Lent Devotionals – Day 19

John 10: 22 – 42:

Jesus was a divisive figure. That is no revolutionary statement. He, wholly perfectly, presented Himself as the Son of the God; the Messiah that had been talked about in the Old Testament; the Saviour of the world.

As He travelled around the region, teaching and preaching, performing miracles and fulfilling the prophecies spoken of Him, there were highly differing perspectives regarding who He claimed to be and whether He was being truthful.

We see in this passage that many of the Jews’ reaction to Jesus’ teachings are primarily pejorative and violent. The Jews ask Jesus whether He is truly the Messiah. In a rather convoluted way, Jesus confirms this so, stating: “I and the Father are one.”

To this, we see the Jews pick up stones with the intention of stoning Jesus for blasphemy. Given their rules and regulations and the fact that they reject Jesus’ claims as truth, it is a fair response to hold.

However, it is their blindness thanks to their expectations that clouds their judgement. At the time, they would have envisaged an almighty saviour, a strong, powerful, imposing figure. A breaker of chains. An emancipator. A king.

Jesus was all of these things and more. But in a very different manner to their expectation.

Later in the passage, we see Jesus return to where John the Baptist was preaching before His coming. It is at this point that we see a contrasting reception; verse 42 states: “many believed in Jesus.”

Such were the toxicity of Jesus’ claims that the attitude towards Him differs so greatly. On the one hand, we have those who John had preached to; those who are open to accepting Jesus’ teachings; those who are willing to believe and then be led by the Messiah. On the other, we have those who are stubborn, unwavering and blinded by their misguided convictions.

Are we to be open and accepting of what God teaches through His word? Or are we, much like the Jews, to be blinkered by our preconceptions and our prejudice?

Similarly, when we proclaim the name of Jesus to others, we should not be deterred by the rejection of many. Rather, we should take courage and resilience from Christ Jesus who strengthens us.

The differing reactions that we see to Jesus throughout the gospels, the bible and our society today teach us two key principles: that we should be open to the lessons that God will teach us; and that we should be persistent in proclaiming His name.