John 10:22-42

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus’ works reveal Him as the Christ, and He gives eternal life those who believe in Him (John 10:28). Jesus words and life affirmed His divinity, but many rejected His claims, taking offense when He made Himself equal with God the Father (see John 5:18; 8:59).  Jesus pointed to His miracles as proof of His Messiahship (John 10:32, 37-38).  When the Jews took exception with Jesus’ claim to deity, He challenged them with Scripture.  Psalm 82:6 was an address to Israel’s judges, who served as surrogate voices for God to His people, and were thus called “gods”.  “They were called ‘gods’ not because they were actually divine, but because they represented God when they judged the people. The Hebrew word for ‘gods’ (elohim) is literally ‘mighty ones’ and may be applied to important figures such as judges.”[1]  The argument is from the lesser to the greater.  If the OT referred to human judges as gods, then it stands with greater reason that Jesus could refer to Himself as God and not be in conflict with Scripture, especially since His ministry was in harmony with the Father’s plan.  The unbelieving Jews rejected Jesus’ claim and sought to arrest Him for blasphemy; but Jesus eluded them again, for it was not yet His time to be taken.  Jesus then went away, beyond the Jordan, to the place where He began His ministry (see John 1:28-29), and there encountered many who believed in Him (John 10:40-42).  John the Baptist—who performed no miracles—was used greatly by the Lord because he pointed others to Christ for salvation.

 

[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1528.