I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30
One of the most controversial things Jesus says is that he and the Father are one. This was difficult for the religious leaders of the time and considered by them to be heretical. For others, the statement was simply a reference to his spirituality, or a metaphor used by a prophet, teacher, and sage.
Early followers believed him to be who he said and revealed himself to be; he must be God. Why? Why would they believe this even though it was a religiously criminal act to do so?
Because there is a bigger picture than our “enlightened” minds can process.
The Hebrew people believed the promises of the coming Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ), the Anointed One of God the Anointed King who would liberate and reunify the twelve tribes of Israel. The Greek equivalent is Christos (Χριστός). Yet here’s the rub: the Messiah was coming to do way more than liberate and reunify a people from a backwater junction sandwiched between major nations in Persia, Africa, Europe, and beyond. The Christ was coming to liberate and unify all of humanity; Jew and Gentile. Now that is a Big Picture!
Even more mind blowing is that the liberating unification also includes the dead, those who were yet to live, and all of creation as well. Yes, he is doing this for life, the universe, and everything. Jesus is the King of the unIverse. No that’s the Big Picture.
One last even bigger Big Picture; this liberating unification is not yet complete until Jesus triumphantly returns, and nobody knows when that will be (he created time too!).
So on this morning, contemplate a picture way way bigger than you, and then Live Long and Prosper.
For Jesus is the Big Picture!
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