Day 57, John 10:22-42
At the the feast of renewal (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, John records more of the ballooning conflict between the religious leaders and Jesus. Religion hates to be defied, and is enflamed by being disempowered. This is why Jesus was crucified (and also why the early Church was severely persecuted).
Notice that Jesus doesn’t attempt to refute the accusations. He is secure in the truth of His sonship (as revealed at His baptism). He simply exposes the error of the religious elite, and continues to teach God’s truth (contradicting tradition in the process).
As you read today’s shorter reading, notice how religion digs in and ends up directly opposed to God’s revelation. There is a great deal in tradition that can inform us, but only when submitted to the perfect revelation of God in Jesus. I have previously recommended Brad Jersak’s books “A More Christlike Word” and “A More Christlike God.” Both volumes have much to teach us as we seek to avoid the same error as the Pharisees and Law Experts!
I have learned, as I have diagnosed and begun to treat my allergy to religion, that allowing myself to be challenged by insights I have been trained to reject is part of the process of learning from Jesus. I am not saying that we accept everything that others teach (that would often lead to contradiction and confusion). But we can allow ourselves to be challenged by surprising (and apparently heretical) statements. When Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 to the Pharisees, they would have reacted with shock and dismissed His statement as heresy. Yet that statement “You are gods” is in scripture! And Jesus is right to say that the Scriptures cannot be denied or found in error. Error creeps in when we apply human reasoning to proof texts and make them absolutes that contradict other texts.
I don’t have space here (or the necessary depth of wisdom and understanding) to explain Psalm 82:6. I would recommend again “The Unseen Realm” by Michael Heiser, which takes such challenging scriptures and helps us understand them in the light of Jesus.
Our take-away from today is that Jesus wants to shake some of our pet theologies, where they don’t match God’s heart, and show us truth untainted by sinful human traditions. One day everything that falls short of God’s perfection will be removed, leaving us to enjoy the perfect union for which we were created. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
Have a great day!
Mark.