Summary: Facing threats of stoning for blasphemy, Jesus pointed to his good works and questioned which of these the Jews condemned. He cited their law to challenge their accusations, asserting his identity as God's Son based on the works he performed. Despite further attempts to capture him, Jesus escaped and withdrew across the Jordan, where many believed in him, affirming John's testimony.
Gospel Acclamation: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life. (John 6:63c, 68c)
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.