seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 10:22 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.
3062025306302530620253062025
Here's the link to the commentary I read. I really, really, recommend you go to the commentary and read all the stuff I left out.
The Feast of Dedication: This feast (also known as Hanukkah) celebrated the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple after three years of desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria (in 164 or 165 B.C.).
Jesus walked in the temple: This is another confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders in the temple courts. However, Jesus does not seem to be teaching when this confrontation began.
Then the Jews surrounded Him: It isn’t said that Jesus was at the temple teaching, merely that He walked in the temple (John 10:23). The sense is that this was a hostile ambush as Jesus simply walked.
“Here the Jews ‘ringed Him round,’ preventing His escape wand with hostile purpose.” (Dods)
How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly: The religious leaders (once again described as the Jews) refused to listen to or believe in Jesus. They hoped to blame Jesus for their unbelief (How long do You keep us in doubt?).
I told you, and you do not believe: Jesus did not often specifically refer to Himself among the Jews as the Christ, the Messiah. He did this because messiah was a word with political and even military implications that Jesus wished to avoid. Yet Jesus could rightly say that in many ways, I told you and you do not believe.
You do not believe, because you are not My sheep: The religious leaders wanted Jesus to speak plainly, and here He spoke more plainly than they probably wanted. Jesus previously told them they were not true shepherds (John 10:5, 10:8, 10:10, 10:12-13). Here Jesus told them they were not even true sheep, because the Messiah’s sheep believe and hear His voice.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish: Jesus described the benefits and blessings that come to His sheep. They have eternal life, given by Jesus. This eternal life begins now, but is greater than physical life.
I and My Father are one: This is an important statement regarding the deity of Jesus and the nature of the Godhead. I and My Father means that the Father and the Son are not the same Person, refuting the “Jesus Only” doctrine (anciently known as Sabelianism). Are one means that the Father and the Son are equal in nature, in essence, what they really are — refuting the teaching that Jesus isn’t God (anciently known as Arianism).
The Jews took up stones again to stone Him: The fact that the religious leaders considered the statement “I and the Father are one” to be blasphemy proves that Jesus spoke of much more than a unity of purpose and will. They were wrong in their response, but they understood what Jesus said.
Jesus answered them: The religious leaders surrounded Jesus (John 10:24) and now held rocks to stone Him to death (John 10:31). Jesus didn’t panic and didn’t run; He stopped them with the power of His word. He answered them as an educated rabbi would speak to other educated rabbis.
If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came: Jesus reasoned, “If God gave these unjust judges the title ‘gods’ because of their office, why do you consider it blasphemy that I call Myself the ‘Son of God’ in light of the testimony of Me and My works?”
Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand: Once again, the enemies of Jesus were unable to carry out their violent plan against Jesus.
“He went forth out of that closing circle — the power that emanated from Him preventing their laying hands on Him: it was the same power that he allowed to issue from Him on the night of His arrest.” (Trench)
He went away again beyond the Jordan: Jesus did not remain in Jerusalem among the hostile religious leaders. Knowing the time was short but not yet for His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus went beyond the Jordan.
Then many came to Him… many believed in Him there: Jesus still faced great opposition from the religious leaders in Jerusalem, and their greatest act of opposition was just about to begin. Yet many people still came to Jesus. God’s work went on, despite the opposition of man.
3062025306302530620253062025
The Sadducees and the Pharisees almost got Jesus. They got so close they were forming a ring around Him. They thought they had surrounded Him. They thought they caught Him blaspheming. Oh, that was serious! They just could not handle His wise remarks.
Jesus quoted some more scripture to them. According to the commentary, He used scripture from Exodus and Leviticus on them.
What would happen if someone from the "flock" stood in the lobby of your church or synagogue and started telling the people they didn't need to come to the church or synagogue anymore because once they Believe in Jesus, they are the Adopted Children of God. They don't need the preacher preaching Salvation anymore, they have eternal life.
If all the Christians [real Christians, not pew warmers] left the church or synagogue, who would put money in the donation plate. Who would pay the preacher? Who would pay the electric bill? Who would pay the church mortgage? Someone has to keep the lights on.... Who would do that? Well, those pew warmers of course. There are plenty of them, right?
If you are the Adopted Child of God, are you a god?
According to the commentary, the Old Testament taught that the Pharisees and the Sadducees, as leaders of the Temple Worship, were actually called little gods.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees called Jesus the Bastard son of Mary. They would stone Mary to death if they had the chance. So far, Jesus has nixed that option. They called Jesus a Bastard because He didn't have an Israelite father, they could point out in the census records. Jesus was a Nazarene and the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, according to the Scriptures. They didn't know Jesus was born in Bethlehem. All the male babies born in Bethlehem were murdered by the king. He could not possibly have survived that brutal assault. He must be a Bastard. A Bastard in the Temple... now that would be blasphemous enough... but when He started teaching them and contradicting their rules and regulations, they had to get rid of Him.
If it weren't for the crowds of New Believers [Christians], they would have gotten rid of Him already... they thought!
Now look at verse 39. "Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp."
They tried to grab Him but it wasn't His Time. Did He just beam Himself out of their circle? They had Him surrounded! They had hatred and revenge in their hearts and they just let Him get away?
Isn't He God? Couldn't He just disappear and show up outside the circle? Do you think He did that? Or did the crowd intimidate those little gods, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, that they just "let him go"?
He Just Did It! He's Jesus! He can do anything!
He Just Did It!
