John 10:22-42

Author: Steve Codara

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[a] 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[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods?” 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 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’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Key Verses

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.

Devotional

This passage opens with some of the Jews surrounding Jesus and questioning him about being the Messiah.  The Jews were divided on this issue.  Some had previously said “He is controlled by a demon. He has gone crazy” while others responded with “Can a demon open the eyes of someone who is blind?” Sharp division!  Sound familiar?  If this was anything like our current culture’s divisiveness, can you just hear the sarcasm of this hostile mob?  “Don’t keep us in suspense. If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  What a snarky way to start a conversation.  And how frustrating to them his answer must have been. 

Jesus goes into a dialog of contrasting His sheep (who listen to him, believe in him, and who have eternal life) against these Jews who do not believe him and, in my opinion, he infers that they do NOT have eternal life.  This probably explains their angry response: “They picked up stones to stone him.”

Their accusation, “because you, a mere man, claim to be God” allowed Jesus to draw this contrast:  “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods. ”

NOTE: The Jewish Law sometimes refers to men as “gods.”  Not meaning God the creator, but referring to “gods” meaning magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. 

This seems to be the case in the scripture Jesus references here (Psalm 82:6) The word used in this scripture, Elohim, can be translated either way.  The context of Psalm 82:6 suggests the latter translation.

Jesus appears to make the point that if mere men can, in the Law, be referred to as “gods” then certainly the chosen Messiah should be. And it sounds as if Jesus is begging them by saying “If you do not believe me, believe the works that I do, that you may know and understand.”  Jesus really wants them to get this. Again we are reminded that “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all will have eternal life.”

Which brings us to the key message in this encounter:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

What a great promise-making and promise-keeping God we have!

Thought Questions

·       The Jews had a difficult time wrapping their minds around the fact that Jesus was God.  Which teachings of                Jesus are difficult for you to follow?

·       What pre-conceived ideas keep you from learning new things about God?

·       Why would Jesus mention twice that His sheep cannot be “snatched?”

·       What do these statements tell you about being secure in God’s promises and being secure in your salvation?

·       Jesus states “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  What does this imply about the               importance of obedience?

Steve is the husband of Stephanie and the father of Sergei and Vadym. He enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends.  Steve and Stephanie met at Saturn Road in the ’80s and have been married since 1995.