The Gospel of John - 10b
Author: Steve Amato
Description: I and the Father are One
Keywords: bible study,jesus, gospel, trinity,eternal security,sheep,miracles

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

# John 10:22-42 (web)

# I and the Father are One

22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him,
"How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don’t believe.
The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give eternal life to them.
They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.
No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are one."
31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them,
"I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of those works do you stone me?"
33 The Jews answered him,
"We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy:
because you, being a man, make yourself God."
34 Jesus answered them,
"Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’
35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came
(and the Scripture can’t be broken),
36 Do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world,
‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’
37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works;
that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.

40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place
where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed.
41 Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign,
but everything that John said about this man is true."
42 Many believed in him there.

# Discussion Questions

vs 22-29
Had Jesus told them that he was the Christ? (Compare Implicit communication versus Explicit)
Or from what else should they have inferred who he was?
How did Jesus know they were not his sheep?
vs 28-29 What aspects of Eternal Security do these verses support?
How many times in this chapter does Jesus make reference to his miracles? And why?
vs 30-39 By calling himself the Son of God, how did the Jews interpret this?
Did Jesus deny making himself out to be God?
Did Jesus imply that they misinterpreted him,
or that interpreted him correctly, but that they simply didn't believe him?
vs 41 Why do you suppose God didn't have John the Baptist do miracles?

# Comments

vs 22 This was what we know today as the Jewish Hanukah. This was the feast of dedication, appointed by Judas Maccabaeus and his brethren, on account of the purging the temple, and renewing the altar, after the profanation of them by Antiochus.

vs 23-26 Though Jesus had not told them explicitly up to this point that he was the Christ, yet it was clearly implied in both his teachings and through his miracles. There are many, even Christians, who demand the Bible say these very explicitly before they take action, but in fact God wants us to walk by the Spirit and not simply by the letter, though at times things may not be explicitly stated, yet we can infer applications from what is stated.

But their problem was not really one of understanding, but believing. They wanted him to make a direct statement so as to bring accusations against him. And once again I make reference to 1John 4:6 "We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." Understanding what the Bible means is one thing, but it is ineffective if understanding is not combined with faith. "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard." Heb 4:2

vs 28-29 These verses are often used to affirm the concept of Eternal Security. But in particular what is emphasized is the idea that no one who attempts to steal God's sheep is able to do so. Jesus, as the good shepherd, prevents all forms of sheep stealing. It is impossible to steal God's sheep. Romans 8:28-39 also deals with this and other aspects of eternal security. But Arminians will propose that this doesn't deal with the situation in which the sheep decide to leave out of their own free will. But think about it. What if you are such a shepherd and one of your sheep wanders off on its own? Do you then figure - it left out of its own free will, so I'm going to just let it go astray? Certainly not. You go and bring it back. The sheep doesn't have permission to leave. Believers don't have the free will to leave the flock. We are owned by Jesus. If we stray, it's inevitable that the Lord brings us back. That's part of his job as a shepherd. If he doesn't, then we were never his sheep to begin with. That's why John says of those who fall away in a permanent sense, "They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us." 1John 2:19

vs 30 In verse 29 Jesus speaks of his subordinate role to the Father. But while there are differences of role within the Trinity, there is also unity. Being one with the Father is not a modalistic concept in which Jesus is equivalent to the Father. For he clearly has spoken of the Father as being distinct from himself. But why bring up this "I and the Father are one" idea to begin with? Probably he is responding to their question. "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

vs 31-35 The Jews interpreted his statement as equating himself with God. And once again Jesus pointed out his miracles affirming his position. And he doesn't disagree with their interpretation. But he does go on to support his right to make such a claim.

vs 34-35 Ps 82:6 I said, "You are gods, All of you are sons of the Most High." Jesus is saying that if the scriptures can call you "sons of God" in a sense, then how much more do I deserve the title as the Son of God, seeing as God has set me apart and sent me into the world. And God affirmed me by the miraculous signs.

vs 37-38 This is an important apologetical principle. For God does not demand that we gullibly accept the claims of those who claim to be prophets. The same is true even of God's existence for that matter. (Romans 1:20,21) Miracles affirm Jesus' claim. To take the miracles out of the history of Jesus Christ is to remove Jesus Christ himself from history. For he and his teachings are tied up in the miraculous accounts, which are central to the message, and even central to the gospel itself. (1Cor 15:3-6)

vs 40 As there were many threats on his life at this time in Judea, crossing the Jordan he also cross jurisdictional lines making it more difficult for his persecutors to take action against him. And this kind of thing he often did till his time had come.

vs 41,42 Jesus also had the support of the followers of John the Baptist, having been affirmed by his testimony as well. But why didn't God have John do miracles? Perhaps simply because they may distract people too much from the Lord and tempt people to view the two on the same level. That's also why John's minstry ended shortly after he testified of Christ. For he said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

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