Stuck in the Shema

In John 10:30, Jesus says “I and the Father are One.” The Jews think it blasphemous. Why?

Jesus’ statement seems to be a riff on the Shema – “Hear, O Israel, YHWH your God is One.” Jesus sticks Himself into the Shema: Not YHWH along, but “I and YHWH” are one.

And the NT statements about us being “one” with God might also be taken as blasphemy for the same reason. Because we are united to the Son who united Himself to us, we are stuck into the Shema too. Jesus’ reference to Psalm 82 might have something to do with showing that “deification” is not blasphemous but something anticipated by the OT.

Thanks to Donny Linnemeyer for the question that inspired these scattered thoughts.