The NIV 365 Day Devotional
I And the Father Are One
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe 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 shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”John 10:22-30
Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly made bold claims that the Jewish leaders either didn’t like or didn’t understand. His claim to be one with the Father (Jn 10:30) might have been the boldest, most disliked and most misunderstood of all his claims. The Jewish leaders and the crowd charged him with blasphemy and tried to stone him.
For a man to claim to be one with God was unthinkable. This is the great miracle of Christ, the miracle of the incarnation: that Jesus is fully God and as such is utterly holy, yet also fully man and completely human. Christians believe that the divinity of Christ is fully present in the person of Jesus but is veiled in flesh (Jn 1:14). Because of his miraculous incarnation, people can identify with Christ. He is a man, but he simultaneously has the power to save since he is also fully God.
The amazing truth of the gospel is that Jesus left the power, peace and love of his Father to endure the miseries of this life and to willingly take the guilt of human sin upon himself, bearing the brunt of God’s wrath on the cross. Now, in exchange for our sin, he offers us his righteousness. This righteousness is so complete that when we are clothed in it, we become united with Christ and one with God the Father (Jn 17:11,21).
Taken from the NIV The Jesus Bible.