A Clear Answer

A clear answer

John 10:22-30

June 30, 2024

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Kid object lesson. Have one kid draw a description of an object as another describes it without telling the one with the marker what it is. Time it. They have only 1 minute to get the picture.

It would have been a lot simpler if you could have just told them what the picture was. If you could have said, it is a >>>>>>> the picture would have come together pretty quickly even if the person with the marker could not draw very well. The issue of being blind to the real image holds us back from seeing the entire picture. Even if (one with the real image would have said, it is a ********, well, what color? What size? What is it standing on… There are still many questions to ask.

Today we will see the ones with the picture in their hands and those who just don’t see it. Our passage today is given to us as a contrast between those who see/hear and follow and those who do not. But that is not all that is given to us today. Today we come to one of the greatest and encouraging promises in all of Scripture. The sight given to the believer directly impacts the sheep of Christ. It is the blessed assurance of salvation.

Before we dive in, we need to set a little context as to where Jesus is and when.

Vs 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.

If you remember the last several weeks we were studying the results of Jesus healing the blind man in John 10. The outcome of that healing produced the “I am” statements. “I AM the Good Shepherd, I AM the Gate and a clear description as to who the sheep are, true believers. We learned that the sheep hear the voice when called and come running because of who calls them by name.

In our passage today it is important to catch the surrounding events and times so that we can get the purpose for the apostle to write this. John says it was at the time of the “feast of dedication.” The issue is that the “Feast of Dedication” is not in the OT. It was a holiday that the Jews celebrated as a result of the Maccabean revolt from Syria. The Syrians were oppressing the Jews between the OT and NT times. The Maccabean revolt happened as a result of the king, Antiochus Epiphanes coming to the temple, sacrificing a pig on the altar of the Holy of Holy’s to Zeus to demonstrate that he had complete authority over the God of Israel.

He then instituted strict rules saying that the Jews could not sacrifice to their God and forbade them from worshiping YHWH. So, in 165 BC, the Jews revolted. They drove the oppressors from the city and cleansed the temple. For a short time, the Jews were 100% free, that is until Rome occupied the land.

Why is this so important? Well, understanding this helps us understand what happens next to our Lord. John tells us that it is Wintertime. So, that puts this event about 2 to 3 months after the Feast of Booths and the blind man’s healing. That means, November and December time. This “Feast of Dedication” over time, changes it name to the Feast of Lights and later, Hanukkah.

The Feast of Dedication was a time of national pride and boldness. The Jews were celebrating when their fathers cast out an oppressive foreign ruler. They were remembering the stories as they were hoping that the Messiah would come and do it again to Rome. It is no wonder that we see them get to this point.

Vs “So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

The setting is desperation. The Greek paints this as, “If you don’t tell us now, we will die…” Or to use our words, you are killing us! We are desperate and we don’t care what it takes but you HAVE to tell us now if you are the Christ or not. No more games, no more messing around, no more parables, no more stories, tell us plainly NOW!

The words “gathered around” is almost mob rule. It was not a calm situation. Jesus was completely outnumbered and surrounded. They had one goal, pin Him down. Get Him to say, yes I am the Christ and then kill Him. A murder was getting ready to happen and nothing was going to stop it.

On a side note, do you think that the Jews would have had the audacity or arrogance to demand Him answer this question if for a second they thought He really was the Messiah? Think about that for just a minute. They knew that Christ would be coming FROM God. They would never be so blasphemous if for a second they thought that there was just the slightest chance. This is important as we move forward. They were truly blind.

1. Unbelief

Vs 25 “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do…”

Jesus came with more impressive signs and records than any human being to ever walk the face of the earth. You see, He had to do signs. He used the signs to point to who He was and what He was. It was mandatory as evidence to His true identity.

Isaiah 35:5-6: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. [1]

The signs that were spoken of Christ were lived out before the eyes of the Jews and still are being missed. It is interesting to me, how can the signs not be as obvious as MJ is to basketball or Stonehenge is to rocks? How can they be overlooked? Today, how can the validity of the Word of God be overlooked? How can unbelief be so prevalent?

Vs 26 “but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”

This is a clear, exclusive and obvious claim that there are those who are going to believe and those who do not. The claim of Christ shows that not all will understand the signs that are presented to them in the Word of God. There will be people, no matter the evidence who refuse to see facts for facts.

John 3:19

“And this is the judgment: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

The past tense word “were” evil is still seen today. There are people who will never come to the light because their unbelief holds them in the darkness of their evil ways. This refusal to come to the light makes them dig their heels into the comfort of unbelief. They become obstinate and stiff-necked.

