John 10:22-30 May 11, 2025
The Jewish opposition confronted Jesus because in their minds, Jesus did not look or act like a Messiah ought to act. I made a point of choosing the Common English Bible for today because verse 24 refers to Jewish Opposition. In many other translations – including the one we most often use, NRSV, this verse refers only to “the Jews”. Throughout history, phrases such as this have been used to promote antisemitism by illustrating the Jewish people as a monolith. By describing the Jewish opposition, the Common English Bible reminds us that it was only a select group of people within the Jewish faith who opposed Jesus. And they were among (but not all of) the pharisees and Sadducees, the scribes and other temple leaders. It was not ALL jews who opposed Jesus, and let’s not forget that Jesus himself was Jewish.
So there was opposition. These people who objected had a very clear expectation of what Messiah should be and quite frankly, Jesus didn’t check all their boxes. The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
And he did. Jesus told them plainly. “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep.”
The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me – they tell you everything you need to know about me. Jesus is pointing to the work that he has done – healing, teaching, providing hope, offering mercy… all in the name of his Father, and the opposition doesn’t see it.
In the view of that opposition, they’re looking for someone with gravitas, someone who projects power and authority. They’re looking for someone who stands on a gold platform and has lightning bolts coming from his hands.
Jesus’ works are done in humble service to others. Jesus’ works are done for the benefit of the least of our brothers and sisters. Jesus’ works are done, not to lift him up, but to lift others up. New Testament scholar Charles Cousar writes that “The works testify to Jesus not because they are extraordinary and attention-getting… and not because they offer conclusive proof of his Messiahship, but because they are the Father’s works.”
The works to which Jesus is referring only matter because of Jesus’ relationship with God. Jesus and God have a relationship so intimate that they cannot be separated. Therefore, Jesus works are seen simply as God’s works.
This is how we identify Jesus as the Messiah – that his works are the works of God. And that means that identifying Jesus in our lives means, for us, a change in our identity. Being one of Jesus’ sheep is – it must be – a transformative act. Cousar continues, “Knowledge of the Messiah has to do with a reorientation of the knower, a change of location from one community to another.
Jesus’ response reminds us that an understanding of who he is cannot simply be a matter of deciding whether Jesus measures up to some preconceived notion of how a divine figure ought to act. Jesus does not fit into prior categories; he totally redefines those preconceived notions of what a Messiah ought to be… notions that come from many misinterpreted notions from Israel’s past. Jesus transcends and transforms them all.”
Long before I became a widower, I learned that there is not one single or correct way to grieve the loss of a loved one. There is not a checklist of how one is supposed to act when one is widowed; nor is there an order in which the emotions come. No one – at least I hope no one – has been watching me saying, “well, that’s not what a widower is supposed to say or feel…” No. Everyone goes through the experience in their own way that is right for them. Context matters.
In seminary, I did have a class in which death and grieving were the principal topic. The truth that everyone grieves differently was a major part of the subject matter in the class. We talked about some of the incredibly thoughtless things that people say to a person who is grieving. I’m happy to say that I heard very little of those thoughtless things in my grief journey, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hear some of it.
I say that because we often create a list of expectations in our minds about what a person should or shouldn’t be, how a person should or shouldn’t behave in certain circumstances. Over the years that I’ve been a pastor, I’ve heard many times that I don’t act like a pastor.. to which I say, “Thank God!” I don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a predefined way of behaving based on some pie-in-the-sky image of what I’m supposedly supposed to uphold.
I am reminded of the story in Luke – the walk to Emmaus. The two disciples, completely dejected because, as far as they know, Jesus was crucified and in the grave, walk the seven mile journey to Emmaus. And during that journey, they are met by Jesus himself who talks to them throughout the journey about what had happened in Jerusalem over the past days. He teaches them about how the Hebrew scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah.
“Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going all through the prophets.
But the two disciples don’t recognize Jesus in his words. It isn’t until they reach their destination, invite Jesus in (as he probably taught them to do) and then, as they gather around a table, Jesus breaks the bread. “After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, and gave it to them.”
That’s how they recognized Jesus. “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” Not in what he said, but in what he did! That is how people recognize Jesus in us. We can all stand on the sidewalk outside and tell everyone that passes by that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. And those people who hear us can choose to believe us or not. But it is in our actions, in the work that we do in the name of Jesus that ultimately proclaims the truth of who and whose we are!
What we do – as disciples of Jesus – not what we say, but what we do says more about us than the most profound words we can come up with.
Jesus knew that those who were opposing him were listening to his words. They paid attention to everything he said. But they weren’t paying attention to what he did. They didn’t find his actions to be Messiah-like because in their worldview, they viewed the coming Messiah as all-powerful and separate from the masses. They viewed the Messiah as projecting himself to be better than everyone else. They viewed the Messiah in a way that would affirm themselves as authoritarian and above it all.
Jesus overturned the tables of their expectations. And Jesus is overturning the tables of our own expectations as well, reminding us that what we do – the works that we do in the name of our faith – not to mention the works we avoid doing in the name of our faith – speak more about us than a bunch of words.
Accepting Jesus as the Messiah is more than an intellectual assent. We can’t proclaim Jesus as our savior if we are not changed by that same proclamation. it is a transformation, and it is a transformation that must occur within us not once, not twice, but every day of our lives. We must constantly be seeking to be transformed by the risen Christ and changed into the disciples that we are called to be.
That means that Jesus overturns the tables of our expectations every day. And that’s a lot for some people – too much in fact. Our text today ends at verse 30, where Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” That’s a great ending place for our story as it gives Jesus the last word. But again, the actions we do speak volumes. In verse 31 – after Jesus makes that declarative statement, it says, “Again, the Jewish opposition picked up stones in order to stone him.”
His words and actions manage to rattle the cages of those temple authorities who rely on power and dominance. They hear his words and ignore them because Jesus’ words don’t fit into their own preconceived narratives of what Messiah ought to be. Theirs’ is a very un-Messiah-like response. Because being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not about being authoritative or powerful. It’s not about surrounding ourselves with wealth or putting ourselves above others.
In the end, Jesus reminds us that the question that matters is, how are we to be transformed by our relationship with him? How is our life changed each and every day by the connection that Jesus has with God?
If our actions are not about serving others, if our deeds are not about caring for the poor, seeking justice for the marginalized, then how are we different from those temple authorities who heard the words of Jesus and then picked up stones?
Let us be transformed – today, tomorrow, every day – as we constantly seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Let us be transformed that we can overturn the tables that belong to the wealthy and powerful, that we can be found on the side of the oppressed and the immigrant. Let us be transformed that the circle we draw is wider and more encompassing, more welcoming and more loving.
As United Methodists, we are encouraged by our own social principles to Love Boldly, to passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender and walk of life. We are encouraged to serve Joyfully: With a Christ-like heart, to journey alongside the most vulnerable, offering care and compassion with joy. And we are likewise empowered to lead courageously, following Jesus’ example by resisting and dismantling all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice and reconciliation. That’s our United Methodist social principles and I can almost guarantee that if those temple leaders who were confronting Jesus heard those things, they’d be picking up stones.
Allow the deeds of Jesus, which are united with the love that God offers us, to transform your hearts and minds, your very lives this day and every day.
To God be the glory.
