30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
John 10:30 – 33 (ESV)
Is Jesus God?
Jesus has been teaching that He is the Good Shepherd who not only takes care of the sheep but willingly lays down His life for them. He has the power (as does the Father) to keep them (not allow them to be snatched out of their hands). (cf. John 10: 28, 29). Now He claims to be God.
Other religions (and cults) don’t believe Jesus is God (capital G). Some will say he is “a god” or has the “same purposes” as God. They will quote Bible verses (either out of context or from their own bastardized translation) to prove their point.
Jesus is God
Today’s passage is quite clear that Jesus claimed to be God. There are at least two main reasons to come to this conclusion. (Check this link for more):
- Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” This is beyond “unity of purpose” like a husband and wife may have in raising their kids. In fact, “it misses the most obvious point: that even true unity of purpose and mission between a husband and wife or father and son exist only because they are each equally and totally human. The Father and the Son have this unique unity because they are equally and totally God – that is, Divine Being.” (enduringword.com)
There are plenty of other verses in the Bible to support this essential doctrine. Here’s a sample from John:
- “And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.” (John 17:5). See also John 17:10.
- John 1:1-5, reveals that Jesus was in the beginning as the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 says the Word became flesh.cc
- The reaction of the Jewish leaders show they clearly understood that Jesus is claiming to be God. In the Law, blasphemy was to be punished by stoning (Leviticus 24:16).
In vs. One
Jesus is one with the Father. He prays for us to be one: “so that they may be one, just as We are one; (John 17:21)”. He also says He is in the Father and in us. Jesus tells his disciples, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20 ESV) Does this mean we are also God?
Absolutely not! Being one and being in are not the same thing. Jesus wants His disciples to be one with each other. Though Jesus and the Father are one, nowhere does Jesus say we are one with Him or the Father. Rather, Jesus describes our relationship as He is in us and we are in Him. See John 17:11, 21. He calls us to abide in Him as a branch abides in the vine (John 15:4)
<- Reflection ->
- If you’re still struggling with this (or maybe I made it worse!), please contact me or add a comment.
- This is a deep and foundational truth. I encourage you to know these verses and meditate on them.
