The In-Between Responses that Still Answer the Question

John 10:22-30

²² At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; ²³ it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴ The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. ²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

²⁸ and I give them eternal life, and 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; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30)

“The Feast of Dedication goes back to the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. After the Seleucid king Antiochus Ephiphanes profaned the Jewish temple and forced the Jews to abandon their sacrifices and adopt pagan rituals, a group of Jewish freedom fighters rose up, defied the oppressive pagan regime, and overthrew the Seleucids. The temple in Jerusalem was re-dedicated to God; ever since then, the Feast of Dedication has been celebrated to commemorate this meaningful event in Jewish history.”

GotQuestions.Org

²⁴ The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)

1.) Christ has given Answers Wrapped in His Works.

John 10:25

“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me." (John 10:25)

“While Jesus never claimed publicly among ‘the Jews’ that he was the Messiah, in various ways his words had indicated to them who he was. He told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, that he was the Son of Man who came down from heaven (3:13–14). Following the healing of the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda Jesus told ‘the Jews’ the works he did were the works of his Father, and they sought to kill him because, by so saying, he was making himself equal with God (5:16–18).

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COLIN G. KRUSE, JOHN: AN INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY

Jesus told them God had entrusted all judgment to him and granted him to have life in himself so that he could raise the dead, both of which are divine rights (5:22, 24–26). During the Feast of Tabernacles he told ‘the Jews’ that he knew God and had been sent by God (7:28–29). He also publicly invited those who were thirsty to come to him and drink, promising to give them the streams of living water of which the Scriptures spoke (7:37–38).

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COLIN G. KRUSE, JOHN: AN INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY

He told ‘the Jews’ that ‘before Abraham was born I am’ (8:58), assuming for himself the divine name. He presented himself as the good shepherd (10:11, 14), identifying himself with God who, in the OT, is the shepherd of Israel. Despite all these things, Jesus said, ‘you do not believe’.”

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COLIN G. KRUSE, JOHN: AN INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY

“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalms 37:4-5)

“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me." (John 10:25)

“And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Luke 7:22)

Jesus is Still Working

Jesus is Still Working

“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:18-20)

Application

2.) Christ will give Answers in our following of Him.

John 10:26-27

²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (John 10:26-27)

A Repeated Emphasis

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

“And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”” (Luke 18:6-8)

Pursue Him with Perseverance

• “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)
• “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Application

3.) Christ give Answers in the security He bestows upon us.

John 10:28-30

²⁸ and I give them eternal life, and 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; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

²⁸ and I give them eternal life, and 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; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

Christ has secured the promise of our eternal life.

Through the Holy Spirit

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” �(Ephesians 1:13-14)

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The Love of Christ

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” �(Romans 8:38-39)

He Will Finish His Work through You.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” �(Philippians 1:6)

He Will Fight Every Battle for You.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18)

²⁸ and I give them eternal life, and 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; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

“I and the Father are one.”

John 1:14; John 14:10; John 17:11; 1John 2:24

“In context it seems to refer primarily to the fact that the Father and Son are one in purpose and action. When it comes to preserving the life of the believing flock, they are one in their desire and ability to safeguard every believer.”

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ROBERT H. MOUNCE, JOHN (THE EXPOSITOR’S BIBLE COMMENTARY)

Application

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