Experience Jesus.  John 10.30-42

Click to read: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010.30-42&version=NLT&interface=print

Key phrases from the passage: “The Father and I are one … I am the Son of God … the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

‘If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly,’ the Jewish leaders said to Jesus.             ‘I am the Son of God,’ Jesus replied.                                                       It was the last time he would publicly disclose his identity.                        ‘Now, we’re going to stone you for blasphemy!’  The exchange obviously demonstrates that Jesus could not satisfy his accusers; they chose not to see.  Jesus spoke the truth to them, but because they chose not to believe, they picked up stones to kill him, and thereby moved him a step closer to the cross.  He came to carry out the Father’s will; he came to die so that we might be his . . . so that we might have eternal life.  But we must choose.

Jesus invites them to again examine his life—his miracles, and the rest of the work the Father gave him to do.  But it was not his works that scandalized the Jewish leaders, it was his words—his claims to be one with God, the Son of God, and one with the Father.  In their minds, Jesus had committed blasphemy—total and utter disrespect of God.

Isn’t it ironic?  They demanded truth from Jesus, he gave it to them, and they immediately wanted to stone him, (the penalty for blasphemy), and then sought to arrest him.  But he slipped away.  He would not elude him long, however, as it was his words of truth about his identity that would incite them so much they would then crucify him.

Jesus headed for familiar ground, deciding to travel about 50 miles north, back to the Jordan River where ministry had begun for him.  It was there his cousin, John the Baptist, had announced his coming; it was there that John added ‘baptist’ to his name, baptizing many disciples; and it was in the Jordan River that he had baptized Jesus as well.  The Scripture indicates that many followed him, as they remembered what John had said of Jesus; and when they experienced Jesus themselves, they were compelled to believe in him.

Here’s the thing, my dear ones—when you experience Jesus for yourself, you will not only believe in him, you won’t want to be without him.

Christine