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22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” John 10:22-30
After the previous encounter with the religious leaders at the Temple in Jerusalem, about three months has elapsed. The events of John 10 took place in Jerusalem in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles (which is held in early October), while the opening words of our text today are, "Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter." That Festival is known today as "Hanukkah," which is celebrated in late December.
Most likely, the Lord Jesus had returned to Galilee to minister there, as indicated by Luke in his gospel account.
In v.22 we discover the record of a quick return trip to Jerusalem which the Lord Jesus made, following which he traveled to the area of Perea, in the region of the Jordan River, between Galilee and the Dead Sea. It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
To this day, winter is the rainy season in Israel. "Solomon’s Colonnade" was a large roofed-in enclosure supported by beautiful columns that filled one side of the temple arena. There, sheltered from the rain, the Lord Jesus resumed his teaching ministry during the Feast of Hanukkah which celebrates the rededication of the temple.
According to v.24 the Jews are wondering if the Lord Jesus was about to plainly and opening announce that He was the Messiah. He answered in v.25-26, telling them, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep."
The Jews deliberately encircle Him, forcing Him to answer their question about His identity. I find it interesting that He never plainly said, "I am the Messiah." He did say to the woman at the well and to the man who was born blind, "I am the Son of God," but to these Jewish leaders, these Pharisees, he had never said, "I am the Messiah."
The reason, of course, they pictured the Messiah as a conquering hero who would drive out the Romans. But He wasn't here to do that. To say to them, "I am the Messiah" would have stirred up false hopes in their minds.
His answer in v.25-30, provides three reasons the religious leaders did not believe in Him.
First, these experts in the Law, had such a twisted idea of what the scriptures said about the Messiah. They did not let God define Him for them. Somewhere along the way, they defined God, which is always dangerous. They expected a military leader who would free them from the rule of Rome, but He came as the Suffering Servant to give Himself on behalf of the sins of man and break through the stranglehold of evil which Satan has upon our race.
Second, in v.25, we read, "I did tell you, but you do not believe." Though He had told them, they had rejected the evidence He gave. They only believe what they wanted to believe.
The third reason is found in v.26-27: "you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. " This is the reason why many people never find God, because they refused to investigate with an open heart.
Had these religious leaders honestly come to Him, they would have found Him.
In v.27, we discover the three signs that we are believers in the Lord Jesus. First, we read, "My sheep hear my voice." We believe that what He says is the truth, and we long to hear more.
The second, "I know them." When we hear His Word and we continue to hear His word, we know we have a personal relationship with Him. Learning to hear God with our hearts is what faith really is about. This ability comes to us as a result of the abiding Holy Spirit leading us and training us to hear the Father's voice. As this happens, we grow in the assurance that we are children of God.
The third, "They follow me." This does not mean that we always follow Him, there are times when we lose sight of Him. We do not follow the world, we follow the Lord. When the choice is made, it is a choice in favor of obeying the Lord Jesus.
In v.28-30, the Lord Jesus highlights three things that He has done that causes His sheep to follow Him. This is not a chronological succession here; it is an explanation of what lies behind the actions of the sheep. We do not earn these things, they are givens for us.
First, "I give them eternal life." This sentence is written in the present indicative tense. Literally it reads, "I keep on giving to them eternal life." This eternal life is Him, and it includes His peace, His joy, His heart. And, it produces the sense of inner security, forgiveness, belonging and family.
Second, "they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." This means our relationship with Him will never end. We live in a world that is perishing, a world that is headed for judgment, for ultimate destruction. We have either eternal life or eternal death.
Third, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all." The Lord Jesus came to reveal to us the Father's heart. The Father is one third of the Godhead. The Father sent the Son to lay down His life for the sheep. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus was the Father's way of authenticating all of the truths that were declared by the Lord Jesus.
