Child of God

Today’s Gospel Text:  The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." 39 Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." 42 And many believed in him there. John 10:31-42

Reflection:  Perhaps there was a law which forbade worshiping or paying homage to any other gods but there was no law which would condemn a person for leading them closer to God. 

And further still there was no such law that did not permit anyone to claim themselves to be the Son of God.

In fact the prophetic messages themselves often made a reference to God acknowledging the lineage of David as his son.  (2 Sam. 7:14; 1 Chron. 7:13; 22;10; 28: 6-9)         

   

On the other hand one was encouraged to stone a person to death if they led them away from God: “You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”  Deut 13:10

Then there are references to sons of God twice in the book of Genesis and three times in the book of Job.  In the book of Job it seem to be an explicit reference to the angels.

What then was wrong with the Jews that they wanted to stone Jesus? Was Jesus really guilty of breaking any law?

Not really,  in fact the works that Jesus performed and the things that Jesus taught was leading the people closer to God and all ages has proved it.

From the actions of the Jews it was evident that they were taking matters in their own hands and a sound reasoning by Jesus, with appropriate scripture and the testimony of his works seems to have foiled their attempts to stone him.

But for us who believe, we have been given the privilege to be sons of God in Christ Jesus and thus the great need to live it union with him. (Jn. 1:12)

Prayer:  Lord, you have lavished us with much love by letting us be called you children and we rejoice; for that is what we are through Christ Jesus our Lord. (cfr. 1 Jn. 3:1)

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