Gospel of John—Lesson 31
By Joyce Webb 2026
John Chp. 10 Vs. 32-42
Jesus has just told the Jewish leaders and others in the group that he and his Father (God the Father in heaven) are one.
Meaning: Two different forms or shapes—-but of the same “essence” or made of the same power, intelligence, etc.
Example: Water –H2O–can be in 3 different forms—liquid, ice, steam/vapor/mist—-yet in each form—it is still H2O—water.
When the Jewish leaders heard Jesus say he was the same as God—the leaders picked up stones to throw at Jesus to kill him. They blamed him for calling himself the same as God.
Verse 32 Jesus said to them—-Many good works I have done from my Father —-which one of those good works are you throwing stones at me?
Verse 33 The Jewish leaders said—It is not for the good works that we are throwing stones at you. It is because you —-being a man—say you are God.
(The leaders called this “blasphemy”—saying you are equal to God is a great sin. They always saw Jesus as only a man. They never believed his was also God.)
Vs. 34 Jesus said, It is written in your scriptures (Old Testament) “I said, Ye are gods.”
(Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 (“I said, ‘You are gods’”). Jesus reasons that if Scripture calls human judges or leaders “gods” for holding delegated authority, —His own claim to be the Son of God is not blasphemous.)
Vs. 35. If he called them gods, unto them the word of God came, and the scriptures can not be changed.
Vs. 36. So if those people who received God’s message—-were called “gods”—Why do you say of the person God has “sanctified”—made holy–
and sent him into the world,—–You say he is blaspheming.—talking disrespectful—-because I say I am the Son of God.
Vs. 37, 38 Jesus said “Don’t believe me—-if I am not doing the works of my Father. But if I do the works of my Father (even if you don’t believe me)
then believe the works that I do. So that you will know that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. (Jesus’ power to do the miracles was the same power of the Father.)
Vs. 39 The leaders tried to catch Jesus again, but Jesus escaped and got away from them. (The Bible does not explain how Jesus got away. We do not know if somehow Jesus “blinded” their eyes for a moment so they could not see him, or if he made something happen to get their attention off of him for a minute and he disappeared into the crowd. We don’t know how Jesus did it.)
Vs. 40 Jesus went to the place where John the Baptist used to baptize people and he stayed there for awhile.
Vs. 41. 42 Many people followed him there. They talked among themselves and said, “John the Baptist did not do miracles. But everything John said about this man has come true. Many believed in Jesus there.