John 10:31-42

John 10:31-42 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The people who say Jesus is just a good teacher and nothing more are clearly not reading the words of Jesus.  Take his claim here in verse 38 -- the Father is in me and I am in the Father.  Now, Jesus can either be completely off his rocker and insane for suggesting such a thing, or it can be true and he can be completely united with God.  Those are the choices -- there is no middle ground where Jesus is a sane, rational man who, in his free time, claims to be one with God.  If I routinely made such claims, I would be locked up.
  So we have two choices -- and Jesus presents his works as the evidence that he is who he says he is.  His works are supporting evidence to the truth that Jesus is the Word made flesh, Emmanuel, God with us.  Even if we don't believe his words, Jesus says in verse 38, we should believe the works, because they are the evidence that Jesus is God.
  And so if Jesus is God, then we should take every word and claim seriously.  The early followers clearly did, as they risked being outcasts in the church by going to him, believing in him despite the threats of violence from the temple leadership.
  So if you take Jesus seriously as the Son of God, where do you start?  What's your next action today?  How will you follow him over the next fifteen minutes?  What will bring glory to God?