seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 10:1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[b] 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”’[d]? 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.
Footnotes:
a. John 10:9 Or kept safe
b. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
c. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
d. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6
I read the easy English commentary this morning.
There were probably two main reasons why the Jewish leaders asked Jesus this question. Perhaps, some of them really wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah. They believed that the Messiah would defeat the Romans. Then, the Jews could rule their own land again. However, their idea of what the Messiah would do was wrong. Jesus had not come to defeat human enemies. He had come to save people from the results of sin.
But probably the other leaders wanted Jesus to say something against the law; either their own Law or Roman law. Then they would have a reason to arrest him.
But Jesus refused to answer them with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Instead, he spoke about the miracles as evidence of who he was.
Back before Jesus.... long before Jesus..... the priests were a sorted bunch. They actually stole from the sacrifices. They had free housing. They were well known in the community.... it was a lifetime appointment based on heritage. They were so rotten.... God had the earth swallow them up at one point. These are the "good souls" who are in charge of the Jewish traditions. They even physically lost the books [or scrolls or tablets] that Moses wrote the law on. Before Jesus.... people had to go to Temple. It wasn't a choice... it was a duty.... because of the blood relationship to Abraham, Isaac, David, Solomon, and the family. They were descendants of Jacob [Israel] and they were required by law to go to Temple. They were descendants of Jacob [Israel] and they were required by law to worship in a very specific manner.... with the priest in charge to make sure the manner was followed so that no one could come in and change the religion.
I bet the priests kept the story of what happened in Sodom fresh in their minds. No one wants to be turned into a salt dome running from home in the middle of a meteorite storm. That kept those descendants of Jacob [Israel] on their best behavior.
Then along came Jesus.... and He was so smart.... He knew the law by heart. Then along came Jesus.... and He was so charismatic that the people just hung on His every word. Then along came Jesus..... claiming to be something they were not. Along came Jesus who could make the blind from birth see. Along came Jesus who could make the paraplegic who had been begging beside the pool for 38 years.... get up and walk. Along came Jesus... throwing huge picnics..... making every one sit on the grass and eat barley bread and fish..... to make them hang on His every word, as they saw it.
The world wasn't the same as it was back in the days of Jacob. Israel was no longer known as a Theocracy. Israel had been invaded a number of times... Her people had been led off to Babylon with a ring through their nose. Their babies had been murdered..... and by the time Jesus came to bring the anti-dote to death..... Rome had invaded. The Roman government had their foot on the neck of the descendants of Jacob [Israel] and the head of the Temple was in Rome's pocket.
The Temple priests had to make a very difficult decision. They had to either accept Jesus as the Son of God... the Messiah..... or get rid of Him. Jesus was using their own law to show them the truth.... and they had become so ignorant to it.... they couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation with Him. They had to choose to believe Him..... which would cause them grief personally..... or they had to murder Him.... for the good of the people....
They just couldn't have someone running around, attracting large crowds, and making them look as ignorant as they actually were. Rome would never stand for it.
Yeah right.... like Rome really could take on God. If Jesus had indeed called down a legion to save Himself all that human grief..... Rome wouldn't have stood a chance..... but those priests in the Temple were afraid of Rome.
Priests were afraid of Rome.... when they were supposed to be leading the worship of the God who parted the Red Sea so Moses and about 2 million descendants of Jacob [Israel] could cross on dry land. They were supposed to be leading the worship of the God who, according to their own law, made the shadow of the sun move backwards.
Those priests were trapped in a box of ignorance.... addicted to the free food and housing.... not willing to tilt the cart..... and Jesus was a problem..... all those "miracles"..... a real Houdini way before his time.... only Jesus didn't have to resort to using anything as frivolous as magic.... Jesus used the power of God.
They kept picking up stones to murder Him. He kept walking away unscathed.... because fighting with the priests was not the mission.... this trip.
