Who is Jesus, Who are We?

AM Psalm 131, 132, [133] • PM Psalm 140, 142
Jer. 26:1-16 • Rom. 11:1-12 • John 10:19-42

Who is Jesus, Who are We?

In this morning's Gospel by John, the Jewish leaders debate about who Jesus is. Some claim he's possessed by devils, others that he's a blasphemer, others that he can't be evil because his works are good. Answering who Jesus is could be risky during the early centuries of the Church when theologians were asserting he was all human, all God, all flesh, all spirit, both, or neither, and each condemning to hell the theologians who asserted otherwise.

Jesus in his answer seems to confirm the charge of blasphemy: he is the Good Shepherd, he says, who will not let one of his flock perish, and he declares, “The Father and I are one.” On the other hand, Jesus defends himself by appealing to his works and, curiously, by citing Psalm 82,6: “You are gods, all of you sons of the most High,” implying that, therefore, if we are all gods and children of God, he can't be blaspheming in claiming oneness with God.

Even if Jesus' critics weren't convinced, let's remember that Jesus never missed an opportunity, no matter how risky his position, to teach us a lesson. I believe he was and is urging us to recognize God in ourselves, with all the responsibilities our godhead entails: to recognize and respond to our God in all the people we meet, to do good works, to have confidence in our divinely-given natures, and to pray confidently for divine guidance in all we think and say and do.

Written by John DuVal

For Lent John is listening to Lenten morning prayers at Washington National Cathedral –– more a pleasure than a sacrifice.