John mentions that it is winter time (December) when Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem and the Jews surround Him saying, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly” (10:22-24). This question is deceitful because the Jews were not really interested in the truth, they just wanted Jesus to publicly declare that He was the Messiah and then they could warrant an attack on Him for blasphemy. Rather than wage a war of words with the religious leaders, Jesus confirms what He has already said, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you” (10:25-26). Jesus had repeatedly told them that He was the One sent by God, but they did not believe. Why did the Jews not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior? The Jewish people were looking for a man who brought deliverance from their current circumstances and could free them from Roman rule; however, Jesus was not sent to free them from a political system, but free them from sin. Furthermore, the Jews did not accept Jesus because they were not properly related to Him through a spiritual birth, which only comes by repentance and faith in Jesus (John 3:1-21). Returning to His illustration of the sheep (those who believe) and Shepherd (Jesus Christ), Jesus reveals to them why they will not hear Him, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (10:27-29). Those who approach God with confession of sin and faith in Jesus as their Savior become God’s sheep and are given eternal life and security in the hands of God. The security we have in God through Jesus Christ does not rest in our good works, but in the work which Jesus has already done. Jesus’ death is our payment for sin and His resurrection is our guarantee of eternal life.
What Jesus says next infuriates the Jews. Jesus declares, “I and My Father are one” (10:30). By stating this, Jesus was not teaching that He and God were the same person, but that they were unified in their work. Ultimately Jesus’ statement assumed His unity with God in His nature and will. The Jews interpreted this as blasphemy and picked up stones to kill Jesus (10:31), but He quickly asked them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” In anger the Jews responded, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (10:33). Their words revealed that they viewed Jesus as just another man. Jesus then refers to the Old Testament (Psalm 82:6) where God calls some human judges “gods.” If God can call men “gods” than why is it wrong for Jesus to refer to Himself as the “Son of God?” Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary explains it like this, “Jesus’ argument was that if the divine name had been applied by God to mere men, there could be neither blasphemy nor folly in its application to the incarnate Son of God Himself” (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. 1999. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers).
Jesus then gives a quick challenge to His Jewish listeners saying, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (10:37-38). They did not have to believe on Him based on His words alone, but they could also evaluate the works He has done to see if His works were the works of God the Father (John 5:19). Instead of contemplating what Jesus had said, the Jews tried to take Him captive but He escaped (10:39).
Although the religious leaders had every opportunity to believe in Jesus as Savior, they chose to harden their heart against the truth and embrace what they believed to be true. The failure to open our hearts to the truth will prevent many from discovering forgiveness and hope through Jesus Christ. You owe it to God to open your heart and examine the claims of Christ to see if they are true or not. Do not merely accept what others have taught you, but read God’s story to see if He has really offered eternal life to all who repent and believe.
Dear God, open our hearts to the truth of Your word so we can see Jesus.
