Will You Believe and Trust?

Even though this seems as though we have not yet reached the halfway point in the book of John, we are actually at the end of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, John has covered 3+ years of the public ministry of Christ in these few chapters. After this message, our focus will be very concentrated on the last short period of the life of Jesus Christ on this earth.

In what John has written so far, he has made it abundantly clear that Jesus Christ is God and is the only way to salvation. He has shown that Jesus has been very open and public about this with everyone, whether they are Jew or Gentile, whether they are a lay person or a religious leader.

In the Christmas move, The Polar Express, there is a discussion about believing that Santa Claus exists. The hobo appears to be a philosopher as he engages the doubting young boy. In one place, he comments that sometimes “believing is seeing.”

The 17th century French philosopher, Pascal, stated: “There is enough evidence for those who want to believe and never enough for those who do not.” The reality is that seeing does not always lead to believing, as we have observed from the ungodly religious leaders in Jesus’ time and from many others around us today. However, when one has seen and heard the amazing things Jesus did, there is only one more step to go. Just like that little boy in The Polar Express; he had seen all the amazing things that could only mean that Santa was real; he just needed to accept and believe. I’m not suggesting that there is a Santa Clause. But the principle is similar; when a person is confronted with all of the truth claims of Christ, it is up to us to make that choice to believe.

We are not asking people to believe a fairytale. We are not in a situation like Maxwell Smart with no way out; thinking we can outsmart someone by asking an absurd question as to if they would believe all that is necessary to show that Jesus alone is God and he alone can provide salvation. Now it becomes a personal choice; Will you, as an individual, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation? If you have, can you trust him to keep your salvation?

If we believe, then we can trust.

Unbelief Promotes Suspicion. - 10.22-24

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

As we begin this passage, it is helpful to understand that the feast of dedication takes place approximately 2 months after what we just read about in verse 21. In addition, the feast of dedication, is what we commonly understand and refer to as Hanukkah. Now, this is actually not an Old Testament feast which God told them to practice. This was actually developed after the time of Hosea. The Feast of the Dedication was celebrated on the twenty-fifth day of the Jewish month Chislev (Nov.–Dec.). Who knows but that this may have been one reason why our Christmas Day is on the 25th of December?

This feast is actually a celebration of when the Jews defeated the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes. According to historians, around 170 BC, this king captured Jerusalem and then desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar. He went on to put a statue of Zeus on the altar, or in place of the altar. He attempted to impose the Greek culture, which is called Hellenization, upon the Jewish people. This included all of the horrible pagan practices. He was merciless as he tortured and killed Jews who would not go along with this. To get an idea of how terrible this was, he would force the Jewish people to offer sacrifices to false gods. He also prohibited the reading of any of the old Testament writings. The Jewish people were not allowed to observe the Sabbath nor to circumcise their children. This is probably one of the first and most powerful examples of how God's people were attacked for their beliefs by a government leader.

As a result, a small group of individuals led a revolt against this ungodly king. They actually practiced guerrilla warfare for a period of three years before taking over and defeating Antiochus. Interestingly, it was the pious religious leaders who led the revolt.

In these verses, we see the Jewish religious leaders gathering around Jesus to question him again. The word for gathered around actually carries the idea of circling around him, leaving him no path of escape. Their question is a very good question and probably one of the most important questions one can ask. Yet based upon their history, it is hard to believe that the question could be genuine. They more than likely were attempting to trap him in his response so as to get rid of him.

“How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” By the use of the word plainly, they are telling Jesus to make his proclamation as the Messiah public and for all to hear. If Jesus would do that, they would have their reason to arrest him because he is claiming to be God. To them, that would be blasphemy.

Belief and Trust Provides Security. - 10.25-31

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 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. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.

Jesus responds by showing them the ridiculousness of their question. They knew that he had already told [them] and any who would listen. They also knew that when he told them, they had accused him of being demon possessed. In addition, simply the things which he did, that which only God could do, should prove to anyone who observed, that he is God.

