The writer John called them “The Jews” (John 10:31)
1. These were the religious leaders
2. They were probably part of the Sanhedrin Council
3. The highest religious order that governed the spiritual affairs of Israel
4. They became increasingly:
a) Hostile
b) Antagonistic
c) Violent
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STONE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
1. “Then they took up stones to throw at Him” John 8:59a
a) They failed
b) God protected the Lord Jesus
2. “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him” John 10:31
a) This was another attempt
b) Would they succeed?
UNAFRAID TO SPEAK OPENLY TO THE JEWS
1. An open question
Jesus answered them,
“Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” John 10:32
a) Many good works had been done
b) Which works merited stoning?
2. The Retort of the Jews
The Jews answered Him, saying,
“For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” John 10:33
a) They were not attempting to stone the Lord Jesus for His works
b) They wanted to stone Him for “blasphemy”
c) They saw the Lord Jesus as a mere Man
d) The Lord Jesus was accused of making Himself “God”
3. A Biblical Answer given
“34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not 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’?“
John 10:34-36
a) The use of the word “god”
b) The Scriptures used this word
I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” Psalm 82:6
i) This text was cited
ii) The LORD said of the children of the Most High-
“You are gods”
iii) This word was used to describe Moses
“15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.” Exodus 4:15-17
4. The Son of God
“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, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.”
John 10:36-39
a) The Lord Jesus is “The Son of God!”
b) He is Sanctified by God
c) He is sent by His Father
d) How can He be said to be blaspheming?
5. The Works of the Lord Jesus
a) Once again, He appealed to His works
b) These were the works of His Father
c) If nothing else, believe the works
i) That they may know
ii) That they may believe
d) The Father is in the Son
e) The Son is in the Father
6. Response of the Jews
a) They wanted to seize Him
b) But once again, He escaped out of their hands (John 10:39)
MOVING TO BETHABARA
1. This place was called Bethabara (House of the ford) (John 1:28)
2. It was beyond Jordan
a) Where John was baptizing (John 10:40a)
b) He stayed here for a while (John 10:40b)
3. Response here was a stark contrast to the Jews of Jerusalem
“41 Then many came to Him and said, ‘John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.’
42 And many believed in Him there.” John 10:41-42
a) Many came
b) They compared the ministry of John
“John performed no sign (miracle)”John 10:41a
c) They remembered what John had said about the Lord Jesus
“But all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” John 10:41b
d) And many believed in Him there (John 10:42)
CONCLUSION
1. Faith is the key issue
a) Where there is no faith in the Lord Jesus
b) The heart remains unregenerate and sinful
2. Faith is not an impossibly hard thing to have
a) Knowledge can lead us to faith
b) Understanding the works of the Lord Jesus can lead us to faith
c) Comprehension of the teaching of the Lord Jesus can help us to find faith