Acts 7:51-60

“51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.[3]

As Stephen presented the Gospel of Christ, and in his conclusion points out, the resistance to the facts, the evidence will drive those who are not one of His sheep to the brink of murder. Not much has changed today. People still hate Him. Necks are still stiffened. But, there is a contrast! You may say, Von, you have covered unbelief before. But, we need to see that this is the building block for Jesus’s biggest proclamation coming.

2. Belief

Vs 27 “My sheep hear my voice”

I did not know this, but when you read that verse does it not sound plural? It sounds like He is talking to the flock right? Multiple sheep? No, actually the English lets us down a bit. The Greek renders it singular. Meaning My lamb hears My voice. Jesus made that personal and singular in nature in the Greek. It further supports the passage, “I know them, I call them by name.”

We talked at length about the Lord’s sheep. The fact that they hear His voice and respond. His salvation is effectual and complete due to Who He is and what He was sent to do.

John 10:3, 16, and back in John 6:37 shows us that when He calls, when He collects His sheep, they hear His voice and respond by name. They obey His commands and leave their old rebellion behind.

Luther says: “The sheep, though the most simple creature, is superior to all animals in this, that he soon hears his shepherd’s voice, and will follow no other. Also, he is clever enough to hang entirely on his shepherd, and to seek help from him alone. He cannot help himself, nor find pasture for himself, nor heal himself, nor guard against wolves, but depends wholly and solely on the help of another.”

We miss this but the sheep’s best attribute is that they rely on that Shepherd! There is an immediate and expected difference in personality and identity.

Matthew 13:44-45

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. [4]

It will change everything to be a lamb of the Highest. It will cost you everything yet gain you eternity. It will change your friendships, your movie selections, your speech, your hopes, and your ambitions. Most importantly, it will make you even more responsive to His calling and direction through His Holy Spirit to live in a way that is different than the goats (non-believers).

Of great value, you will gain true vision, true hearing and true love. Remember when I had ***** draw a picture based on what was being described? I wonder, what would have happened if I gave them the actual picture to copy? What if I gave them a big enough picture that they could trace it?

This is what our LORD does! He gives you the picture to trace. It’s Him and it is 100% accurate and secure.

3. Know the security of the Father and Son.

Security gets very important as you get older. Older people live a life absent of security and have witnessed the failures of men’s promises, the failures of men’s systems and policies. We have been let down and abandoned time and time again. When we are young, we trust everything and everyone. But, as we age, we see nothing in this life is 100%.

If I asked by a show of hands, how many would say that they felt betrayed by someone they trusted, I bet more hands would be in the air than not. My point is that security is something more valuable and sought after than we would like to admit. That is why the number one question that pastors get is, “Pastor, how do I know that I am saved?” The question is simply, how do I know I am secure?

This is where I want to spend the bulk of our time today.

Vs 28, 29 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.[5]

Some call this “eternal security” or “blessed assurance.” In short, this passage is in response to all who have asked this question over time. It is the most important answer and greatest truth in the Word of God for the heart that is afraid of losing their salvation.

Allow me to first address the root of the question. The source is fear. Dear believer, God does NOT want you afraid! In 1 John 4:18, it says that perfect love casts out fear. Fear is a tool of the devil that has caused believers to doubt Him who secures you.

Allow me to use a biblical example of this. If you remember, we studied the blind man in depth. He starts not knowing Christ. Is healed and sent to the pool to wash. Then, when his neighbors turn him over to the rulers, he is abandoned by every human support (neighbors, and parents). The one set of people who should have stood by him abandoned him. Does this sound like your story? Have you been abandoned?

Remember how the story progressed. While being questioned by the rulers, he had an out to distance himself from Christ, “Wouldn’t you agree He is a sinner.” But, instead of taking the easy road, he took the stand and painted the picture of healing that Jesus gave him. The result, the blind man was cast out.

It is no accident that this passage that we are studying is here! Look at this, John is not a synoptic gospel. He is notorious for not going in chronological order and yet, he did this! I feel like it stands as an important reminder, you may be cast out by friends, parents, wife, husband, children, and the “ruling class” but you will NEVER be cast out by your Lord. No! Instead, Jesus went and found him after and saved him!

Vs 9:35 “Do you believe in the Son of Man?

Jesus KEEPS His sheep! What a cruel trick would it have been if Jesus went and found him and said, yea, you have been cast out of the temple so you are on your own. Or, I know you said that you believed and worshiped me, but I changed my mind.

Even when the world casts them out, and attempts to snatch them away, it does not matter. We must understand who it is that holds us tight. This is not my opinion, this is what Jesus is teaching. Eternal is held by the possession of the parties involved listed here in the passage! Listen, if you struggle with the concept that God is your boss and not your loving Father, this will resonate with you.

