THE TRUTH CAN HURT OR HELP

Flavius Josephus (a.d. 37–c.100) of what has become for Christianity perhaps the most significant extra-biblical writings of the first century. His works are the principal source for the history of the Jews from the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes (b.c. 175–163) to the fall of Masada in a.d. 73, and therefore, are of incomparable value for determining the setting of late inter-testamental and New Testament times.[1]

[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. ix). Peabody: Hendrickson.

At the feast of Dedication in the latter part of December Jesus is still (or: is again) in Jerusalem. This feast was (and is even today) the commemoration of the purification and rededication of the temple by Judas the Maccabee in the year 165 b.c. (on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, which approximates our December), exactly three years after it had been defiled by the wicked Antiochus Epiphanes. See 1 Macc. 1:59; 4:52, 59; Fl. Josephus, Antiquities XII, vii, 7; L. Finkelstein, The Jews, Their History, Culture, and Religion, two volumes, New York, 1949, vol. II, p. 1373; cf. also Dan. 8:14. I

It is an eight-day, joyous festival, marked by illumination of the dwellings (hence, also called “feast of Lights”) and family-reunions. Though it is not one of the three great pilgrim-feasts, it nevertheless, drew many people to Jerusalem.[1]

[1] Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Vol. 2, pp. 119–120). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Jews have two Calendars Civil Calendar (October) and Ecclesiastical (Religious Calendar) April

The Truth Hurts (10:22–39): The Jews now attempt to kill the Savior on two specific occasions because of his claims to be the Son of God.

The Truth Hurts (10:22–39):

A. (10:22–24)

a. If you are the Christ tell us plainly

b. Truth: there is never a place in the Gospel where you find Jesus in straight plane language saying I am the Christ to the Pharisees or the masses.

i. The Jews (Pharisees) have difficulty believing the truth of what Jesus has been communicating about himself.

ii. So what was plain and obvious to some was not as so plain and obvious to others

iii. Action should speak louder than Words

iv. Phraseology and context is equally as important as direct wording.

c. Some people miss what God is saying because they are trying to force God to communicate on their terms versus listing to what Gods truth is saying in the whole of scripture in multiple ways. The say “see the text doesn’t say that”, not because they are genuinely trying to understand and know what God is saying about a truth, they are often looking to deny Biblical truth as a whole or in an area that they find to challenging for their hearts.

1. His words (10:25–30) Fallen Condition Focus

a. He says they are not his sheep (10:25–26).

b. He says his sheep listen to him (10:27)

1. The text is not complicated and it’s a causation text.

2. Notice the connection between believing/Knowledge

c. He says his sheep will never perish and are eternally secure (10:28–29).

d. He says he and the Father are one (10:30).

2. Their wickedness (10:31): They ask Jesus if he is the Messiah. When he says he is the son of God, they become angry and pick up stones to hurl at him.

D Second attempt (10:32–39)

1. His words (10:32–38)

a. He says they do not understand or believe the Scriptures (10:32–36).

· Jesus point if the OT uses this type of language or phraseology how can you condemn me for doing the same. Even if the context of how the Psalmist used it and Jesus used it where slightly different, if they were truly for his word they would consider the truth that he was communicating in light of his works.

· The truth is Jesus is God and the Messiah both in one. Our faith and belief come from being his sheep and our participating in the works of God

b. He says they should believe in his miracles (10:37–38).

· Some truth can only be grasps by believers or those who are called to be Gods sheep from the foundation of the world.

· Matt: 13:13-16;Mark 4:9-12;

Believing =Piseteuo vs Faith =Pistis

· Believing God and having faith is in many scriptures a co-occurring item and are really synonyms having the same Greek base Piseteuo meaning to believe, trust or put faith in

· Vs Faith which Pistis that which evokes trust and faith or the state of believing based on the reliability of the one trusted basically the words having the same root mean almost the same thing.

2. Fallen Condition Their wickedness (10:39) Again they unsuccessfully attempt to seize him.

(Lev. 24:16). Their reasoning may be expressed in the form of a syllogism, as follows:

Major Premise: A blasphemer must be stoned to death.

Minor Premise: This man is a blasphemer.

Conclusion: This man must be stoned to death.

In their mind they were doing the correct thing

Jesus viloated the truth of the Law

III. The Meeting with Jesus (10:40–42): Jesus now leaves Jerusalem for a while.

A. The place (10:40) He goes to where John once baptized.

B. The people (10:41–42): Many follow him there and are saved.[1]

Big Idea

Those who are Jesus’s sheep believe that he is the Christ, the son of God. True Sheep are those both believe and obey Christ. The recognized the works of God in and through others and are by nature actively participating in the works of God.

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