John 10:22-30 “Jesus Tells the Plain Truth”

Introduction:

I. The time and place.

(John 10:22) And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

(John 10:23) And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

John is writing this Gospel account primarily to gentiles. His Gospel leaves out the genealogy of Jesus and he frequently uses the phrase “of the Jews” to describe events and customs. In verse 22 John tells us that Jesus is at Jerusalem and it was the feast of the dedication. This feast fell in the month of December after the winter solstice. It would be like saying that it was Christmas and it was winter. To us Christmas is in the winter time and thus it would be unnecessary to specify the season. In Australia it is Summer time at Christmas and it would be necessary to explain this fact to those who have not considered this fact. Gentiles needed to have explained to them the timing of this story. They needed to know that this was about two months after Jesus had given the parable of the sheepfold. It is upon a different occasion and yet the Jews have had two months to think over the words of Jesus. The lessons He has taught have had time to sink in and Jesus expected them to remember His words.

The cold winter had not kept Jesus from coming to the temple. It was, after all His Father’s house. David said “I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord.” Jesus has come to the temple as was His custom to teach. He was walking, verse 23 says, in Solomon’s porch when He was suddenly surrounded by the Jewish leaders. I believe that Jesus was leaving the Temple for the day when He was surrounded. Had He been arriving they would have waited for Him to settle in to teach before surrounding Him. He has finished teaching for the day and is leaving and before He can escape they surround Him.

II. Interrupting Jesus.

(John 10:24) 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.

The Jews have stopped Jesus in His tracts. Every where Jesus goes is important and everything He does is important. Jesus had said “I must work while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work.” The Jews interrupt the important work of Jesus to both accuse Him and to demand of Him a clear commitment. This frontal attach on Jesus is a new strategy. They have tried to trap Jesus in His words and been unsuccessful. The will now simply surround Him and ask Him point blank to say whether or not He thinks himself to be the Christ of God.

Notice that they accuse Him of keeping them in suspense. They accuse Him of causing their unbelief. How long dost thou make us to doubt? These men think that Jesus has been deliberately subtle. Many politicians are subtle. They will say things in a vague way in order to be able to deny any wrong. They can say they were misunderstood and then change their words to fit the current need. We shall see that Jesus has not been subtle and vague. He has been very straightforward with His words and with His deeds.

They demand of Jesus to tell them plainly if He is the Christ of God. They want Him to come right out and say “I AM HE!” Had not Jesus said “before Abraham was I AM?” If they can get Jesus to claim to be God right in front of the temple and in front of this crowd of witnesses who do not believe in Jesus they will have cause to stone Him to death.

III. Jesus gives a plain answer

(John 10:25) 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.

Jesus gives these men a plain answer to their inquiry. He had already told them that He is the Christ. Examine carefully what Jesus has told them in the past and you will see that He very plainly stated He is the Christ. He told them “I am the bread of life”, “I am the living water”, “I am the light of the world”, “Before Abraham was I am”, “I am not of this world”, “I am come that they might have life”, “the scriptures testify of me” etc.

IV. Jesus gives the reason for their question.

(John 10:26) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

These men have heard the words of Jesus and they have not believed them. The people are watching the Jewish leaders to see what they will do with Jesus. If He is the Christ will they accept and worship Him. If He is not the Christ will they stone Him for blaspheme. The fact that the Jewish leaders have not taken action yet is inexcusable. Jesus claims to be the Christ and they have not accepted His claim. They use the excuse that Jesus is speaking in riddles. This is not true for Jesus said “I told you”.

These men do not believe the words of Jesus because they are not saved. Only those who are saved will hear the voice of Jesus and believe and obey His words.

(John 10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jesus now reminds them of what He had said two months earlier. Those who accept Jesus as the savior hear is voice and believe in Him. Jesus knows them and they follow him.

(John 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus gives them eternal life. Only the Christ can give eternal life so hear again Jesus confirms that He is God in human flesh the savior of men. Jesus continues by saying that His followers, His sheep, will never perish. They are secure forever. They can not and will not lose their salvation. The reason they can not lose their salvation is due to the power of God. Jesus holds them firmly in His hand. No one is able to over come this power.

(John 10:29) My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

Jesus gives a second reason that they are forever saved and will never perish. The Father gave them to Jesus and He is greater than all. There is no one who can force open the hand of the Father to remove one of His children from His firm grip.

(John 10:30) I and [my] Father are one.

Jesus now states in the plainest of terms that He is the Christ. He is one with the Father. Jesus is saying that He and the Father are equal. Notice that the word “my” is not in the original text. It should have been translated “I and The Father are one.” When you see Jesus you see the Father. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one. There is only one God. We worship God in Trinity and in Unity. This concept of the triune nature of God was not new to the Jews.

Moses recorded a conversation that God had with Himself. God the Father spoke to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:26-27.

(Genesis 1:26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:…… (27) So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Jesus has plainly told these Jewish leaders that He is God. What will they do with His claim? Will they believe it? Will they reject it and stone Him? We shall see next Sunday what they will do with Jesus. In the mean time what will you do with Jesus?