The Gospel
The Jews took up stones again to stone Jesus. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ —and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.
He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.
The Gospel
From Jonathan Sanders
“I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy…”
So let me get this straight…Jesus can do all of these good works, even in the name of God, and yet he is being persecuted for one thing. One thing. They don’t care that the number of good things outweigh the bad. The focus is all wrong!
How many times have we seen someone or said about someone, “He’s a really good guy, except for…” We tend to focus on the few negatives of an individual instead of the overwhelming positives. We find ourselves saying “yeah, but” all too often. I don’t know if this is a Christian thing or a societal thing, but it is DEFINITELY a thing.
I was having a conversation about sin the other day. I firmly believe that the focus is all wrong. It forces us to look at what’s “wrong”. If we continue to walk around life believing that we are sinners, guess what? We’re only going to be looking at the sins! Why don’t we change the model and look for the love in others? Change the narrative. It isn’t that hard. I sin. You sin. I sin. Everybody sins. Who cares!? Where are we loving? Where are we merciful? Where are we compassionate? Let’s look for the good in everyone. It is easy and cheap to look for the sin. When we look for only the sin, then look for ways to separate our sin from the sins of others. I want to love. I want to be loved.
Will you love? Will you love me? I will love you.