March 16 Know and Understand

John 12:34-39 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 the Scripture cannot be broken – 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 what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, 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.
 
WHAT does Jesus mean regarding his “you are gods” statement? In the style of a rabbi who asked questions to help disciples learn, Jesus strives to teach and have the Jews believe he is the Son of God with a question from Scripture.
   His question comes from David’s Psalm 82:1-2 God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the “gods” 2 How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?...6 I said, You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.
   With the small letter “g”, David is not talking of idols but is referring to Israel as gods to label them as children of God. God has formed Israel to be his own. He has taught them wrong and right. They have a knowledge and ability to judge – to know –  the truth, even in their sin.
   Israel has a God-given relationship through Abraham’s line. Each Jew is a physical child of God’s covenant. They can know right and wrong and understand God’s way if they open their hearts to God’s Word.
   In effect, Jesus asked, “If the people of Israel sin and still do good works, why is it impossible to believe that I, who do miracles, am the Son of God?” He pleads with them to “know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”.
   Do you believe Jesus is from God? Then rejoice! Consider how beautiful it is to know and understand Jesus is the Son of God. He has come to teach us that we may know wrong from right, death from life. As you believe, absorb the wonder of this truth. Count yourself blessed with God’s greatest gift. Know he has revealed to you what he closed to the most learned men among his people.
   Live in God’s grace. Live with gratitude to the God of heaven and earth. With joy, know you are a spiritual child, saved in the covenant of grace.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for giving to me the knowledge and wisdom that Jesus is Savior. Through you, Jesus is in me, and I am in him. Amen.