Jesus encountered human “storms,” too
Daily Scripture
John 10:22-33, 37-39
22 The time came for the Festival of Dedication [or Hanukkah] in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon. 24 The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them from my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again [cf. John 8:59] the Jewish opposition picked up stones in order to stone him. 32 Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 The Jewish opposition answered, “We don’t stone you for a good work but for insulting God. You are human, yet you make yourself out to be God.”
37 [Jesus said,] “If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again, they wanted to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
John described the behavior of Jesus’ foes in aggressive, storm-like language, writing that they “circled around him.” (That was not a unique happening—cf. Luke 4:16-29). They asked a serious-enough question: “If you are the Christ (Greek for “anointed one,” i.e. the Messiah), tell us plainly.” The problem was that they’d already settled on a negative answer. When Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (verse 30), they picked up stones with the intention of stoning him to death!
- What made the question Jesus’ circling opponents asked (“How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly”) ring hollow? Were Jesus’ claims about himself evasive or fuzzy, or were they just so big that his enemies refused to grapple with them? Do you believe Jesus was more than a good teacher and wise man; that he was all he claimed to be?
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Jesus challenged his enemies: “If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (verses 38-39). Jesus said we can tell the difference between false and true prophets by the kind of fruit they bear (Matthew 7:16-20). What kind of “fruit” could the people see in Jesus’ own life? Do you assess others by whether they speak and think as you do, or by the kind of fruit you see their life bearing?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to bear fruit that honors and glorifies you. Plant the seed of your word in my heart and grow it into a life that nourishes life in others. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lauren Cook
Lauren Cook serves as the Entry Points Program Director at Resurrection. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, a bookworm, and is always planning her next trip. She has the sweetest (and sassiest) daughter, Carolina Rae, a rockstar husband, Austin, and a cutie pup named Thunder. She loves connecting with others so let her know the best place you've ever eaten, best book you've ever read, or best place you've ever been!
If you know me, you know that I have quite an intense love for grapes. I spend far too much money on them and eat them for far too many meals. My dad tried to scare me away from grapes once by telling me that grape toxicity can cause kidney failure and ultimately death (it’s okay, my dad does love me). This is actually a true statement… for dogs.
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of meeting author Philip Yancey while he was visiting Resurrection. Prior to his arrival, I asked his assistant what small treat or gift might delight him, and she responded with purple grapes! When I met him, I immediately (and somewhat embarrassingly) told them that we were meant to be great friends because both of us find such delight in purple grapes. He then proceeded to ruin the entire thing by telling me that actually, he only likes purple seeded grapes. Who likes grapes with seeds?!
Upon seeing my reaction of horror, Mr. Yancey let me in on the secret. He so enjoys purple grapes with seeds because they remind him of his calling. He told me that God created grapes so that we could find joy in them but also so that we would take the seeds of that joy and share about His goodness with others—bear our own fruit.
Whether or not you like grapes (and yes, there is a right answer here) or any kind of literal fruit, I hope you might take a moment to look around at the things that delight you, the things that are gifts from God, and consider how you might take that delight and share it with others. How you might share the goodness of God, the good news, with others and bear fruit that honors and glorifies Him.
