John 10:22–30 Sermon

Sermon Text

John 10:22–30 ESV

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 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.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 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. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Introduction

Last week we covered John 10:19-21

We covered the reason why there was division among people because of the words Jesus spoke.

Jesus claimed to be:

the Door to the sheepfold

the Good Shepherd

the Shepherd who knew the sheep by name

the Shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep

the One who would take up His life again

And a pattern we saw in the gospel of John is that there were those who:

accused and rejected Jesus

curious of Jesus

believed Jesus

They accused Jesus in verse 20.

John 10:20 ESV

20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

They called Jesus demon possessed and insane. Proving that they had not believed in what He had said about Himself.

They had also asked, “Why listen to Him?” Which showed us that they did not listen to Him. Proving that they were not His sheep.

John 10:3–4 ESV

3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Jesus in John 9 healed a man born blind and He spoke of Himself as the light of the world.

But those who rejected Him proved to be the ones who were actually blind. They were the ones in darkness by refusing to believe.

They were divided over what Jesus had said because they did not believe.

Others (the curious) said in verse 21,

John 10:21 ESV

21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Which took us back to chapter 9 where Jesus showed us what the work of God was.

It wasn’t that a man who was born blind could see but that He saw Jesus as the Son of Man and worshipped Him.

Which is what they refused to do here in our text again.

Outline

1. The Setting (v.22-23)

2. The Question (v.24)

3. The Answer (v.25-29)

1. The Setting (v.22-23)

Read Verse 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter

The Feast of Dedication was also called the Feast of the Maccabees. Sometimes it was called the ‘Feast of the Lights.’

Jews today observe the feast as ‘Hanukkah’ and it falls in late November or December.

In 2020 it will be observed on December 10-18 and in 2021 it will be observed on November 28- December 6.

This is actually the only reference to it in the New Testament. It was observed for eight days.

The history of the feast began in what is called the intertestamental period.

Which was the time in between the last of Old Testament scripture (Malachi) to the appearance of Jesus Christ.

The feast commemorated the purging of the temple and the rebuilding of the altar.

The Temple was desecrated by the Seleucid king Antiochus. He forced Jews to end their sacrifices and told them that they had to practice pagan rituals.

A group of Jews had a revolted against Antiochus which led to them reclaiming the temple.

Afterwards, they re-dedicated the temple to God and to remember this they have had the Feast of Dedication as a reminder of this historic event.

One of the things that they would do in this feast was that they would light a lamp because of a Rabbinic tradition that spoke of entering the temple at the time of them reclaiming it where thy found a sealed jug of oil that they believed had not been opened and untouched by the Seleucids.

They used that oil to light the menorah (a lampstand) and a miracle had happened where the oil that was supposed to last only a day, lasted 8 days. Which is the reason they celebrated the feast for eight days.

This was the feast that was being commemorated in our text today which happened in the winter.

In verse 23, we see where Jesus was at this time.

Read Verse 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon

A colonnade was a line of columns which supported the base of a roof where it covered a walkway. It was located on the eastern side of the Temple's Outer Court (the Court of the Gentiles).

The NASB and the NRSV called it Solomon’s portico. The King James calls it a porch.

In Acts 3:11, Peter and John healed a lame man there and preached to a large crowd.

In Acts 5:12, we see that Solomon’s colonnade was where believers gathered in Jerusalem before the Diaspora (when believers were scattered).

The Temple later would be destroyed in 70 A.D. which of course would have included the colonnade.

Here, we see Jesus walking in the temple there.

The temple is mentioned 14 times in the gospel of John.

We see it mentioned first in John 2:14, where Jesus found those who were selling oxen, sheep and pigeons there. Along with the money changers. Afterwards, He would drive them out from there.

In John 5, Jesus healed a lame man that He had healed at the temple.

In John 7 into John 8, we see Jesus going to the temple and teaching there.

Afterwards, when they picked up stones to throw at Him, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (John 8:59).

Jesus spent much time teaching about who He was in the temple.

John 18:20 ESV

20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

This is where Jesus was.

It was during the time of the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem when it was winter, that Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.

Being there a question arose from the Jews who gathered around Him.

2. The Question (v.24)

Read Verse 24 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.”

Notice first that the Jews gathered around Him. To be more exact it was Judeans that surrounded Him. Which most likely wasn’t meant to be a friendly conversation.

They surrounded Him and asked Him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

By suspense they were asking why Jesus was holding from them a conclusion to what He was saying.

