John 10:31-42

Divided Responses

Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts

S – What verse stands out to me today?

O – What is God revealing about Jesus?

A – How should this change my life today?

P – What is my prayer in response?

Scripture

(John 10:31-42, NLT) 33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” 34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” 39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus. 

Observation

• The crowd with the stones indicates that their desire to stone Jesus isn’t about the good he has done but the blasphemy he has proclaimed. 

• Jesus references Psalm 82:6 to push back on the accusation of blasphemy. He is using the idea of humans being “gods” as a parallel or segway to speak about himself being the Son of God. 

• Jesus makes it clear that God the Father has made him different and set him apart. He has been sent by God to save the world. 

• Jesus tells them to believe the evidence of the miraculous signs even if they can’t believe him. 

• Jesus departs Jerusalem, and many follow him to the Jordan River. People are reflecting on the difference between John the Baptist and Jesus. The key difference they say is that Jesus did many miraculous signs. 

• As a result of this, many of the people who followed Jesus at this time believed. 

Application

• Our belief is strengthened by the Word of God and the Power of God. We must know the truth and see the signs. Our belief is shaped by both. 

Prayer

Dear Father, your hands are so strong. Once I am placed in your hands by Jesus, your word tells me that I can never be snatched from those strong hands. This gives me great peace. I know that through Jesus my eternity is secured. Help me to hear your voice and follow every instruction to the letter. I desire to know you more and make you known. In Jesus’ name, amen!

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