Persecution-It is coming!-20
What is persecution? Words used to define it and give it meaning include; harass, oppress, punish, inflict physical harm-even death. Why do some people persecute others? We will study the rest of John 10 and try to see why the Pharisees were so intent on killing Jesus.
John 10:22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; :23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
Interesting that Jesus was once again in the Temple as the Jews/Pharisees had already tried to kill Him earlier.
John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
:24 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."
The Jews were trying to make sure that Jesus would condemn Himself by answering their questions. They knew what He had said earlier, they understood better than His disciples in that they were ready to take violent action against Him.
:25 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.
:26 "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. :27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; :28 and I give eternal life to them, 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."
This is quite a statement by Jesus. The works or signs, which were all undeniable miracles, should have called all to worship Him. The Jews kept on asking for more signs, although these signs only angered them. Jesus clearly aligns Himself as God. He and the Father are one. No one is greater or more powerful. True believers are in actuality a gift from the Father to His Son. Once in His hands, no one can ever take them out and He will never let go. The Father only gives good gifts to His Son.
:31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.
:32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?"
:33 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."
They now certainly knew what Jesus was declaring. No more doubts, Jesus made it very clear to them and to His disciples. The Jews, who would later say they could not kill anyone, took up stones to kill Jesus!
John 18:31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death,"
10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? :35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), :36 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'?
:37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; :38 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."
Jesus always used scripture, scripture they should have been known, to reply to them. Psalms 82:6 I said, "You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.” He again states that He and the Father are one. They share in the oneness of their divine essence, even while being two distinct persons. It once again shows the difficulty of miracles resulting in eternal life or saving faith.
:39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. :40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. They could not seize Him as it was not His time. He was in total sovereign control over His life, death, and resurrection.
:41 Many came to Him and were saying, "While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true." :42 Many believed in Him there.
We have to come to some understanding as to what believing in Him really means. Even the demons believe as does their evil leader Satan, the disciples often declared their belief, but ran and hid when He was arrested. Maybe this can be addressed at another time.
More next Saturday.