There is no doubt about it, Jesus said He is God!

John 10:21 – 42

As I had mentioned before, St Augustine basically posed the question, “Is Jesus a lunatic, liar, or Lord? We all must answer that question. We can not compromise to allow others to say that He was simply a good man or good teacher. Jesus laid down the challenge to all in Israel at the time. This passage makes that very clear.

When we are reading narratives like this we often read them in light of our understanding. We must observe the “tone” of what is happening here by the reactions of the people. We read passages like this based on already knowing what will happen, in doing so we can miss important nuances of the story.

Jesus said in verse 28, “I give them (my sheep) eternal life and they will never perish.” Only God can grant eternal life. Once again Jesus was telling the people that He is God. If that weren’t enough Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” a statement never uttered before Jesus. He was stating very clearly so the Pharisees and Sadducees could understand it that He is God! They understood. How do we know, “the Jews took up stones again to stone Him”. It was blaspheme to claim to be God a punishment worthy of stoning.

If that weren’t enough, He then went on to say, “Believe that the Father is in me and I in Him”. Once again they got it as they tried to seize Him (to kill Him).

Jesus was not afraid to tell people who He was. This discourse took place in the temple in Jerusalem, a busy place where the brightest and the best hung out. He knew what He was called to do and He did it knowing that nothing could or would happen until the appointed time.

One important thing that we need to understand, Jesus knew His audience. He did not speak, “Christianese” to them, He spoke in a way that they could clearly understand. He spoke in a way in which they could identify. There is was no confusion among the religious elite nor among the regular people, what Jesus was saying, everyone understood Him.

As Christians one of our major challenges is to make sure we are able to communicate in a way that people can understand. As a Pastor there are many things I desire to communicate, when I am speaking I try to remember who my audience is and speak to them clearly in a way they can understand. I try to use illustrations with which I believe they can identify.

The message of the Gospel should be shared in a way that the simplest and most knowledgeable among us can all understand. The Lord will bring people across you path today that will need to hear at least part of the good news that you understand. Find ways to speak to them so that as you are talking you can see the lights of their understand go on! You have been given a great gift ad God will help you use it and give it to others.

Jesus is God no doubt about it and we need to share that wonderful message in a way everyone can understand!