Eternally His!

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Opening Prayer

Lord of all, I pray for an open mind and a willing spirit, so that I might learn Your truth and share it.

Read John 10:22-42

^[22] Then came the Festival of Dedication 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; 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.

Meditate

“For I am convinced that … [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38, 39). What an amazing truth.

Think Further

The Temple had been desecrated by the Greeks and its leadership was corrupt: who would stand up for the one true God? It was Judas Maccabeus (died 161 BC), and the Temple was eventually purified, an event remembered in the Feast of Dedication (or Hanukkah). As a result, Judas and his descendants were made kings but the family failed to live up to the hopes placed in them.

Therein lies the basis of the question in verse 24: Is Jesus the Messiah, Israel’s true king? Jesus’ actions demonstrated his true identity, but only those who are Jesus’ sheep and listen to his voice are able to understand this (26,27). If the Jews cannot understand, mere words will not change them, but for his sheep there is a wonderful promise of security (28,29). This leads to the high point of the chapter (30). Jesus is saying something dangerous and his opponents want to stone him. Jesus’ defense is nuanced, citing a psalm that is a critique of Israel’s failure to respond to God (Psa. 82:5-7). This is an apt description of Jesus’ audience who, despite all that they had seen Jesus do, would not accept that God was at work in and through him (37,38).

Once again, there is an attempt to arrest Jesus, but he escapes because it is still not his “hour” (8:20). The tragedy of the final verses (40-42) is that when Jesus goes, his departure is as much theological as geographical. The religious leadership had all the evidence they needed to reach the right conclusion, but they would not and could not see. They had put God in a box, one with a spiritual health warning; yet, for those who do look at the evidence and reach the right conclusion, the promise of verses 28 and 29 remains in force.

Apply

Reread verses 28,29 and believe this promise. It is yours!

Closing prayer

Father, the world is filled with broken promises. But I know Your promises are never broken. I thank You I can live fully now and one day I will live forever.

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