They thought Jesus was speaking in such a way that He was keeping something from their understanding that would lead them to His point.

They thought Jesus to speak in secret. But that was not the case in chapter ten.

Jesus used a figure of speech and then went on to explain what He meant.

They thought that Jesus was not being plain about who He was.

They asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Question: What has been the barrier to someone understanding what Jesus was saying in the gospel of John?

In John 3, remember Nicodemus.

John 3:9–12 ESV

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Nicodemus couldn’t believe because He did not receive the testimony of Jesus.

In John 5:38, Jesus spoke of those who did not have the word abiding in them because they did not believe in Him.

In John 6, we saw that belief is a work of God and that it was something that man could not do for himself and by himself.

In John 7:5, Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in Him.

In John 8:45, Jesus told those who were accusing Him that it was because He was telling the truth that they did not believe.

In John 9:35, Jesus asked the blind man if he had believed in the Son of Man. The blind man believed Jesus and worshipped Him.

The gospel of John is dealing with the belief in Jesus as the Christ. As the Son of God.

Let us not forget the intent of this writing.

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The very question they asked shows us where their faith was.

John 10:24 ESV

24 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.”

In other words, what you have said we have not understood.

But this was not just an issue of inability. It shows us the refusal to believe.

And the reason for their unbelief is in the fact that they were not His sheep.

Jesus spoke and revealed to them plainly that He was the Good Shepherd. But they did not follow Him or hear His voice.

They surrounded Him and questioned Him. And what followed was an answer. In this answer we see an amazing truth about our Lord and His power to preserve!

3. The Answer (v.25-29)

Read Verse 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me

Question: What did Jesus tell them prior about Him being the Christ?

Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7)

He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10)

He said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15)

He spoke of the Father’s love for Him and that He laid His life down on His own accord (John 10:17-18)

In John chapter ten alone we heard of Jesus being what was needed in order for one to be considered God’s people.

We saw that Jesus was the life giver. Which was what the Jews saw God as.

Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd. A reference to what God was called in the Old Testament scriptures.

And He spoke of the Father (God the Father) who loved Him.

Jesus told them all these things and yet they still did not believe.

Prior to chapter ten He healed a man who was born blind. And still they did not believe.

(Note: This was not a Jewish problem. This issue of not believing is a universal problem).

The work that Jesus did there, bore witness to Jesus being the Christ.

Luke 4:16–22 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

They did not believe even though Jesus was

proclaiming good news to the poor

He was proclaiming liberty to the captives

He was recovering the sight of the blind and setting free those who were oppressed

But they did not believe.

Question: Why did they not believe?

Read Verse 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

Their unbelief was proof that they weren’t the people of God.

A similar discussion happened in John 8:31–38.

John 8:31–38 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

They were not His sheep and that was the cause to their inability to believe anything Jesus said about Himself.

The condition of unbelief reveals that one is still in their condemnation.

John 3:18 ESV

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Jesus told them who He was and He showed them who He was in the miracles He did but they did not believe. And their unbelief is evidence that they were not His sheep.

Read Verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

It is clear that they were not following Jesus. If they were they would have been His sheep and they would have known (believed) Him.

John 10:3–4 ESV

3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

What precedes following Christ is knowing His voice. And what proceeds knowing His voice is belief in Him. And what proceeds belief in Him is the work of God.

John 6:28–29 ESV

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

When one refuses to believe then it is proof that God has not worked in them to believe. Which is why they are not His sheep.

Question: How is this helpful for us?

It helps us to remember that we are not called to cause people to believe in God.

Our role is to pray that God would work faith in those that we talk to about our faith.

Evangelism is done best when we see how helpless we are in saving those we preach to and it is done best when trusting only in the grace of God to save.

Jesus is the door. The only way to salvation. And in order to enter one must believe. And in order to believe grace and mercy must be given to those who need saving. And in order for people to come to saving faith the gospel must be proclaimed!

This should remind us also that prayer should proceed debate and apologetics.

We must care about our faith in that we must be good students of the word. But we must remember that it is not good argumentation that makes one a sheep.

It is the work of God. In order to hear the voice of the Shepherd one must be a sheep. We must be born again which is only a work of God. To be a sheep one must have faith in God. And faith in God is a work of God.

Those who surrounded Jesus here did not know His voice and Jesus did not know them in the sense that He knew them to be His. And because they were not actually of God’s people they did not follow Him.

And those who do not follow Him are left with eternal ruin. They will perish.