We need to understand the seriousness of this. The fact that they did not believe is not because they did not have enough information. It is the same today. They have the information that is necessary. Just like these Jewish religious leaders, not believing is because they lack faith and choose to trust in themselves and their knowledge and their works. There was an unwillingness to humble themselves and to surrender and repent of their sins. Just like the self-righteous Pharisees, too many people today try to evaluate their sin to see if it is enough to keep them out of heaven. Too many people try to compare themselves to other people, thinking that they are not bad enough to go to hell.

Jesus also reminds them that [they] are not of [his] sheep. Here is a reminder of the incredible tension that exists between our free will and God's sovereign choice. Those who reject Jesus do so of their own free will. It seems to me that the concept of free will is only seen when we choose to reject God and His commands. By nature, we would never choose that which is right. Interestingly, the Bible does not spend time trying to reconcile this or explain it in a way in which we can fully grasp it. But it is taught and it is not troublesome to God in any way.

As Jesus continues in verse 27, we are reminded that those whom God calls will hear his voice and we will respond positively. The salvation that we experience is not something we earn or even seek. Verse 28 clearly states that it is God Who gives eternal life. And eternal life is just that; it is eternal. In other words, it can never end. We, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, will never perish. We can never be taken away from God. Who is greater than God? There is no one who is greater than God. And God the Father, has given them to Jesus, who is also God. Plus, no one can snatch them out of the hands of Jesus nor can anyone snatch us out of the hands of the heavenly Father.

Let me camp on this point just a bit. To suggest that a true believer in Jesus Christ can lose their salvation would be to denounce who Jesus Christ is. It would also make him out to be a liar and an incompetent shepherd. In addition, if we hear and follow his voice, we will not follow any other voice that will lead us away from our salvation. For eternal life to be able to end is a contradiction in terms. Also, if eternal life is given by Jesus, that means that we did not earn it. If we did not earn it as it was given by Jesus, we cannot lose it.

Jesus is not yet done. Jesus did not answer their question by stating that he is the Messiah. He went further, by stating that [he and the Father are one.] This was equal to blasphemy in the minds of the religious leaders. Thus, the Jewish religious leaders picked up stones to kill him, again. At last count, this makes the fourth time that John has pointed out that these religious leaders wanted to stone him. Even though capital punishment was not allowed for the Jewish people to carry out, they were so incensed that they were willing to go against the Roman government and kill Jesus anyway.

Let’s review some basic truths here from these verses before going on. Those who are not saved do not have much use for the Bible. However, those who are genuinely saved will live according to the Bible. Or you could say that the Bible lives in them.

In addition, a person who is genuinely saved will not flit about from one religious system to another. They will not be seduced by cults or churches that are not grounded firmly in the truth of God's word.

If a person is genuinely born again, one of God's sheep, they will not live in disobedience or rebellion. A person who is not saved may masquerade as a sheep; but a pig or a goat or an elephant or a wolf can never be a sheep.

A true believer in Jesus Christ has eternal life and is completely secure in that. Our salvation is not based upon how well we behave or perform. It is based solely on what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Unbelief Plots Stoning. - 10.32-33

Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

It is fascinating to see how Jesus did not even deal with the issue of him being equal with the Father. Instead he asks them to point out which good work he did that would cause them to want to stone him. If they would take a moment to reflect on all of the incredible miracles which he did, they would recognize that none of them were done against the heavenly Father; none of them showed favoritism or partiality; they were all done to give glory to God the Father, Who wanted them done. Of course, this put the Jewish religious leaders on the defensive. It was obvious to the general public that everything that Jesus did was positive. If the religious leaders dared to suggest any of the miracles as being worthy of stoning, this could have caused a revolt amongst the Jewish people.

The religious leaders response could be summed up by the individual who states: don't bother me with the facts, my mind is made up. They took it upon themselves to declare that Jesus was simply a man. They then accused him of pretending to be God. These religious leaders were so full of themselves and their willingness to love their sin rather than hate it and seek salvation, that they were willing to kill God in the flesh.

