John10v19to42: THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS

(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

Jewish opposition to Jesus was renewed at the Feast of Dedication. Perhaps the occasion had something to do with the question that triggered another sharp interchange between Jesus and his opponents: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." v24.

The Feast of Dedication occurred in late December. It celebrated the deliverance of the Jews from the tyranny of the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus annulled the Law and prohibited circumcision. Any mother who had her child circumcised was crucified with the baby hanging round her neck. The Syrian king profaned the temple offering pig flesh on the great altar to the Greek god Zeus. Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers freed the Jews from Syrian oppression. Victory was achieved in 164 B.C. and the temple purified.

The Feast of Dedication was also called the Festival of Lights. Lamps burned in the windows of every Jewish home. Maybe they symbolised the persistence of hope during the darkest of nights.

So the Jews ask Jesus if he is another Judas Maccabaeus come to deliver them from their current oppressor, the Romans.

(B) The awful alternative.

The Jews who rejected Jesus could only conclude that he was either mad or bad. Some considered that he was deluded: "He is demon possessed or raving mad. v20." Others were convinced Jesus was wicked: "We are not stoning you for any of these" replied the Jews, "but for blasphey, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." v33.

Anyone who carefully studies the gospels must arrive at the same conclusion as his Jewish enemies or accept that Jesus was what he claimed to be - the Son of God. There are no other alternatives. The modern Jewish view that Jesus was no more than an unorthodox rabbi who could have been accommodated within Judaism in not tenable. The Moslem belief that Jesus was, with many others, a reputable prophet is not consistent with the facts. The popular judgment of many folk in Britain today that Jesus was no more than a good man who set a worthy example is inept. Jesus was either what he said - God's Son, a mischievous liar or off his trolley. If Jesus is the Son of God he demands our whole-hearted allegiance. That's the rub!

(C) The amazing assertions.

(1) Jesus referred to Psalm 82 in which Israel's judges who were God's representatives on earth are called 'gods' and 'sons of the most high.' He justified calling him self God's Son because he was God's ultimate spokesman - the royal representative: "The one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world." v36.

(2) Jesus also claimed to be one with the Father: "The Father is in me and I in the Father." v30 and 38. Jesus and his Father were:

    (a) Of one mind. They had no disagreements over salvation's plan. If anything could have divided Father and Son it was surely this. Even as he sweat as it were great drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to be spared the bitter cup Jesus was able to affirm: "Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mk14v36.

    (b) United in love. There existed between Father and Son a mutual sympathy, admiration and concern. The Son knew that in carrying out redemption's great work he was satisfying the deepest longing of the Father's heart of love. God wanted to save sinful men! The Father knew that the sacrificial death of his Son would be to his greater glory.

    (c) One in purpose. This meant that Jesus obeyed his Father in all things. Jesus did not just say, "Yet not what I will, but what you will"; he did what God willed.

Our relationship with Jesus should be like the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. We shouldn't have any reservations about the teaching of Jesus. We should love and obey him - however difficult that might be. Sadly our old natures keep us from living in perfect harmony with the Prince of Peace.

(D) The accrediting actions.

The best evidence that Jesus is the one he claimed to be is his actions. At least some of the Jews were aware of this. They said: "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" v21. Let us look at the actions of Jesus that speak louder than words:

    (1) He practiced what he preached. Jesus lived according to the principles outlined in the 'Sermon on the Mount'. The teaching is not that of a mad man and the conduct of wicked men is not consistent with it.

    Jesus taught: "You have heard that it was said: 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Mt5v43and44. This is what Jesus did. He wept over Jerusalem, persevered to the very end with Judas, reasoned with the Pharisees and even healed the ear of the High Priest's servant that Peter damaged with a swipe of his fisherman's knife in the Garden of Gethsemane. Above all else he endured the cross, despising the shame for the joy set before him - the joy of redeeming the fallen sons of men - the very men whose sins were responsible for his suffering and pain.

    (2) Jesus performed many lovely miracles of healing. He said: "The miracles I do in the Father's name speak for me." v25. What gracious acts they were. I love the story of the woman who had been troubled by bleeding for 12 years who came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. Lk8v44. Jesus said to her: "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." v48. The healing of Jairus's daughter is if anything even more appealing. Jairus and Jesus were on their way to the house of the synagogue ruler when Jairus was told: "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the teacher any more." Lk8v49. How quickly Jesus turned to him and said: "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." v50. Jesus went into the dead girl's room, took her by the hand and said with exquisite tenderness, "Little lamb - come." At his gentle command the little maid's spirit returned to her lifeless body.

