Our passage from this last Sunday wrapped up a section of the Gospel of John 8:12- 10:42 where Jesus has essentially been put on public trial by many of the religious leaders. Each time he has healed someone or appeared at a festival and taught, the response has been mixed. Some people have placed their faith in him and others have wanted him dead. This last Sunday we asked the question that seemed to be a core issue then just as it is today; Can we receive Jesus as Messiah (Christ) or will we keep looking to make someone or something else be our savior? (If you missed it you can listen here.)
The passage Sunday in John 10:22-42 is a continuing declaration by Jesus of his identity as being one with God the Father. In the middle of this passage there is one thing we looked at closely as it relates to our hope and security in Jesus (v. 28-29) and one thing we didn’t (v. 34-35) and the latter could be a bit confusing. So, in this blog I want to answer the question, What did Jesus mean when he was talking about people being called ‘gods’?
Here’s the passage in question:
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?
The first question is what Law is Jesus referencing here?
God fearing Jews would immediately have recognized that Jesus was quoting Psalm 82:5-6
5“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
So now there are two contexts we need to be aware of. The first is the more ancient context of what the writer of Psalms 82 was talking about and the second is the still ancient context of what was happening with Jesus that he would quote this Psalm.
Psalm 82
It’s important to remember that the Psalms fall into a poetic genre of literature. That means they often employ imagery that are meant to illustrate truth but not necessarily in a technical way. Psalm 82 is an indictment on those whom God has given authority to carry out judgement and justice on the earth but are failing to do so. Here, when men are referenced as ‘gods’ this term is designed to illustrate the designated authority from the one true arbiter of judgement, God himself. They have been given the right to speak and act as one with a god given authority…but they are failing in a big way.
John 10:34-36
Jesus point in referencing Psalm 82 is to point out that they are being hypocritical in being ok with the Psalms language and not ok about him identifying himself as ‘God’s Son’. Especially because he has already demonstrated he is!