John 10:30-33

30 I and My Father are one.”

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 

32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

“For Which Good Work are You Stoning Me?”

Jesus had just said in verses 28 and 29 that no one could snatch His sheep out of His hand or His Father’s hand, which led to His statement in verse 30, “My Father and I are one.” This obviously outraged the Jews, because they picked up stones to throw at Him again. This was the second time they had attempted this. The first time was in John 8:59, when Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” However, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple through the middle of them. (John 8:59) But, this time, He addressed these people who wanted to stone Him with a statement and then a question. He said, paraphrasing, “I have shown you many good works from My Father. Which good work are you stoning Me for?” Jesus had done nothing but good things for people. What reason would they have had to hurt Him? 

In verse 33, the Jews told Jesus that they were not stoning Him for His good works. They were stoning Him for blasphemy, because He, as a man, was trying to make Himself God. So they recognized His good works, but wanted to stone Him for something He said? It didn’t make a lot of sense. If one of them were blind, lame, or sick, and Jesus healed Him… I wonder… would they still have wanted to stone Him for claiming to be God? They didn’t care that a blind beggar got his life back through the healing power of God through Jesus. It wasn’t directly affecting them, so they didn’t care about it. What if it had been one of their children who was healed? Would that have made a difference? Just some questions in my mind as I think about these verses. I wonder if the Pharisees, who were supposed to be experts in the law, remembered the prophet Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah giving sight to the blind. I wonder if they remembered the ones below:

With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened… (Isaiah 35:4b-5).

As a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. (Isaiah 42:6b-7)

When Jesus healed the blind man, it should have been a big red flag to the Jewish leaders and Pharisees of who He was. If they were experts in the law, why didn’t they understand this? Here is why. In Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah prophecies:

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16).

However, when we read Isaiah 42:20-22, we see the sad truth:

“He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue spoil with none to say, “Restore!” (Isaiah 42:20-22)

If only the Jewish leaders and Pharisees knew these verses! But wait… they did know them! They knew them like the back of their hand. Little did they know, they were reading about themselves! Isaiah was not only talking about the Israelites of old, but also about them. They were spiritually blind and refused to be healed by the Messiah. They saw but did not observe, as Isaiah said. There is a difference between looking at something and observing it… really seeing it. They were not really seeing Jesus for who He was. Jesus was the One who would lead the blind in the right direction. He was the One who would give them sight. He would turn the darkness into light. Jesus was the Light!! But the leaders of His time wanted to remain blind and in darkness. They were the ones who loved the darkness more than the light (John 3:19). What about people today? The world is in the same boat. They are the ones who look but don’t truly see. They hear but don’t listen. All we can do is keep spreading the Word and praying for blind eyes to be opened. Just as Jesus opened the blind man’s eyes physically, He can open the eyes of the spiritually blind. I was once blind, but now I see. I walked in darkness, but am now walking in the light. And because I realize how spiritually blind I was, I want to help others to see, and I pray that God will open the doors for me to do so for His glory. 

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!