1. Read verses 22-24. What is the time and where is Jesus? What was the main teaching of the previous passage? What question did the unbelieving Jews ask Jesus? Why were they in suspense?

2. Read verses 25-30. What was Jesus’ answer? What is his claim? Why did these Jewish leaders not believe? What is the characteristic of Jesus’ sheep? How can we listen to Jesus’ voice?

3. What does Jesus promise his sheep? (See also Jn 17:3) Why can no one snatch Jesus’ sheep from Jesus’ hand or from the Father’s hand? What does this mean to you and me, personally?

4. Read verses 31-39. How did these religious leaders respond to Jesus’ teaching? What does this show about them? How did they understand Jesus’ claim? Why did they try to stone him?

5. Did Jesus affirm or deny this claim? What evidence does he give to support his claim? (32,34-39) Why is it important that we know that Jesus is the Son of God?

6. Read verses 40-42. Where did Jesus go after this? What was the response of ordinary people to him?

Jesus was still in Jerusalem where he had healed the man born blind. The Jews were still divided in their conclusions about Jesus (10:19-21). Then the Feast of Dedication came. It was winter and Jesus was in the temple area, walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jewish leaders gathered around him. They said, “Why are you keeping us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Perhaps they were expecting him do perform a miracle or perhaps to start an anti Roman revolution. They were expecting something, so they were in suspense. Jesus answered, “I told you, but you did not believe.” They had already seen many miracles–a man crippled for 38 years was walking. A man born blind could see. Miracles do not produce faith. Listening to Jesus’ word does. Jesus’ sheep listen to his voice. Jesus sheep listen to the Bible and seek to live according to it. Jesus’ sheep follow their shepherd. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus promised that his sheep would not perish but have eternal life. I am Jesus’ sheep if I repent my sins and accept forgiveness through Jesus’ death on the cross for me. I am Jesus’ sheep when I invite Jesus to come into my heart and dwell with me. In New Testament times, the disciples followed Jesus around from place to place. Now, Jesus comes to dwell in our hearts when we invite him in. He leads us from within. He changes us within; he is with us always, even to the end of the age.

Furthermore, Jesus’ sheep were given to him by the Father. Jesus’ sheep are in Jesus’ hand forever. Jesus’ sheep are in the Father’s hand forever. No one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand because the Father is greater than anyone or anything. He is the Creator and Owner of heaven and earth. We do not need to be afraid of failure. We are in the Father’s hand. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” He identified himself as God. He is the Son of God and God is one. “The Lord our Lord is One.” They understood his claim. They did not accept him as Christ. They did not accept him as God. So they took up stones to stone him.

Jesus used Scripture to prove that in the Old Testament, judges who had been given God’s special revelation, God’s word, were called gods. It is because when God speaks to men through his word, that word should be obeyed, for obeying the word is obeying God. Jesus is much more than the Old Testament prophets and judges to whom the word of God was given. Jesus declared plainly that they must know and understand that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” His logic may be hard for us to follow, but the Jews understood him well. He was making a clear claim to be the Son of God; it was a claim to be God. The Christ is more than a man. The Christ is the Lord God. So they tried to seize him. They had too much to lose by acknowledging him as the Christ. So he left and went to the wilderness. Ordinary people listened to him and believed in him because he spoke the truth.

---

Attachment

• q_189.doc
• m_189.doc