Faith is a journey. And it is best practiced with friends! People of faith worship Jesus Christ. Ponder that. And there are places in the world where worshiping Jesus will get you killed. Why? Because worship is more than simple admiration. Worshipers actively follow Him, pledge allegiance to Him, and order life by His Word. Disciples worship Him because He is:
- Eternal
- Uncreated
- Omnipotent
- All-knowing
- All-wise
- Creator
- Sustainer
- Redeemer of Man
We worship Him because He is God. Jesus is one with the Father and the Spirit. And we worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit—one God, in three distinct Persons. Now that thought process is a journey all by itself! But it adds to the awe-factor of worship.
Blasphemy or Belief
Worship is the context of John 10. And worship is exactly what Jesus intends for us to do in response to what He says. As chapter 9 progressed, the sight of the formerly blind man became clearer and clearer. Meanwhile, the blindness of the Pharisees became darker and more obvious. In John 9:24, the Pharisees told the healed man:
Give glory to God. We know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner.
But then look at John 9:38: The man Jesus healed said, Lord, I believe, and worshiped Jesus. The division could not be deeper. As we saw last week, it is either blasphemy or worship. That’s what it all comes down to. One cannot sit on the fence. They couldn’t do it in Jesus’ day and we cannot do it now.
A recommended classic. Spending time with A. W. Tozer is always a blessing!
Journey: Blindness To Belief
The healed man had made an incredible journey. Jesus took that man from blindness to the blazing light of belief. His newly functional eyes could see Jesus. But the eyes of his newly renewed heart could see the deity of Jesus.
And that is where Jesus takes us again in chapter 10. And there is a stark choice to b made. Jesus is either insane in what He said there, or He is God. See the conclusion in John 10:19–21:
There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to Him? Others said, These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
Blindness or Blessing?
That’s what it all comes down to — again. One is either blind, like the Pharisees, or they see and bless the Lord in worship. The blind think Jesus is insane. Those who see clearly have made the journey from blindness to blessing. They worship Him. And the way Jesus chose to describe His power forces the choice. There is no middle ground. Notice His words:
For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
Great resource by John Piper. Opening quote: Evangelism exists because worship doesn’t. It moves from there.
A mortal person might be able to say, I have authority to lay down my life. He could commit a capital crime. She can choose to jump off a cliff. One can choose to step between you and the bullet. But nobody can say, I have authority to take it up again. If you are dead, you have no authority or power to become undead. You can’t undead yourself no matter what you see in a television series! But that is exactly what Jesus said He could do. So is Jesus crazy or is He more than a mortal man?
The Journey Begins
Forcing the question was Jesus’ agenda in John 10:1–21. Looking and listening to Him with the eyes of our hearts wide open is vital. Everything in our lives and our futures depends on answering this one question correctly: Is Jesus crazy or is He God? If He is God, then He is the Gate by whom we may enter eternal life. And entering that Gate is the first step on an eternal, joyful journey.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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