    These are not the acts of either a lunatic or a wicked, deceitful man. They are the clearest evidence that Jesus was the one and only Son of God - begotten not created.

    (3) Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for sin. Would a wicked man make the supreme sacrifice? God accepted the free will offering of Jesus. He acknowledged that it was perfect, that the Lamb was without blemish, by raising Jesus from the dead and exalting him to the highest place and giving him the name that is above every name. Philippians2v9.

    (4) Through the centuries Jesus has changed innumerable lives for the better. I am not a very good person but I would be far worse if I wasn't a Christian. My belief in Jesus restrains my worst impulses and motivates my faltering, stumbling efforts to do the right. I am convinced that no raving lunatic or wicked deceiver could inspire so many to serve their fellow men with such devotion.

    Lunatics are distressing company. My father's dementia did not change my life for the better. It is a terrible ordeal to have a schizophrenic or chronically depressed person in the family. Wicked men infect and poison others. Jesus is not like that. He changes bad men into good men, bad mothers into good mothers and wayward sons into good sons. Jesus is able to transform whole societies. There was a huge difference in the way English society was in the early 19th century and the late 19th century. The humanitarian reforms that occurred during the course of that century coincided with the great evangelical revival and the countless conversions to Christianity.

(E) The Abiding Antagonism.

In spite of all Jesus said and did the Jews remained antagonistic to him. We see this in the hint of annoyance in their question: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." v24. They were irritated, impatient and obtuse. Jesus told them: "I did tell you, but you do not believe." v25. Nothing that Jesus said or did would have persuaded his enemies to believe in him. The situation has not changed!!

On two occasions the Jews attempted to silence Jesus by violence. Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. v31. And they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. v39. Why were the religious leaders so hostile to Jesus? One of the reasons was that they had the wrong idea of what the Messiah would do when he came to his people. They expected another Judas Maccabaeus - a man devoted to the Law, a devotee of the temple, a fierce nationalist who would deliver the nation from her oppressor, the Romans.

Wrong ideas, misconceptions and prejudice do untold damage. The very worst trait of religious people is the unwillingness to entertain the possibility of being in error about anything. Belief should be based on evidence and belief should be reasonable. The finest work of Satan the father of lies is to persuade so many Christians that they must be right about everything.

(F) The absolute assurance.

The believer in Jesus is assured of eternal security:

    (1) We are known. Jesus says of his sheep: "I know them." v27. He isn't like my former employers - Suffolk County Council - who didn't know me from Adam. He isn't like my old Headmistress who admitted to never understanding or appreciating me. Jesus knows us through and through. He also knows us in the sense that he will acknowledge us. He represents us where it matters - at the right hand of God the Father - where he intercedes untiringly for us.

    (2) Jesus gifts the Christian eternal life. He said: "I give them eternal life." v28. That is the greatest of all gifts. Just imagine how folk would queue up if some eminent scientist promised to guarantee an extra 50 years of high quality life on earth! Why aren't people flocking to Jesus for his gift of eternal life?

    (3) The followers of Jesus will never perish - "and they shall never perish." v28. The life that Jesus promises is never ending - it is a gift that can never be lost.

    (4) Jesus promises to protect his own. He and his father are the joint guardians of the believer. Jesus says: "No-one can snatch them out of my hand." v28. He is not a careless, half-hearted, frivolous or forgetful guardian. He is aware of us every second of every hour of every day. Jesus pleads our cause without ceasing before the Father's throne and works to sustain and strengthen us through his Spirit.

Yet these promises of Jesus are conditional. He said: "My sheep listen to my voice; ..... and they follow me." v27.

          Trust and obey, for there's no other way
          To be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

(G) The announcer acclaimed.

The passage ends with John reminding us of the preacher's priority: "Though John never performed a miraculous sign all that John said about this man was true." v41. John the Baptist received the highest praise - all that he said about Jesus was true. That is the greatest compliment that could be paid to our witness. We must tell men and women the truth about Jesus and hope that the closing words of the chapter apply to the small corner of God's vineyard where we labour: And in that place many believed in Jesus. v42.

ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@talktalk.net

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