Monday, October 21, 2013
Ye Are Gods
In John 10:34 we read,
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Why did He make this comment to them? If we read in chapter 9 up to this point we see that Jesus (Yeshua) had healed the blind man by making mud from spit and having the man go to the pool to wash it off. When the man comes to Him, He discovers that Jesus (Yeshua) is the one that healed him and gave him sight. The Pharisees were upset because Jesus said,
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
What came next was the comparison to the thief and the shepherd. Jesus (Yeshua) is the Good Shepherd. He says His sheep hear His voice. He also drew a sharp distinction between Himself and darkness,
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
When I first read this I had difficulty understanding why the Pharisees were so upset. The answer comes from their belief that He was claiming to be God. For me, this was difficult to see by just reading this passage. However, if we go to verse 22, we get a clue,
John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
The feast of dedication mentioned here is Hanukkah which celebrates the re-dedication of the temple after the Jewish people took it back. This was when, according to tradition, they had only enough consecrated oil for the lamp stand in the temple for the flame to burn one day. It burned eight days, allowing for the consecration of more oil and thus the consecration of the temple. At Hanukkah, the menorah (lamp stand) is changed from seven candle sticks to eight in front with one behind. The one behind is lit first, and then each day an additional candle is lit by using this candle in the back. This candle in the back is referred to as the Light of the World, and is representative of God. While this is not a High Holy Day, Jesus did celebrate this tradition.
The Pharisees were aware of this tradition. They knew what time of year it was. The statements by Jesus did imply that He was God. In John 10, Jesus (Yeshua) eluded to being God by referring to God (the Father) as His Father. However, there is a more direct claim by Jesus (Yeshua) to being God, if we understand this tradition. To understand why the Pharisees believed that Jesus (Yeshua) was claiming to be God, we have to back up a couple chapters. It is important to remember when we read scriptures that the original writing did not have the chapter and verse markings. If we go back to chapter eight, which would still be near the feast of dedication with the tradition clearly in everyone’s mind, Jesus forgave the sins of the woman caught in adultery by challenging those without sin to cast the first stone. When they all backed away, He forgave her her sins, and said this to those around, including the Pharisees,
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The Pharisees begin to be outraged at this clear declaration by Jesus (Yeshua) to be the Light of the World – God.
The reference to “Ye are gods” goes back to Psalms 82. Essentially Jesus (Yeshua) was telling them that they were unjust judges. Their judgements were wrong in the Psalmists’ day, and they were wrong about Yeshua (Jesus). They walk about in darkness. He is the Light of the World.
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Yeshua (Jesus), to be the Light of the World. Thank You for giving us such a great gift. Thank You for providing for us deliverance, healing, and the power over sin. Please touch the hearts and minds of those that need Your powerful touch today. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.