A Meeting of Meanings

Scripture – John 10:31-36: Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) These Jewish leaders were having a bad day. They didn’t understand who Jesus was. They didn’t know how to respond to what He was saying. The best they could come up with was to throw stones at Him. I find it far easier to dismiss someone rather than enter into dialogue with them. Dialogue calls for careful listening. It leads to a meeting of meanings. It’s not that we necessarily agree with one another. We do, however, understand what we’re each saying. It takes work and intention to get to that point. It’s far easier to dismiss someone as an enemy than to listen to what they’re saying.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will listen more carefully to people. I will seek dialogue on controversial issues and in daily interactions.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, thank you for the assurance that you always understand what I mean – sometimes more clearly than I do. Help me listen and let be. Show me how to talk with people rather than to them.