Proof of the Pudding!

Proof of the Pudding! Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works!" In other words, He was saying, "The proof is in the pudding!"

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37I f I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

(John 10:32-38, King James Version)

Proof of the Pudding!

Did you notice how Jesus skipped right by their question and got right down to the crux of the matter. First of all, He did show them that their own Scriptures called the ones to whom the Word of God had come, gods. But, that was not the real issue, was it?

Jesus is chiding them for their unbelief.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? . . . If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

In other words, He was telling them that the proof was in the pudding. How could such miraculous works be done apart from God. Jesus was chiding them by saying, "Quit looking at me. Rather, set your eyes upon the Father--believe the works of my Father."

As today is Easter Sunday, many of us have been reminded, again, of the glorious resurrection of Christ. Christ conquered sin and death for all of His children for all time. Why would we neglect so great a salvation? Why were the Jewish leaders so persistently stubborn that they missed the obvious works of God the Son?

It is a good reminder for us to be so watchful of our pride. It is so easy to stubbornly hold onto something, no matter the cost, just for the sake of pride. Was it worth the cost for these Jews? Is it worth the cost for us?

Go to Christ, our resurrected Lord, and pray that He would take away the foolish stubborn pride that would keep you from Christ. Apart from Christ you may win the battle, but you will lose the war!

Next: Many Believed - John 10:39-42