Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, ' The Father and I are one.’ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’ ..... If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

For Jesus to say that "I and the Father are one" appals his opponents. His words indicate that he believes he is the same as God. For anyone to make such a statement was blasphemous, and the penalty for such was death by stoning as outlined in the book of Leviticus, (24.16). We see that those who are against Jesus do not merely charge him with blasphemy they actually pick up stones to dispatch him immediately. Jesus does not back down but continues to make his case. He argues that the evidence is shown in his actions: feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the sad, and teaching people about God. But his opponents don't want to hear this, it is his words about himself that inflame them.

In arguing that the religious leaders should accept his actions rather than his words Jesus knows that a word can be disputed. As children, most of us have experienced arguments before parents that go something like "She told me to do it!" to be met with the opposing argument from our brother or sister "No, I didn't!" It leaves the parents making the judgement of Solomon. But it is less difficult to dispute an action, so Jesus asks them to judge him as one with God, because of his actions.

Today as Christians we should be judged by our words and our actions!

Father-God, Judge of all,
we admit that all too often
we make snap judgements about others;
we get involved in trivial arguments;
we ignore those who need help;
and we think only of ourselves.
Help us to show through our words
as well as our actions that as Christians
we love You and our neighbour.
Amen.