Studies in John' Gospel Pt. 57 Will you believe or reject the claims of Christ?

Good morning to you and thank you for visiting with us to study God's Word together. Please feel free to share these lessons with anyone that you think would benefit from our studies in the scriptures. 

God's Word is always doing something in someone's life all around the world.He seeks to save the lost, call the wayward child home to the Father, to revive those who are weary and to cultivate a closer relationship with Him.

Religious leaders still would not accept Christ.

John 10:22-24  And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23) And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24) Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 

This section begins the last public teaching ministry of Jesus Christ because the Father's time was drawing near for Jesus to go to the cross to die for each one of us. 

John tells us that this discourse took place during the winter season at the feast of the dedication. What was that feast about? Today it is called Hanukkah or the feast of lights. 

In 164 BC, the Maccabees delivered  Israel from their enemies and cleansed the temple after it had been desecrated by Antiochus Ephiphanes in 168 BC.  The Maccabees were Jewish rebel warriors who took control of Judea, which was part of the Seleucid Empire. 

400 silent years. No word from Jehovah. 

I think it is helpful to remember that from the end of the book of Malachi until the gospels, Israel endured 400 years of silence. God no longer spoke to Israel. God no longer sent any prophets to His people because they were idolaters. God no longer delivered them because they had turned their backs on Him and no longer honored the God of their fathers.

Normally in the Old Testament scriptures, the writers always circle back to the mighty deliverance when Jehovah freed the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. This is cited as the most notable event in their history more than 30 times in those texts. Yet, by the time of Christ they celebrated a secular deliverance by the Maccabees instead of glorifying God and remembering His work from the past. I share this with you because I believe it shows how far away their hearts were from Jehovah.

Hearts far away from their God.

Matthew 15:7-9  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

Jesus judged the people in Matthew's gospel and we see His indictment of their hard hearts. They paid lip service to God and then did whatever they pleased  with no regard to whether or not their actions honored the Lord. Their hearts were far from their God.

Rebellion and unbelief.

John 10:23  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24) Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Jesus was walking in the temple when the Pharisees, scribes, priests and Saduccees caught up with Him. The word "round about" means that they surrounded Jesus so that He could proceed no further. They were determined to extract a definitive answer from Christ about their questions. 

They said "How long does thou make us doubt?" They want Jesus to say plainly that He was Christ, the Messiah of God. They accused Jesus of not answering their questions directly. Is their accusation true?

So far in John's gospel, we read about Jesus demonstrating the Creator's control over the elements by turning a pot of water into the very finest wine. Next, Jesus cleansed the temple because the Father's house of prayer had been turned into a den of thieves. (John 2). 

Jesus spoke plainly to a ruler named Nicodemus and told him he must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3). 

Jesus traveled to Samaria and witnessed to the woman at the well and many people were saved on that particular day. Jesus proceeded to heal the nobleman's son who was at the point of death (John 4). 

These actions were followed by Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus spent the remainder of that section plainly telling these same religious leaders that He and the Father are one, making Himself equal with God (John 5). 

Jesus fed the 5,000 people plus women and children and then he walked on the water as His disciples toiled in rowing the boat. Jesus spent much time teaching them that He was the bread of life (John 6). 

Jesus confronted the Jews again about His deity and union with the Father. He exposed their murderous plot that violated the law of God that they were to uphold (John 7).

Jesus dealt with the adulteress woman and her law breaking accusers before teaching that He was the Light of the world. After this teaching, Jesus told the Jews that the devil was their father and He finished by declaring "before Abraham was, I Am." Again, the religious leaders understood that Jesus claimed to be Jehovah in the flesh and they sought to stone Him (John 8). Finally, in John 9, Jesus healed the blind man who became a faithful witness of Christ to His antagonists and they kicked the blind man who received sight from Christ, out of the synagogue.

