March 10, 2026 | Be Connected
Jesus Claims to be God
Scripture: John 10:22-42(NIV)
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Devotional
Often, I run into people who say that Jesus was a good man, a prophet, and even a wonderful religious teacher. But they refuse to believe Jesus was God. The problem with their theory is that Jesus Himself disagrees with them.
The religious leaders were ready to stone Him to death “for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
Jesus could have said, “No, you misunderstand. I just represent God.”
He could have shouted, “Drop your stones. I’m merely a prophet of God.”
He could have wildly waved His arms and said, “I’m a good man, not the God-Man.”
But He didn’t.
Jesus said, “Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’”?
Here are our choices about how to see Jesus in this passage.
Jesus was confused. He mistakenly thought of Himself as God in the flesh when He wasn’t.
Jesus was delusional. He really believed He was the Son of God, not out of mere confusion, but out of insanity.
Jesus was deceptive. He understood He wasn’t the God-Man, but knew admitting that would make His disciples stop following Him.
Jesus was correct. He was indeed fully God and fully man.
Who do you say Jesus is? Why?
