John 10:31-40 (February 23rd)
Read John 10:31-40.
Why do we believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Jesus has just said “I and the Father are one” (v30), and they want to stone him for blasphemy. Crucially, Jesus doesn’t deny that he is claiming to be the Son of God, but he does challenge their assumptions about the word ‘god’. The Old Testament uses the word for ‘god’ or ‘son of god’ to refer to authorities, whether human rulers or angelic/demonic powers. Jesus quotes Psalm 82, which begins: God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgement among the gods. We’re not sure whether that’s referring to human or angelic powers, but Jesus’ point is that referring to them as ‘gods’ isn’t necessarily blasphemy. So if God the Father gives real power to human/angelic authorities, and they can be called ‘gods’ in scripture, how much more should Jesus be called ‘the Son of God’.
Family Bible Time
Read: John 10:31-33
Think: why do they want to throw stones at Jesus?
Why should they believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
Pray: for Christians in countries who are accused of blasphemy for saying Jesus is the Son of God.
Do: play dodgeball (stand on two sides and throw soft balls, or scrunched up pieces of paper, at each other. If you get hit you are out).