Don't miss the irony in what was taking place here. They were wanting to kill Jesus, while suggesting that he was simply a man who claimed to be God. In John 1, the author makes it very clear that the God of all that there is, the one and only God, humbled himself and became a man for our benefit; our salvation. John was speaking about Jesus.

In addition, these religious leaders were sealing their fate. There was no confusion in their minds as to who Jesus said that he was. If there would have been confusion, there would not be the charge of blasphemy.

Unbelief Pays No Attention to Scripture. - 10.34-38

Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are God's’? If he called them God's, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

We must remember how highly the religious leaders held the Scriptures. It was almost to the point where they worshiped the Scriptures. Here, when Jesus spoke of the Law, He was referring to the entirety of the Old Testament. In fact, his quote comes from Psalm 82. The reference is to men who are in leadership and received their authority and instruction from the Father. These men were actually judges who were very corrupt. Yet, because they were in leadership, they were supposed to instruct the people based upon God's Word.

Here Jesus also reminds them that the Scriptures cannot be broken. In other words, they are infallible and without error. This is another reminder to us today of Jesus' understanding about the Old Testament. It is not a collection of fairytales and fables. It is God's word.

Jesus points out to them that if the Old Testament writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, would call unjust and ungodly men gods, shouldn't it be considered appropriate and right that he, Who was actually sent from the Father, who only does that which is godly and just, should be called God. Those other people simply received the Word; Jesus is the Word!

As scholarly and intelligent as these religious leaders were, Jesus offers them the opportunity to think for themselves, using objective evidence and logic. If they would simply see all that Jesus did, then evaluate and analyze it, it would be perfectly logical to come to the conclusion that Jesus is God. If however, he was not doing that which was honoring to God, then they could come to the conclusion that he was a blasphemer. Again, he offered them the opportunity to not only know and understand that he is the Messiah; by doing so, he offered them the opportunity for eternal life.

Belief Pursues the Savior. - 10.39-42

Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” Many believed in Him there.

Sadly, because of all that Jesus had said and specifically because of the Jews unbelief and hardness of heart, the religious leaders sought to seize him. However, because he is God, and it was not his time, John states that he eluded their grasp.

Interestingly, he left Jerusalem and stayed at this new location, beyond the Jordan, for 3 to 4 months. His return to Jerusalem will be seen a bit later when he goes there and raises Lazarus. Then shortly after that, he will come to Jerusalem and participate in what we know as his triumphal entry, or Palm Sunday.

This location to which Jesus went, was where John the Baptist had been ministering a few years earlier. There were many individuals who had heard John the Baptist's teaching. These people came to Jesus and commented that John the Baptist performed no signs. Yet everything John said about Jesus was [absolutely] true. These people recognized this. And the apostle John states in verse 42 that many believed in him at that place.

Reflections

There are many similarities from this section to what is happening in our world today. In our culture and society, and even in some churches, we find people who will not believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation. They have their own ideas. They will only accept that which fits into their finite mindset.

There are also many who seem convinced that Christianity is for prudes. They are convinced that Christianity is designed to take away all the fun. They have bought into the false notion that those who live for Jesus hate those who are not living for Jesus. They believe that their form of spirituality is far superior to that of Christianity. I do not speak of Christianity from the world's understanding of it. Sadly, genuine Christians are lumped together with those who call themselves Christians who indeed have committed atrocious acts in the name of God. We know from what the Bible teaches that those people are not of God. They are not genuine Christians. Yet, there are many religious, spiritual or worldly people who choose to look down upon and condemn genuine Christianity.

Yet, for the individuals who will humble themselves and recognize their sin and their need for a Savior, Jesus Christ welcomes each one with open arms. And when you become a child of God, it is for eternal life. You can never walk away nor can you be taken away from that relationship with Jesus Christ.

If we believe, then we can trust.