In order for a transaction to be secured we need to understand the parties involved:

a. Vs 29: “MY Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all…”

Party in the first order; to use legal terms is the Father! Meaning it all starts with the original owner, the Father. He created all and that includes you. Notice, the first person to own you is not you. It is THE Father who then, through the obedience of the Son, GIVES.

Given: (didōmi). vb. to give, to offer. A general word for giving; in a sacrificial context, it can refer to the presentation of an offering.[6]

You are presented to the Son. Given and completely given. The idea that you could be dropped here between hands is lunacy. If He could drop you, you have a very low view of who is giving you.

b. Vs 29 “My Father who has given them to me…”

The party in the second order is the Son! The ownership moves from the Father to the Son and then the Son does something very unique with the sheep that He has. “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”

The Son has a role and function. He is clearly saying that His job is to give the eternal life. Again, there are no drops, misplacing, or loosing here in the text. Listen, if that was the case, wouldn’t Jesus have said that here? If it was any other case, Jesus should have said, I’ll save them IF they say the right prayer. IF they choose to obey first. IF they…. Fill in the blank.BY THE WAY, HE NEVER SAYS THAT!

I want to be very clear. This is a two-way contract. In our passage, do you see the sheep doing anything to “secure” themselves in this contract? Instead, they are the recipient of security only as the Father draws them (John 6:44). Because they are drawn, they are secure. Look back at our verse. He says “never”.

Never: 1: not ever: at no time

2: not in any degree: not under any condition[7]

Perish: apollymi destroy; lose; destroy utterly

Who has the power to destroy? The Father only. The original owner is the only one when it comes to eternal damnation and destruction is the very same who is holding you secure in His mighty hand if you are IN the Son.

Vs 28 “….and no one will snatch them out of my hand…My Father is greater than all…no one is able to snatch them out.

Snatch: harpazo means take away seize; plunder; attack; or gain control over.

You may ask, what happened to so and so? They were on fire for God and then just fell off the face of the earth. They completely walked away from God never to return and once more, they are angry with God. The Bible says, “they went out from us because there were never of us” These are not snatched out of God’s hand. These were never in God’s hand.

1 John 2:19: “19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

When Jesus says no one will snatch them, it implies that some will try. We see that often and it is sad! But, when it comes to the believer’s security, NO ONE can break the bonds between the Father and the Son. NO one has the power to destroy the transaction already performed in full. NO one, power, principality, NO ONE.

I can hear the objections already. What about the person? Couldn’t they lose their own salvation? Listen, please. You and I have a 100% fail rate when it comes to obedience and spiritual matters. We fail daily to the power of sin and the devil. If our salvation security depended on you and me, we would lose it before we began.

Notice please my point in our passage. Please do not take my word for this. Look, did Jesus say, it depends on you or me in our passage? No, again, it is between the Father and Son.

Now, before you say that I am preaching “once saved always saved” concepts that many rail against, I need to be very clear. This security is NOT for the goats. It is not for those who are not called by the Father, secured by the Son. Allow me to use RJ Ryle’s quote to prove my point:

“It is those who hear Christ’s voice and follow Him, who alone are “sheep:” it is “His sheep,” and His sheep alone. who shall never perish. The man who boasts that he shall never be cast away and never perish, while he is living in sin, is a miserable self-deceiver. It is the perseverance of saints, and not of sinners and wicked people, that is promised here. Doubtless the doctrine of the text may be misused and abused, like every other good thing. But to the humble penitent believer, who puts his trust in Christ, it is one of the most glorious and comfortable truths of the Gospel”

A true sheep is never cast away. But a true sheep would not live a life that is not of the fold. A true sheep would not look for the loopholes for disobedience. A true sheep would never trample afresh the blood of his or her savior. A true sheep counts the costs of this security and humbly falls at the feet of Him who offers it.

Conclusion:

I know that this passage may spark great discussion but I have to say, the principles that our LORD has given us are not isolated or unique to John 10. It is all throughout the Word of God. It may frustrate you and if that is the case, I am glad. The reason is that if it challenges you it may be the Holy Spirit showing you that you are not seeing the picture as He presented it.

The main point of the message today is this: I want all of us to know this security that the Father and Son has secured! Know it, live in it, trust it, don’t doubt it!

Unbeliever aside.

I would ask, have you been let down by people you think should never let you down? Listen, the Father will never let you down. If you recognize your sin today, it is Him softening your heart to the fact that He sent His Son to save and redeem sinners like you. He came to take the penalty of your sin and cast it away. Then He will call you by name and you will be saved through His work on the cross.

The Father so loved that He willingly sent His Son for you. To take the very worst of you (sin) and give you the very best of Him, (His life) as a payment. What love is this? What love is this to be called by the Father to eternal security?

ZACH story in Disney Land.

Who held onto who?