But for those who have been given grace...

Read Verse 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Notice three things in verse 28.

First, I give them eternal life

Question: What is eternal life?

John 17:3 ESV

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ.

Saving knowledge of God is what eternal life is!

it is not living forever

it not going to heaven

it isn’t being with loved ones forever

Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ who was sent.

Question: So, can there be a time where one who has come to that saving knowledge, where there would be a possibility of them perishing?

Question: Why am I asking this question?

I’m asking this question because of the use of the word eternal.

Eternal here is meant to speak of an unlimited duration of time.

For God this means that He does not have a beginning and an end.

For us it means that though we have a beginning we will be with God forever

For the unbeliever it means that though they have a beginning they will suffer judgement forever if they do not come to repentance

In fact, the use of this specific greek term is most frequently used with life in the New Testament.

And life here is simply meaning to be alive or to live.

According to how this is understood, looking into how Jesus defined eternal life:

it meant to know the only true God and Jesus Christ who was sent

and this is how one lives with an unlimited duration of time

living forever is the result of knowing the Father and the Son

Which further proves the point that to know God and Jesus Christ who was sent does not end.

If that were possible then life would have a limited duration of time which would then go against what eternal life meant in the first place.

If one could lose their salvation then life was never eternal in the first place. If we define it as Jesus defined it. Eternal life being that someone has come to know the only true God and Jesus Christ.

Question: So, can there be a time where one who has come to that saving knowledge, where there would be a possibility of them perishing?

The answer is no. And it is further proven in what we see next!

Second, they will never perish

To perish meant to be destroyed.

So those who have been given eternal life will never be destroyed. They will never fall into ruin and destruction.

An important word here is the word “never”

Never here meant: “by no means.” Certainly not. (There can ever be a possibility of this happening). Never meant never.

Never perishing is the result of knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ!

They will certainly never perish. And to emphasize this even more Jesus said...

Third, no one will snatch them out of the hand

Jesus used the term snatch three times only in John chapter 10.

We see this in verses 28 (this verse) and in verse 29. And we first saw this used in verse 12 of this chapter.

What I want you to know right now is that since Jesus is the Good Shepherd, that in itself is enough to know that we can never, ever perish!

Let me prove it. Let’s read John 10:12.

John 10:12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

So from the hand of a hired hand one would be snatched.

We have already concluded that Jesus is not a hired hand. In fact that was the point.

John 10:11 ESV

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Here we see Jesus as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life which is the cause to our being saved.

Jesus because He is a Good Shepherd, will never flee and leave us to the wolves. If He did and if that were possible, He would not be a Good Shepherd!

If Jesus was a hired hand we would not have eternal life. But because He is the Good Shepherd we will be kept and guarded.

This is why we will never perish. Because Jesus can never be a hired hand. He will always be the Good Shepherd.

Talk about misconceptions to perseverance of the Saints.

No one will snatch us out of His hands!

This so impacted Paul I am sure when he said in Romans 8:38–39,

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Question: Who is stronger than Jesus Christ that one could take from His hand?

No one! Nothing can separate us.

And Jesus to make sure that this would be solidified said in the following verse,

Read Verse 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.

Let’s see verses 28 and 29 side by side.

a) I give them eternal life/My Father, who has given them to me

b) [the Father] is greater than all/they will never perish

c) no one will snatch them out of my hand/no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand

Here we see clearly that no one is able to snatch us out of the hands of the Father and of the Son!

To snatch someone meant: to gain control over by force—to gain control over, to seize, to snatch away.

The prophet Isaiah was right when he said in Isaiah 14:27,

Isaiah 14:27 ESV

27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Isaiah 43:13 ESV

13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

Isaiah 46:8–10 ESV

8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Question: Who can turn back the eternal life given to those in whom the Father has worked?

Question: Who can gain control over the eternal life given to those of faith?

Jesus gave us the answer in our text! No one! And that includes you!

Your salvation is kept. Not by works done by us but because of the work done for us!

Jesus Christ who is One with the Father has done the work to keep us and give us eternal life and no one can snatch us out of His hand.

And it is important to remember that when speaking of no one it is also talking about you!

Read Verse 30 I and the Father are one.”

Both the Father and the Son will never lose one of His sheep because He is the Good Shepherd of the Sheep!

Jesus is fully and truly God and fully, truly Man! (Here He made a very clear statement to His equality with the Father).

By His life we will always have life. Because to know the only true God and Jesus Christ is eternal life!