September 6, 2023

John 10:22-39 (HCSB)
Jesus at the Festival of Dedication
22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus 31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which of these works are you stoning Me for?” 33 “We aren’t stoning You for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because You—being a man—make Yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your scripture, I said, you are gods? 35 If He called those whom the word of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God? 37 If I am not doing My Father’s works, don’t believe Me. 38 But if I am doing them and you don’t believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father.” 39 Then they were trying again to seize Him, yet He eluded their grasp.

Jennifer Kirkup
“Are you the Messiah or aren’t you?” Proof for the wrong reasons. Jesus declaring Himself as not just a good teacher but God himself; that's what they wanted. Those asking for proof didn’t want to follow Jesus, they were hoping for Him to declare Himself Messiah. The laws stated anyone claiming to be God should die and there was no persuading them that Jesus was telling the truth. It is so difficult to convince people when you do not look like what they expect. The Jews expected a military leader, but Jesus came as a servant son of a carpenter. They were looking for someone to lead the Jewish nation, to again take control of the land. For Jesus to blatantly say, “I am the Messiah” would raise false hopes in their minds. The Jews picked through the evidence selecting only what they wished to emphasize, while ignoring the rest. Ignoring the works. The Jews had been told everything they needed to know but they refused to believe. His words, His works. Deeds alone not enough, words alone not enough. We know how this story ends and Jesus became more than enough. He became EVERYTHING.