“He’s demon possessed and out of his mind,” some cried out. “Why listen to a man like that?” Others replied, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’” (John 10:19-21)

Riddled with uncertainty, “the people surrounded him and asked, ‘how long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24). “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me,” Jesus replied. “The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name… The Father and I are one.” (John 10:25, 30).

Rather than satisfy the crowd, this plain declaration incited them to violence. Outraged, the people “once again took up stones to kill him.” (John 10:31). “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works,” Jesus said to them. “For which one are you going to stone me?” (John 10:32)

“We’re not stoning you for any good work,” they answered. “But for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:33)

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

“If I do [my Father’s] work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works, even if you don’t believe me,” Jesus said. “Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” (John 10:38).

How will you decide today?

Be blessed,

R

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