During the Feast of Dedication, which was observed during the winter, Jesus was in the temple and the Jews asked Jesus to tell them if he was the Christ. Jesus has already tried doing this by healings, miracles, and sermons, which had been met with skepticism, accusation and unbelief from the Jews. The Jews mentioned here are most likely the Jewish Leaders, Pharisees. Imagine trying over and over to prove to someone that you are who you say you are, but the person keeps saying, “Nope, your actions are not good enough. Tell me again who you are.” Jesus explains that his sheep, meaning believers, know his voice and follow Him and they know his identity. Jesus protects his sheep. This is linked back to the first section of this chapter where Jesus describes himself as the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:1-21). Jesus has an identity, as God’s Son, and his sheep know that and understand his identity as God’s Son and that he and God are one.
Because Jesus said that he was God’s Son and that he and God were one, the Jews wanted to kill him because he was speaking blasphemy (slander, denigration) by saying he was “God”. Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6, which called the Israelites “gods” and they received the word from the Father, and asked why they were accusing him of blaspheming as he was blessed and sent from God. The Jews were correct in not believing him if his works are not God’s; however, if he does works of the Father, Jesus encourages them to believe the miracles even though they do not believe him. By doing this, the Jews will know and understand that the Father and Jesus are the same.
What is the Message about God?
The message of God is stunning. He will never allow someone to take you from his hand. Jesus and the Father are one. God will never let us…never let me, go. Because Jesus was sent from God, he ended up telling the Jews to believe his works because they were God’s, even if they did not believe Jesus himself. Satan wants to steal a hope we have that God cares and loves us. In chapter 10, Jesus calls himself the Shepherd and Satan the thief that wants to kill and steal the sheep. Satan wants to take us out of God’s hand, yet Jesus says because the sheep hear his voice and follow and he knows them, Jesus gives them eternal life and says no one will take them from his hand or the Father’s hand! We are in Him, and Satan cannot take us from his hand!
What is the Message about Me?
The message about me is to the point; do I have faith and believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that he and the Father are one? “Never perish or taken out of his hand” what thought provoking words. The Good Shepherd and God’s Son, Jesus has me in his hand and because he and God are one, God also has me in his hand and He will never let anyone take us from his hand. Sheep are known as being “dumb animals” but really they pose as such wonderful examples. A sheep really does know his master’s voice. A sheep will run away at the sight and sound of anyone other than his master, he will not follow anyone else and when a ewe or ram is missing from the flock, the shepherd will go searching for it. Sheep trust their Shepherd. Am I sheep or like the Jews, just waiting to find out who Jesus really is? Do I hear the shepherd’s voice? Do I trust and follow him, like sheep would follow his shepherd?
What is the Message about our World?
There are so many around us on a daily basis that do not know or hear the Shepherd’s voice. Some of them are waiting for a huge revelation that Jesus was God’s son and all he said he was, and still are lost or confused in unbelief. Others have stopped listening and following Jesus as life and priorities or circumstances pull us from Jesus and we want to be in control. Others are waiting for more proof to counter their disbelief. Others are striving to follow Christ and listen. The message to the world that needs to be communicated is that Jesus is real and that in a world that does not make sense, his voice is one that can be trusted, believed, and counted on. Jesus offers eternal life and a promise that no one will take us from his very own palm because he loves and cares for us and we are his sheep. A flock wants a shepherd. Without a shepherd, the sheep get into crevices, thorns, and wire, predators attack, they drink bad water or plants, they will die without the loving care and attention of a Shepherd. The world, like the flock, want a shepherd. Ask God today to speak to you, and then listen to his voice.
May the Lord richly bless you and keep you.