Therefore, in light of all the evidence from scripture, I think we must conclude that Jesus said as plainly as possible many times that the Father in heaven sent Him. He did many miracles that proved beyond any doubt that Jesus was Jehovah in the flesh. The Jews were persistent in their unbelief and they refused to believe the words or the works of Christ.

Unbelief exposed and character of true sheep explained. 

John 10:25-30  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30) I and my Father are one. 

Jesus got right to the point and told them they were guilty of unbelief. They did not believe His words or His works. Then, Jesus returned when He said "I Am the good shepherd" and told them that they do not hear His voice because they are not of His sheep. Those who believe on Jesus Christ hear His voice and obey. They followed Jesus and He granted them eternal life. Then Jesus made it a point to tell them twice that no man can pluck those sheep out of His hand or out of the Father's hand. He finished His answer by telling them once more that "I and my Father are one."

They knew Jesus said He was God.

John 10:31-33  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33) The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 

See the murderous response of the Pharisees, Saducees, priests and scribes to the clear answers from Christ. They were ready to kill Him again. They replied that they did not object to His good works, although they did when He healed on the sabbath. The main reason for their wicked response? "Because thou, being a man, makest thyself God." No one can say that the religious leaders failed to understand what Jesus said to them. They understood but rejected His claim to deity and sought to kill Him. 

Jesus used the law to remind them what God said about the judges.

John 10:34-38  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36)  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37) If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38)  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

Jesus returned to the Old Testament book of Psalms 81:1 & 6 where it speaks of human judges appointed to judge righteous judgment by God. The Hebrew word Elohim which is most often used as a name for God is also used in certain situations to refer to humans. They were "gods" in the sense that they were telling what the judgment of God was when His law was broken. Jesus' argument was since He was on a Divine Mission, set apart for God and sent forth by God that they could not accuse Him of blasphemy because He said the truth, He was the Son of God. The scripture cannot be broken and if the word "gods" applied to mere human judges in certain cases then certainly Christ is not blaspheming when He claimed to be the Son of God. 

Jesus pointed them again to His works and said they should not believe Him if He did not do the works of the Father. However, His heart for them was that they believe the works that they might know and believe that the Father is in Him. 

Jews rejection of their Messiah.

John 10:39-42  Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40) And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41) And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42) And many believed on him there. 

Once more the Jewish leaders tried to arrest Christ. The text says He escaped out of their hands. The word means simply that He came forth. His hour was not yet come and the Father would let no one take His Son until it was the perfect time for His crucifixion. 

Jesus went back to the place where John began to baptize and many people came to Him. They said that all things John proclaimed about Jesus were true. In striking contrast to the unbelieving religious leaders in Jerusalem, many believed on Jesus beyond the Jordan river. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

As we share the gospel of Christ we will encounter people who reject the words of Christ. There will be those who deny the miraculous works that He did. 

The heart of Jesus toward these people was that of a loving, caring shepherd seeking to call them to repentance and salvation. Jesus consistently placed the searchlight of God's truth on their unbelief to expose it in order that they might understand and believe. 

We too, must share the truth of God in love with those who reject Christ. We must patiently share the words and the works of Jesus Christ with them and pray for the Spirit of God to break through their stony hearts that the word might take root and bear fruit.

The Pharisees, Sadducees and priests were marked by ingrained rebellion and unbelief. They understood the claims of Christ and consistently sought to kill Him. 

In contrast to their rejection stands the response of faith, of those who believed on Christ. They are the sheep in the family of God. They have been granted eternal life not based upon their performance. Rather, it is anchored on the saving work of Christ on the cross. They know their Good Shepherd and they listen to His voice. They shall never perish and they rest secure in the Father's hand. 

I pray that the Lord of Glory will help us to be bold witnesses for His Son and that the Spirit of God will already be at work breaking up the fallow ground in many people's hearts. May we be used to help plant, sow, and water the good seed of God's word and we will trust the harvest to our Father.

Bob