Divinity of Christ (2)

John 5:17-18, 10:27-33; 8:56-58

John 5:17-18
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:27-33
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God”.

John 8:56-58

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”.

Notes

The last sermon highlighted Jesus' deity as revealed in the prologue of John’s Gospel Account. That truth is not limited to the opening chapter but runs throughout John's writing. Time and again, the Gospel records dialogues where Jesus speaks plainly about His divine identity. The Jews clearly understood what He was claiming — that He was making Himself equal with God. Their reaction was consistent: they picked up stones to kill Him for what they saw as blasphemy. This study will look closely at three passages where the Lord made assertions of His divinity. The response of the Jews was consistent; they wanted to kill Him.

1. Equal with God

   In one of the dialogues, the Lord Jesus made a striking declaration that would inspire murderous intentions. After healing a man on the Sabbath, He stirred Jewish wrath. But He would respond by stating, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Christ’s justification of working on the sabbath is His relationship with the Father. The listeners wanted to kill Him because Jesus was making Himself equal with God.

   
   17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:17-18).
   
   Gems in the text

   1. The Lord Jesus claimed the right to work on the Sabbath just as His Father continually works.

   2. The Jews understood this as a claim to equality with God, which is why they sought to kill Him.

   3. Jesus did not deny or correct their understanding, affirming that He truly claimed equality with God.

2. Make Yourself God

   The Jews tried to stone Jesus because He claimed to be God, a claim they saw as blasphemy. According to their law, blasphemy demanded death by stoning.1 But Jesus wasn’t making Himself God; He is God. His works confirmed it, and His resurrection proved it. But the Jews did not know that.

   27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:27-33).
   

   Gems in the text

   1. Jesus claimed unity with the Father, which the Jews understood as making Himself God. Thus, they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy.

   2. The Lord Jesus said that He gives the sheep eternal life. Only God is powerful enough to grant such a gift. Thus, He is making Himself equal with the Father in power and purpose.

   3. No one can snatch away the sheep from the Lord because His Father is greater than all. Jesus and the Father are one, making Jesus greater than all.

3. Before Abraham, I AM

   The Jews picked up stones to throw at Him because they believed that Jesus committed blasphemy. Jesus claimed to be older than Abraham. Moreover, He claimed to be the I AM. For the Jew, it is saying, “I am God.” The I AM is the sacred name of God made known to Moses.²
   

   56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:56-58)

   Gems in the text

   1. The Lord Jesus existed before Abraham, which means before His birth, which proves the incarnation.

   2. Jesus said that He is God by saying that “before Abraham was, I am.” He expressed His claim to divinity.

   3. The Jews understood what He meant, and that was why they wanted to kill Him.
   

   Application:

   1. Believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   2. Proclaim the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   3. Defend the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ

Reflection & Discussion

1. What did Jesus reveal about Himself in the three passages?

2. Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? Why was this response consistent?

3. How can I recognize Jesus’ authority as fully equal with God in my life and worship?