I and The Father Are One

John 10:22-42

Key Verse 30

“I and the Father are one.”

In today’s passage we can see the conflict between Jesus and the Jews. The conflict comes because of unbelieving of the Jews. They did not believe because they were not Jesus’ sheep. Jesus revealed that he gives eternal life to his sheep who listens to him. The eternal life is completely secure because it is guaranteed by the Father. The union between Jesus and the Father shows Jesus is God. Miracles are evidence of the complete unity between Jesus and the Father. 

1. Look at verses 22-24.  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:22-24  Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,  23  and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.  24  The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

When and where does this event take place? 

ANSWER:

This event takes place during the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah. Jesus was at the Temple in Jerusalem in Solomon’s Colonnade.

Why were the Jews in suspense?  

ANSWER:

The Jews were in suspense because they did not know who Jesus is, i.e. the Christ.  No one who does not know who Jesus is, is already in suspense. They do not know where they came from and where they are going. Most of all they do not have eternal life. So they are very insecure and suffer from all kinds of anxiety.

Look at verses 25-26.  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:25-26  Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me,  26  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

What did Jesus tell them? (25) 

ANSWER:

Joh 10:25  Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me,

Jesus told them, “I did tell you, but you did not believe.” The problem of the Jews came from their unbelief although they claimed that Jesus did not tell them plainly that Jesus is the Christ.

When we do not believe Jesus we do not hear what he says. Even among us our communication is very limited if we do not trust others who speak to us.

Why should they not have been in suspense?  

ANSWER:

Because had already told them who he is.  They should have listened to him.

Why did they not believe? (26)

ANSWER:

Joh 10:26  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

Because they were not Jesus’ sheep. They belonged to the devil and they hear what it says. (Jn 8:43-44)

2. Look at verses 27-30.  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:27-30  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 can snatch them out of my hand.  29  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  30  I and the Father are one."

What is the characteristic of Jesus’ sheep? (27) 

ANSWER:

Joh 10:27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

They listen to Jesus’ voice.  Jesus knows them and they follow Jesus. Listening to Jesus and following Jesus is the main character of Jesus’ sheep. Following comes as the result of listening to Jesus. When we believe Jesus speaks us and leads us we can hear his voice and find his leading. If we do not believe it we may miss what he says and his leading.

What does Jesus promise his sheep? (28) 

ANSWER:

Joh 10:28  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Eternal life.  And no one can snatch them from his hands. This eternal life is secured. This security is emphasized in today’s passage.

Why are Jesus’ sheep so secure? (29) 

ANSWER:

Joh 10:29  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

The Father has given the sheep to Jesus, and the Father is greater than all, therefore no one can snatch them out of Jesus’ hands.

The Father is the greatest and the mightiest man in the whole universe. If God guarantees something who can break it? Security is important especially it removes ‘suspense’ from man’s life. We live in the anxiety and suspense if we do not believe in Jesus because our life is not secure and our future is not secure.

What is the significance of Jesus’ word in verse 30?

ANSWER:

Joh 10:30  I and the Father are one."

Jesus was revealing that he is God.  He revealed that Jesus and the Father have complete unity. The unity between Jesus and the Father is the foundation of security of eternal life.

3. Look at verses 31-39.  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:31-39  Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,  32  but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"  33  "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "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'?  35  If he called them `gods,' to whom the word of God came -- and the Scripture cannot be broken --  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 what my Father does.  38  But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, 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.

Why were the Jews so angry with Jesus? (31-33)  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:31-33  Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,  32  but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"  33  "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

Because they thought Jesus, whom they considered a MERE man, claimed to be God.  So they picked up stones to stone him again. (Jn. 8:59)

How did Jesus try to help them overcome their murderous intentions? (34-36)  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:34-36  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, `I have said you are gods'?  35  If he called them `gods,' to whom the word of God came -- and the Scripture cannot be broken --  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'?

Jesus explained based on the Scriptures (Ps. 82:6).  Based on the Scriptures the Israelites were called ‘gods’.  So Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, should not have been a problem.  It was not blaspheming.  

How did Jesus reveal that he and the Father are one? (37-38)  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:37-38  Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.  38  But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

Jesus did what the Father did (37).  Also the miracles Jesus performed revealed they were one also (38). “The Father is in me and I am in the Father” is just expression that Jesus and the Father are one.

Did the Jews accept Jesus’ Words? (31, 39)

ANSWER:

Joh 10:31  Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,

Joh 10:39  Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

No. Both times they tried to stone Jesus or seize him when Jesus claimed his unity with the Father.

4. Look at verses 40-42.  

ANSWER:

Joh 10:40-42  Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed  41  and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."  42  And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Why do you think Jesus left them and went back to the place where John baptized? (40-41) 

ANSWER:

Joh 10:40-41  Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed  41  and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."

Jesus left because they refused to listen to Jesus’ Words and wanted to kill him.  He went back to the Jordan River where John baptized (Jn. 1:28), where many believed.  John had prepared a believing environment. Jesus could avoid unnecessary conflict and focused on saving believing people.

How did many believe without seeing miracles? (41)

ANSWER:

Joh 10:41  and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."

Because they listened to John’s Words, even though John did not perform any miraculous signs. When they believed John’s testimony about Jesus they could believe in Jesus. We can know Jesus by believing reliable testimony about Jesus.

The end.