I and the Father Are One
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 30) Jesus points to the truth of the two distinct persons of the Trinity, the Father and the Son. Both are unified and equal and share in the same attributes.
“I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:30)
(Verses 31-32) Jesus’ claim to be God is enough to send the unbelievers in a rage and they pick up stones in an attempt to stone Him.
Jesus has committed no sin and done no wrong. So He then turns to them and lays out a measuring stick of good works that He’s performed. He essentially asks them which of His good works do they wish to stone Him for?
(Verse 33) Notice carefully how the Jews reply to Jesus’ claim. They recognize His good works by claiming that this is not the reason for their attempt to stone Him. The reason they give Him is for blasphemy and calling Himself God.
Watch carefully how Jesus is about to return to their reply in verse 33. But first He’s going to quote Old Testament scripture to them about the Jewish priests who were once called gods.
I and the Father Are One Because I Do the Works of the Father
(Verses 34-37) Jesus quotes to them from Psalm 82:6.
“I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
(Psalm 82:6)
This Psalm references the Jewish High Priests who had very special privileges among the people. They were the only ones who could enter into the presence of the Ark of the Covenant or the inner sanctuary of the temple where the sacrificial rituals were performed. Thus they represented God and given the term gods.
Jesus quotes this verse because He knows they’re intimately familiar with the Psalms and they should recognize the meaning of this verse.
If it’s alright for these Old Testament Jewish leaders to be called gods, then how much more is it right for the Son of God to be called God. Especially since the Son is doing the works of the Father.
Believe the Works of the Father
(Verses 37-38) Look carefully at what Jesus does so perfectly. He remembers what they said previously in verse 33.
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
(John 10:33)
Jesus is essentially noticing that they recognized His good works because this is not the reason why they wanted to stone Him. It’s likely Jesus could be thinking, wait a minute, we might have something here. Let’s focus on the fact that you recognize that I have been doing my Father’s business and you do see the good works.
Notice how Jesus here turns all the attention on God. He tells them, fine, alright, don’t believe me. But believe in the works of the Father that I have been performing. Jesus seizes on a little golden nugget of their belief in the works he’s doing to be the Father’s work.
(Verse 39) We can see here that it’s not yet Jesus’ time and so He escapes the crowds as they try to seize Him.
I and the Father Are One In the Trinity
(Verses 40-41) Jesus heads back to the place where John the Baptist baptized in the early days. As John the disciple gives attention to John the Baptist, He quickly makes note of his purpose.
It was never God’s intention for John the Baptist to perform signs. These works were kept for his Son to perform so that others would come to believe. John the Baptist’s mission by God was to announce the coming of Christ. And all that He proclaimed of the coming Messiah was true.
I and the Father Are One and Still Saving Souls
(Verse 42) As we read the accounts of John’s witness for Christ, we see in a great deal of animosity and rejection of Jesus by the Jews. But John makes a beautiful point in this last verse as he closes out this passage of Christ’ ministry.
While Jesus is speaking to the crowds, the attention is often on the Jews that reject His teaching, but many are still being saved. Quietly, as Jesus words touch the ears of all who are in range of hearing, there are hearts that are absorbing God’s words like a sponge. These hearts are quietly being healed and converting to become followers of Jesus.
“And in that place many believed in Jesus.”
(John 10:42)
It’s a wonderfully beautiful truth that John brings our attention to. Doesn’t it resemble our own time in today’s world. The loudest voices we hear everywhere are the voices of fools that reject God and all the things that He stands for and has created.
Even in the midst of all the evil in the world, hearts are still being pointed to Christ. We as Christians understand that this will continue into the tribulation that we are fast approaching.
<< John 10:22-29 “What’s the Feast of Dedication?” | “The Death of Lazarus” John 11:1-16 >>