You Can, Too

Scripture: Psalm 82:6 – “I say, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you…”

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday, where we always read passages from chapter 10 of the Gospel According to John where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. However, after the talk of sheep and shepherds, the chapter continues. The group of people who have confronted Jesus at the Temple on Hannukah decide to stone him for blasphemy. They say, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human, are making yourself God.” The fact that Jesus claims that he and the Father are one implies that he is equal to, or is himself, God.

In our faith, we are used to seeing Jesus as the Son of God with eternal power, as John describes at the beginning of the Gospel when he writes, “In the beginning was the Word [that is the eternal Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” However, in this story, Jesus does not say, “Yes, I am God,” but rather quotes Psalm 82 which says, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you…” He argues that anyone can be a “god” if they have been sent by the Father to do good works. Even if they doubt his claims to divine authority, the people in the temple should recognize that the works themselves—those of kindness, love, and truth—are clearly signs of God’s presence among them.

Jesus does not continue with the next verse, Psalm 82:7. “… nevertheless, you shall die like mortals and fall like any prince.” The psalm says that anyone can be like a god—powerful, righteous, and merciful—but most people act unjustly, and so they are just like any other imperfect creation.

When Jesus claims to do the work of God, he is not saying he is the only one who is divine. Anyone can be divine. Anyone can have the power of God inside them if they don’t let selfishness and fear get in the way.

As I go through my day, I don’t regularly feel like I am like a god. I think that I need to go to work or clean the house or make dinner. What is divine about that? But when I remember what my work is, and how even my most mundane tasks can be blessed by God, I can go beyond the ordinary to recognize the inestimable gifts that God has given to me to bless the world.

Today, let yourself feel powerful. Recognize the divine within you and think of a way in which you can spread that Spirit-fired love with the world. Jesus has done remarkable, loving, and even miraculous things. You can, too.

Prayer: Jesus, let me be like you so I can bring peace and joy to my neighbor. Amen.