Jesus Attacked

Our inherited traditions hamper our ability to hear Jesus. There are gods many. Modern thought uses the "god of the gap" theory as a precursor to scientific understanding, forcing a contrived choice of belief in god or science. In this chapter, the religious leaders allowed their expectations and traditions as justification to disregard the works of Jesus.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13 (KJV)

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1:9 (KJV)

***

62: Jesus Is Attacked In Jerusalem

John 10:22-39

Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication, which occurred in the winter time. While he walked on Solomon’s Porch, a part of the temple, the Jews came around him and said:

            “How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.”

            Jesus answered them saying:

            “I told you, and ye believe not. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

            Those around him picked up stones to hurl at Jesus, who said:

            “Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?”

            They answered Jesus:

            “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

            Jesus replied to them:

            “Is it not written in your law, ’I said, “Ye are gods”’? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken, say ye of him, who the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, ‘Thou blasphemest’; because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

            Thereupon the authorities sought to arrest Jesus, but he eluded them.