John34 – Who

Then it came to be the “Renewals” in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the Porch of Solomon. So the Judeans surrounded him and were stating to him, “Until when are you taking-away our human-life? If you are the Christ, say to us openly!” (John 10: 22)

Things are fraught in Jerusalem around AD 30 – as reported by John in his first-century eye-witness biography of Jesus. “Renewals” was a time – annually – when people there renewed their commitment to the God of the Scriptures. As with us today “winter” was the time when folk longed for spring and summer. The Jews are determinedly emotional about this man. They cannot carry on with their lives whist he is there, doing good to all – even on Sabbath days when he should not work. Not only that, his teaching is extremely popular. Jesus answered them, “I said to you and you do not believe. The works that I myself do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me. But you yourselves do not believe, in that you are not from my own sheep. My own sheep hear my voice; also, I know them, and they follow me. Also I give them eternal life, and they may never self-destroy into eternity, and not anyone will seize them out of my hand. My Father - this one has given to me - he is greater than everyone, and no one is able to seize out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Above is Jesus’ first attempt (on this occasion) to answer them openly. So the Judeans lifted up stones again in order that they may stone him. They don’t like his open answer. They reject it. They try to kill him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father. Through which of these are you stoning me?” Above is Jesus’’ second attempt to assist them to see reason. The Judeans answered him, “We are not stoning you concerning a good work, but concerning blasphemy, and in that you, being a man, make yourself God.” The second attempt fails. He has said openly that God is his Father. That is not an acceptable answer. He is a man, not God.
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Jesus answered them, “Is it not having been written in your law that: ‘I myself said, “You are gods”’? If he said ‘gods’ towards for whom the word of God came to be—and the scripture is not able to be undone— do you state to him whom the Father rendered holy and sent out into the world that, ‘You are blaspheming’ in that I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. If in fact I do, even if you may not believe me, believe the works - in order that you may know and may be knowing, that the Father in me, also I in the Father.” The third attempt. In their Scriptures, God has called "gods" those for whom the word of God became real in their lives. In addition, why can't these see from his works which he, Son of God, is actually “doing” that God alone can do them? So they were seeking again to take him, and he came out from their hand. The third attempt fails. Plans to destroy him are again studied. This time he “came away out of their hand”. In due course he won’t do that. For now he has other things to do. And he came away again beyond the Jordan, into the place where John was baptizing at the first, and he stayed there. And many came towards him and were stating that “John indeed did no sign; in fact, everything whatsoever John said concerning this one was true!” And many believed into him there.
There – outside the city of Jerusalem – is the place where “Renewals” come to be. It’s the place where folk listened to and followed John the Baptist when he called them to change their minds and, in sorrow for their evil, to seek forgiveness from that one, vastly greater than John himself, Jesus, to whom he pointed.	‘The Father loves-in-action the Son [Jesus] and gave all things into his hand. The one believing into the Son has eternal life, in fact the one refusing the Son will not discern life—but the wrath of God stays upon him.” (John the Baptist - see John9 in this series)
“Whatsoever” John the Baptist had said about him was true. He gives life, he doesn't take away life.

Sinner Syvret

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