Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost - September 7, 2003
Lesson: Deuteronomy 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 8:1-9; John 10:22-42
"One With the Father"
As we're working through John, we've come upon some hard texts. We've come upon some stories- some were funny; some were touching; some were long. Today we have a text that I doubt you've ever heard a sermon on. It's a text that I think we'd rather skip, because it's hard to explain. It has never fallen in any of the 'lectionary series'- the assigned text series in your lifetimes, to the best of my research.
In all of Luther's 54 volumes, he avoids this text like the plague, although he does mention the second half of verse 35 three times. This text is difficult, controversial, and strange- but very powerful. Let's dig in.
I) The Question Continues
We left off with the previous verse last Sunday, as Jesus had been teaching about the Good Shepherd. Suddenly, we've jumped a few months. Now it's winter. It's Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication of the Temple. The people are still buzzing. This time they say, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; The Law said that the truth would be established by two witnesses; Jesus has listed John the Baptist, his Father, God's Word and now his miracles. He picks up on last week's theme, several months later: 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
So far he's safe- but then he crosses the line- 30 I and the Father are one." [31] Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, In other words, they were accusing him of blasphemy- insulting or making fun of God. They understood exactly what he was implying. Back in chapter eight, he had said "Before Abraham was, I AM"- he called himself the very Name of the God of Israel- and they picked up stones to stone him to death. Here he was doing it again!
32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." Bingo. Now, in Jesus' response, we have the section that makes us very uncomfortable, and the reason we often skip this part:
II) The Hard Part
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Did you hear the hard part? 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came- Jesus here quotes the OT- the 'Law' - actually from Psalm 82:6- where those who sit as judges over the people of Israel are told that they sit in the position of God- like little 'gods.'
Sometimes we don't like it, but even God's Word uses exaggeration, "hyperbole," to make his point. "I've told you a million times not to exaggerate."
We may feel uncomfortable about that kind of talk, but that's the role God has created for his people- to even stand in judgement over angels (I Cor 6:3) Jesus says that if God the Father told the leaders of Israel that they would sit in judgements like 'gods' over Israel- why were the people so upset with Jesus when Scripture itself uses that term for humans? In an odd way, this text even serves as a prophecy that God will come as a human. There, we've stepped squarely on that landmine, and it wasn't so bad, was it?
III) "Scripture Cannot Be Broken"
Then Jesus gives us a one-liner that teaches a very important truth about Scripture- even Scripture we may not personally like- things we're not comfortable with. He says: |:"the Scripture cannot be broken." :|
That's the role of Scripture, Old and New Testaments. Even things we don't understand; even things that don't fit well into our culture- we are forced to wrestle with Scripture. Each generation has to take Scripture and wrestle with it anew. Each culture, each tribe, each socio-economic group, each age group has to bow its knees before Scripture, if it is to encounter and meet the living God.
Early Christians realized that the Scripture cannot be broken, but at the same time, they realized that in Jesus' death and Resurrection, certain parts of the Law were fulfilled. The ceremonial law, based on the sacrificial system of the covenant with Moses was fulfilled by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. The moral law, which came from creation, and was enforced from the beginning by all peoples, and finally enumerated by Moses, remains in effect.
In the Judeo-Christian concept, morality is not based on society's whims, nor of a culture's prevailing attitudes; it's not based on what they show on TV; it's revealed by a loving God who built it into the Image of God in human consciences and revealed it in his Word. As we read the OT, it becomes pretty clear when the law is speaking about morality and when it's speaking about ceremonial rules; I think any junior high child can pretty well pick out the parts that refer to each.
God's moral demand, the Law; and God's promises, the Gospel are timeless. They are what cannot be broken.
Let's go on. Jesus says: 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? That's what it gets down to. What about the ONE whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? That's the question. What are you going to do with Jesus? He desperately tries to invite them again: 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." He calls on his Father and the miracles as his witnesses. But they won't listen. They try to seize him, and he heads out of town.
IV) I and the Father are One
So in this critical encounter Jesus teaches us about the authority of Scripture. The other key truth in this text we passed over quickly in verse 30- Jesus' words- "I and the Father are One." They pick up stones. This is the dividing line. Who is this Jesus? If he were just a great teacher, few would become upset. If he were a madman, he would be a footnote in history. If he were a religious reformer in the Roman empire, graduate students would read his works from dusty tomes that get checked out once every five years. But he claimed something more. He defined himself entirely differently. The very definition, the title he claims for himself creates a dividing line that you must stand on one side or the other. It is a very clear, distinct, definitive line. "I and the Father are One." Not alike. Not connected. Not supportive. Not on the same wavelength. "I and the Father are One."
One means one. I feel very close to my little family. We often think alike. We finish each other's sentences. We often think very un-alike. We're four, not one. Even twins are two, not one. Jesus says, "I and the Father are One."
What are you going to do with that sentence? If God's Holy Spirit takes that truth, that Jesus is himself God, come in human flesh, who has died to claim your life, then everything changes. If he is who he claims to be, then his teaching is authoritative, and when he says 'Follow me!' - What else can we do? If he is indeed One, the same; equal to; part and parcel of the God of the Universe; and if he says that he died so that you can trust Him and live? What will you do?
The Bible says, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the preaching of Christ." As you hear this story this morning, Jesus is touching your heart, and calling you to be his disciple. His claim is simple, it's clear, and it's absolute.
This morning, Jesus invites you to receive him at his Table. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus offers himself to us. He says, John 6:53-58: "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; [55] for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. [56] Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. That is his promise; it cannot be broken. He comes to us in these words of promise, and we take him inside us, in the forms of bread and wine. We receive Jesus by faith as we receive him in his supper.
Jesus says 'Follow me!" Maybe you've been struggling with faith. Maybe this is all new to you. Maybe you've been running away for a long time. Come. Your Father awaits your homecoming. Come, your Lord offers you himself. Come. Amen.
September 7, 2003 - P-13
Deut. 6:1-5
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, [2] so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. [3] Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
[4] Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [5] Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
1 Cor. 8:1-9
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. [2] The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. [3] But the man who loves God is known by God.
[4] So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. [5] For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), [6] yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
[7] But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. [8] But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
[9] Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
John 10:22-42
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. [24] The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
[25] Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. [27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and the Father are one."
[31] Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, [32] but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"
[33] "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
[34] Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? [35] If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- [36] what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? [37] Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. [38] But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." [39] Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
[40] Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed [41] and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." [42] And in that place many believed in Jesus.