(Vs. 30) Our Lord is speaking here of the security of His sheep and the impossibility of anyone or anything separating even one of them from Him or out of His hand and the Father's hand, because, He says, "I and My Father are ONE!" They are one not only in purpose and will, but in nature, essence, power, and perfection (John 14:9; Acts 20:28; Heb. 1:8).
(Vs. 31) As they had in John 8:59, the enraged Jews took up stones to cast at Him. What He had said they considered to be blasphemy and were violently angry (Luke 4:28-29).
(Vs. 32) Our Lord was saying, "I have done no harm to any of you. I have caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, which are all works of mercy and benevolence. For which of these works do you want to stone Me?" In other words, "What is there in My life or My works that would make you want to kill Me?"
(Vs. 33) Actually, His works did anger them, and they even tried to discredit them; for it was His works, which bore the strongest witness of His deity (John 5:36; Matt. 11:4-6). His works were too marvelous and too open to be denied or contradicted. But the thing they hated and resented most was His saying that God was His Father and that He and the Father were ONE; therefore, He must be God in human flesh! They understood exactly what He was saying, that though He was born of woman and made in the likeness of sinful flesh, yet He is very God of very God (John 1:1-3; Matt. 1:21-23).
(Vs. 34) Is it not written in the Scriptures (Psalm 82:6) concerning Jewish magistrates who have been given power and authority and represent God in the government of nations, kingdoms, and individuals, "Ye are gods"?
(Vs. 35-36) If the Psalmist called men "gods" and "sons of the highest" which received a Divine commission to administer justice in the name of God to the people (as Moses was to Pharaoh, as David was to Israel and her enemies, and as Joseph was in Egypt), surely it cannot be blasphemy to Jesus Christ to assert Himself to be the Son of God, Who existed as a Divine person from all eternity, Who was set apart by the Father to the office of prophet, priest, and king, and Who in the fulness of time was sent into the world to be the author of eternal redemption to the sons of men!
(Vs. 37) Again the Saviour appeals to His works to testify concerning His Divine mission and power. These works He calls "the works of My Father." If I do not works which no man ever did, if I do not works that only God can do, if I do not works consistent with and in fulfillment of the Scriptures, if I do not works which relate to the Father's will and purpose to redeem sinners consistent with His law and justice, then you have no right or reason to believe Me.
(Vs. 38) But if I do such works as can be done only by God, then, though you find it difficult to believe my claims to being the Son of God, at least consider the works that I have done! He who does the works that ONLY GOD CAN DO must be God! This is the way for you to know, be persuaded, and believe that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father, by His mighty power and Divine working through Me! Nicodemus started at this point. "We know you come front God; no man can do the things you do except God be with him." Once that is established, go on from there; don't allow human wisdom, tradition, and unbelief to turn you from Him (John 6:66-69).
(Vs. 39-40) They sought to take Him again in order to bring Him before the Sanhedrin and try Him for blasphemy; but He escaped out of their bands as He had done before, not through fear of them or of death, but because His time was not yet come; and He had other work to do and words to say before He suffered, died, and rose again. It was yet three months until He would die on the cross; and He journeyed beyond Jordan to Bethabara, where He was baptized of John and where John bore witness of Him (John 1:28).
(Vs. 41-42) John the Baptist did no miracles, perhaps so that when Christ came of whom John testified, His glory in working miracles might be more clear and evident. The people of this area said, "We honored, respected, and admired John; yet he never did those things which Jesus Christ has done. All things which John spake of this man are true." And many believed on Him there. Through the words, which He spoke, the miracles He did, and by comparing the things John said of Him from the Scriptures, many believed.