◄ What Does John 10:34 Mean? ►

Christ's discourse in John Chapter 10 thrills the heart of every child of God, for Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, Who not only knows our name but lays down His life for the sheep. While His words rejoice our souls, they caused the Pharisees of His day great consternation. Some labelled Him as insane and demonically possessed because He called God, His Father, while others argued that He could hardly open the eyes of the blind if He were demon-possessed.

Christ's magnetic personality, His Messianic claims, and His mighty miracles, compelled the Jewish leaders to question Him further and demand proof that He was Who He claimed to be. Jesus pointed out that the mighty miracles He performed were a fulfilment of God's Word through the prophetic Scriptures, which authenticated His Messianic claims. But when Jesus concluded by saying, "I and the Father are ONE," their animosity against Him erupted because that statement made Jesus equal with God.

Jesus was not simply saying God has sent Me - but He was One with God the Father and equal with Him in nature, character, will, authority, and power. Their fury against Christ was not because of His good works but for blasphemy - because being a man, He made Himself out to be God. It was at this point that Jesus asked them a clever, rabbinically-styled question, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?" Jesus argued. "If He called them 'gods', to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of ME, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"

Jesus used the Scripture, which cannot be broken, to silence their argument. God's Word cannot be set aside when it conflicts with man's flawed thinking and Jesus challenged their attitude toward Him like an educated rabbi. He quoted Psalm 82, where the judges of Israel were labelled by the Lord as 'gods'. Jesus pointed out that these men, whom God chose to judge His people were all sinners... and if they could be labelled 'god' by the Father, surely Jesus, Himself, Whom the Father sanctified, and set apart for this Messianic role should also be able to call Himself the Son of God, without any argument!

Far from being a human appointee who was selected to judge Israel, Jesus was the incarnate God. Jesus was not comparing Himself with the imperfect lawgivers of the Old Testament but demonstrating that as God in the flesh - He had every right to declare the truth, and claim that He and the Father were ONE - for He is the visible image of the invisible God. And although the Pharisees clearly understood that Jesus was claiming to be deity - He exposed their ignorance and silenced their accusations.

In quoting this verse, Jesus was clearly showing a difference between 1) the corrupt judges of Israel in the old dispensation of Law, who judged unjustly and showed partiality to the wicked - who will themselves be judged by God, and 2) the Lord Jesus, Who came from heaven to lay the groundwork for the new dispensation of Grace, and die on the Cross for the sin of the world.

The Word of God came to earth in human form as the Lord Jesus Christ - Whom the Father appointed Heir of all things, and through Whom also He made the worlds - and as the perfect Son of Man He is also the eternal Son of God.

There are many today who twist Scriptures, like Psalm 82, to feed their own prideful blasphemy. They foolishly believe themselves to be spiritually enlightened and developing into little gods. Sadly, such folk have bought into the same satanic lie Eve believed in the garden of Eden - "you shall be as God." But this Psalm was not referring to all people or even to all believers. This referred to a minority of fallen men, whom the Lord used, in former days, to judge His people, Israel.

Christ's claim, to be equal with the Father, infuriated the Pharisees of His day and continues to offend the majority of today's unsaved world. The exclusivity of the gospel of grace is deeply offensive to all who do not believe. However, for those who believe, this passage contains some glorious truths that comfort the soul and encourage the heart.

Jesus is indeed One with the Father and as such, His Word is true and His promises are sure. Jesus is the incarnate Word, Who came to earth from His Father's throne to show us Who God is and how deeply He loves us. Jesus is truly the Son of God and God the Son, Who chose to die for the sin of the world, as the Son of Man - so that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Praise His holy name.

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is one with You in nature, character, will, authority, and power... for only He is good enough to pay the price for my sin. Thank You that He is the incarnate God Who became the Son of Man, so that He could die on the Cross for the sin of the world. More and more I see how truly offensive the exclusivity of the Gospel is to those who do not believe. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. Thank You that by faith in Him, I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Your dear Son. Open the eyes of those who have been blinded by Satan, so that they too may see the truth and turn to the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, in Whom are the words of eternal life. This I ask in Jesus' precious name, AMEN.