John 10:31-42: a reflection

31Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there. 41Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.” 42Many believed in him there.

When his hearers pick up stones to stone him, accusing him of blasphemy, Jesus points them to his works as testimony to who he is. If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me, he says. But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. Jesus does not merely assert his identity; he points to what he does, the good works he has done from the Father, as evidence to be weighed. Look at the works, he says; let them testify. His works, the healings, the good he did, bore witness to who he was. This invites us to look at what Christ does as testimony to who he is. Christ's works testify to who he is. Look at what Christ does; his works bear witness. The works of Christ testify to his identity. Believe the works, that you may know who he is.

Notice how Jesus appeals to his works. His hearers would not accept his words about himself; so he points them to what he has done, the good works from the Father, and invites them to believe the works even if they will not believe his words, that they might come to know the truth. His works were not random; they were the works of the Father, bearing witness to the Father's presence in him. Look at what I do, he says in effect; let my works testify to who I am. This invites us, too, to look at what Christ does. The works of Christ, the good he did, the healing, the raising, the mercy, above all his going to the cross and rising, bear witness to who he is. When we struggle to believe, we can look at what Christ does, and let his works testify to him. Christ points us to his works as evidence of his identity. To look at what Christ does is to see witness to who he is. The works of Christ testify when words are doubted. Believe the works of Christ, and come to know him.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ points to his works as testimony to who he is, inviting us to look at what he does. We can struggle to believe, doubting the claims we hear; but Jesus said, if I do the works of my Father, believe the works, that you may know the Father is in me. The works of Christ bear witness to who he is. When you struggle to believe, look at what Christ does, and let his works testify to him. Look at what Christ does as testimony to who he is, for when his hearers would not believe his words but took up stones against him, Jesus pointed them to his works, saying that if he did the works of his Father they should believe the works even if they would not believe his words, that they might know and believe that the Father was in him and he in the Father; for Christ does not merely assert his identity but points to what he does, the good works from the Father, the healing and mercy and above all his death and rising, as evidence that bears witness to who he is, so that when we struggle to believe we can look at what Christ does, letting his works testify to him, and come to know that he is the Son in whom the Father dwells.

Lord Jesus, when your hearers pick up stones to stone you, accusing you of blasphemy, you point them to your works as testimony to who you are. If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me, you say. But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. You do not merely assert your identity; you point to what you do, the good works you have done from the Father, as evidence to be weighed. Look at the works, you say; let them testify. Your works, the healings, the good you did, bore witness to who you were. Show me how you appeal to your works. Your hearers would not accept your words about yourself; so you point them to what you have done, and invite them to believe the works even if they will not believe your words, that they might come to know the truth. Your works were not random; they were the works of the Father, bearing witness to the Father's presence in you. This invites me, too, to look at what you do. Your works, the good you did, the healing, the raising, the mercy, above all your going to the cross and rising, bear witness to who you are. When I struggle to believe, I can look at what you do, and let your works testify to you. Take that to my heart, for you point to your works as testimony to who you are. When I struggle to believe, doubting the claims I hear, help me look at what you do, Lord, and let your works testify to you, that I may know and believe that the Father is in you and you in the Father, and come to know you as the Son in whom the Father dwells.