What do you give someone who has everything?
Some people are very hard to shop for. They don’t really want anything and when you ask them, they prove you right. How do you shop for that person? How do you get them a token of your care for them when they keep what they want so private?
Perhaps in our spiritual walk with Jesus, we can feel the same way. Jesus is God. What can you possibly give Him? What does He want from us? There’s really nothing we can give Him that He doesn’t already have.
So what do you give our Lord and King?
Last week, we looked at John 10:27-30 and Jesus’ statement that He holds His sheep in hand. Then Jesus states, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30). We continue today in John 10:31-33:
Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
John 10:31-33
New International Version
The Jewish opponents of Jesus primarily belonged to the Jewish priesthood. They wanted to kill Jesus and they wanted to do it NOW. Why? We’re told the answer in verse 33 (blasphemy), but where did He blaspheme God?
The Jewish leaders said Jesus “a mere man, claim[ed] to be God.” When did He do this? Well…pretty much every time He spoke: He claimed a power, purpose, mission, and calling equal to the Father’s. And He had just said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
Here’s what is interesting about all this: people today can sometimes say “Jesus never claimed to be God.” Yet the reaction of the people around Jesus proves the exact opposite. They knew EXACTLY what He was saying, what He was implying, and with Whom He was claiming equality. And THAT was their problem with Jesus: He claimed to be God.
The actions, life, and words of Jesus demand our loyalty as His sheep. Jesus left us no wiggle room. Indeed, He has shown us the Father. Jesus has shown us His will and purpose for our lives.
He demands loyalty in return. When we think of what He offers us, is being a slave to our Lord that big of a loss? Not at all.
Oh dear one, if you’re measuring the amount of your sacrifice for Jesus, you do not understand His worth.
The Jewish leaders didn’t understand His worth. They didn’t even understand His identity. Instead, they picked up stones to kill him. This was the accepted punishment for several sins, but I think this incident had less to do with Biblical justice and more to do with vigilante justice.
We can fall into the same sin.
When we choose disobedience, we pick up stones to throw at Him. When we greedily hoard our money and do not support the Kingdom of God with the finances He gave us, we pick up stones to throw at Him. When we mistreat the poor, lonely, sick, or oppressed, we pick up stones to throw at Him.
We are either loyal to Him and believe the works He has shown us or we pick up stones because we doubt His right to command us.
The only meaning and significance we will ever find in our lives is in Jesus. That means accepting Him, His message, and His rule over us.
Jesus is absolutely dedicated to our security. He will fulfill what He has done. And in return, He demands our loyalty.
When we consider what our Lord Jesus has done for us, He certainly deserves it.
What do you give the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
Your loyalty.
How do you demonstrate your loyalty to Jesus?
Life Meets Theology 