JESUS' SHOCKING ANSWER TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON THIS TOPIC
Christ had just performed an awesome miracle by healing a man who was blind from birth. This had never been done before and the religious leaders who are insanely jealous of him, cannot abide His miracle power or His popularity. They are frightened. The Book of John is written within the land of Judah. All the people are Jewish so when it says “The Jews” it might confuse us. John, when he uses this term, is referring to the leadership of the Jewish people. He was Jewish himself as were all of the Apostles at this point. Jesus said you do not understand because you are not my sheep in two parables. God is not working with all of you. He made them even madder when He said the Father has given him followers. Then he said :
John 10:30 NKJV 30 "I and My Father are one."
They now are enraged and believe they have some justification to kill Jesus because he is claiming to be equal with God.
John 10:33 NKJV 33 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."
The leaders felt justified now in killing Jesus. A lot of the people believed he was the Messiah and believed in him. They could not conceive that the Messiah could come and not be working through them because they were so righteous with rigid rules to enforce their goodness. Then Christ shocked them with these words:
John 10:34-36 NKJV 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'?
Jesus is saying that if in Psalm 82:6 mere men who were judges in Israel, are called gods so can He. Is this mankind's ultimate destiny if we cooperate with God's program of salvation? Note also that Christ is saying to us that nothing in the OT is wrong or done away when properly applied. Jesus is defending the only Bible of His day the OT. Christ further defends himself. He is greater than those judges of old and his works declare his greatness and calling by the Father. Mankind's destiny because of the generosity and grace of God is greater than anything we can even begin to imagine. Paul said as much in his letter to the church.
1 Corinthians 2:7-9 NKJV 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
This world thinks that salvation is just going to heaven and enjoying the beatific vision and angelic songs for all eternity. No! Our future is to be in the family of God. We are to help God rule the vast seemingly limitless universe.
DO NOT NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION !
Paul gives this exhortation to some Jewish believers who probably were getting discouraged waiting for the Messiah's return. They were also suffering some level of persecution from the general society around them and might have been looking for an exit strategy. All of us need to be wary of our human nature looking for an easy way out, by way of excuses, to go back into the world.
Hebrews 2:1-3 NKJV 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Paul is saying this is your only opportunity, do not neglect so GREAT a salvation. If someone said I can enroll you in a program that makes you a CEO of a fortune 500 company and you will be filthy rich and powerful and you say, oh it's too much trouble! They would ask how can you neglect so great an opportunity. Well the spiritual equivalent of the CEO is so much greater and fulfilling and will last forever. We will be baby Gods in the very family of God? We will be the younger brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ says the Bible. Wow!
Hebrews 2:10-11 NKJV 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Paul reminds them of something King David wrote about God being mindful of insignificant men and women.
Hebrews 2:5-8 NKJV 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 ..."What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Our future is bright in Jesus Christ. Jesus again reinforces this future in his revelations of the future note:
Revelation 2:26-27 NKJV 26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' --as I also have received from My Father;
All believers who hold on to the return of Jesus will have power over the nations and He further adds:
Revelation 5:10 NKJV 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
An even more revealing and shocking scripture is predicting our position in the God Family. Note Jesus' words:
Revelation 3:9-10 NKJV 9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
False believers will have to repent in the future and acknowledge that we are in the God family and they are not in at this time. They were deceived AND must acknowledge that before us.
THE PLANET AND ALL THE WORLD IS WAITING ON OUR BIRTH INTO THE FAMILY !
This planet desperately needs the sons of God. The world is awaiting the Messiah, even if they do not yet know it, the Messiah will bring paradise and order to this evil and chaotic society.
Romans 8:16-17 KJV 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also GLORIFIED together.
Does not this verse say we will share in the glory of Christ. Of course, He will be much greater than we are, but being in the same family with Jesus is unbelievable.
1 John 3:1-3 NKJV 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Why will we be able to see God in His glorified form, which even Moses could not do? Because we will be like him. Wow! We can look God in the eye.
Romans 8:21-23 NKJV 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, to the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Now we know what Christ meant when he quoted the psalm 'You are gods'. Further note what Daniel says:
Daniel 12:3 NKJV 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
Overcome and grow and help with the evangelistic arm of the work of God and be thereby rewarded.
