore, they considered what Jesus said as blasphemy (profanity, irreverence) against God. Jesus responded to their claim in John 10:34–38, Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Jesus quoted from Psalm 82:6, for the judges were called “gods” because as judges, as imperfect as they were, they determined the fate of other men according to God’s Holy Word. We also see in Exodus 21:6 and Exodus 22:8–9, where God called earthly judges “gods.” So, Jesus challenged the religious leaders with the Scriptures they would have known. God’s Word always speaks for itself, that is why it is called “the sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17.
Challenge & Application
• What was the problem the religious leaders had with Jesus and why was this a problem?
• How did Jesus challenge the religious leaders, and what must we do when we’re challenged in our walk with Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!