Read and believe in Jesus

“” John

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus clearly stated that HE was the good Shepherd of Israel. He kept His sheep safe, fed them, and in fact, would lay down His life for them. He also compared Himself to the gate or door into the sheepfold – the ONLY door. There is only one way to safety, to God, to salvation, to heaven, and it is Jesus. Jesus knows that the very authorities who are harassing Him are the ones who will demand His death at the hands of the Roman government, but with power He reminds them that HE is the one with the authority, the power to give up His life. AND, He alone has the power and authority to “take it up again,” or be resurrected to life. A division among the leaders about Jesus is beginning to be apparent. But the evil core will press till they kill Him.

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John 10:22-30.

It’s now about a month or so later, in December. The Feast of Dedication, also called the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is being celebrated.

(NOTE: This is not one of the Feasts that God required Israel to celebrate. In fact, it didn’t even start until 164 BC. In 170 BC, Israel fought against the then Syrian leader, Antiochus Epiphanes, who had captured Jerusalem and defiled the Temple. This Hasmonian family successfully freed the temple and the land from Syrian dominance until 63 BC, when Rome, under Pompey, took control.

This bit of guerrilla warfare was called the “Maccabean Revolt.” However, the Temple needed cleansing and their was but ONE day’s worth of sacred oil to anoint all the holy articles. It would take 8 days to make a new supply and they prayed. God allowed that ONE day’s worth of oil to light the Candlestick in the Temple for the EIGHT days. (This is why the eight candles on a Menorah are lit each night on Hanukkah today, in remembrance of that Miracle.)

Anyway, Jesus was in Jerusalem again. Since it was winter and cold, He was on the eastern side of the Temple under the sheltering “porch,” or colonnade, of Solomon (presumably with His disciples).

Some of the religious authorities approached Jesus, gathered in a circle around Him, and demanded, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you ARE the Christ (Messiah), tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them plainly. “I told you, and you do not believe.” Yes, He had. And several times they picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. But they wanted to hear His words again, encircling Him as they did, so He couldn’t escape this time.

Jesus tells them that the “works” (miracles) He does in His Father’s name should be enough proof of Who He is. But they can’t “see” that, because they are not “His sheep.” They can’t “hear” His voice calling them to follow Him either. If they DID see and hear… and believe, Jesus said He would give them eternal life, and they would never perish.

Then Jesus said that “His sheep” are safe. “No one can snatch them out of My hand.” And, “No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand either.” Why? And here is the clincher they were waiting for: “The Father and I are One.”

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John 10:31-39

And the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.

Jesus holds them back with His words. “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”

“It’s not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for BLASPHEMY, because YOU, being a man, make Yourself GOD,” they answer.

Then Jesus holds them back with what WE think is a very confusing argument. He talks about God calling some unjust judges “gods” (Psalm 82:6), and they know that the scripture can’t be broken; and so what’s the problem with Him calling Himself “the Son of God?”

They are perplexed for a minute, thinking that over.

Jesus continues, “If I am NOT doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 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 am in the Father.”

Again they sought to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands.

Hey, when it is NOT the time for arresting Him, NOTHING can stop Jesus’ escape.

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John 10:41-42.

Because of the increasing hostility, Jesus left Jerusalem and retreated across the Jordan River to where John had been baptizing. (This is where Jesus’ ministry had begun, with His own baptism, the Holy Spirit descending on Him, and the voice of His Father.) Many followed Him there, people who had heard John’s declarations about Him, and they believed in Him.

Jesus remained there until it was time for that “last” journey to Jerusalem near Passover, which would end in His death (and Resurrection).