John 10:22-42 Conflict Management at its finest!

John 10:22-42 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.

There is really so much to say about this scripture. I could probably spend all day dissecting this scripture bit by bit. If we take a step back though, we are able to see a bigger picture of tolerance and truth. This scripture embodies conflict management at its finest.

Jesus spoke truth to the Jewish leaders - and in the famous words of Jack Nicholson - they couldn't handle the truth. Sometimes the truth from Christ is hard to swallow, hard to believe, hard to trust and wrap out minds around it. The Jewish leaders were wanting a simple answer to the question of Christ being the Messiah. As if plain words were going to make God's plan of redemption and resurrection easier to understand and trust.

Faith in Christ is not simple.

Maybe its just me... but I picture Christ talking in a strong but calm voice to the Jewish leaders. I admire that strength and calmness. Trying to prove who you are and justifying not only your actions but also your words can cause people to loose it. I get so frustrated at time when I am misunderstood, undervalued, and flat out disrespected. It really gets to me. Sometimes I get so angry that I lash out verbally to my "Jewish leaders" or I bottle it up and like a cartoon character smoke comes billowing out of my ears.

Not Jesus. His conflict management was in the form of direct truth and quoting scripture. While stones were coming his way.. he stood up for who he was in a way that honored scripture. He said what he needed to.. and then walked away. I say what I want to and walk away too... but I am pretty sure my heart and mindset was probably different than Jesus. This pretty much applies to all of my life... my heart and mindset rarely conform to WWJD.

How do you handle conflict? How do you handle situations when truth is misunderstood or when you are faced with unbelief? Can you handle the truth that Christ offers you? Do you look for simple answers and limit your faith journey?

How does this scripture speak to you?

My prayer is that we all take a moment and reflect on how we handle conflict and understanding.

Happy post-Ash Wednesday :)