February 22, 2023 – Wednesday
John 10:25-27 NIV
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.
Comments
Jesus’ reply above is to the question posed to Him in the prior two verses, 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.” Look at these two verses in detail. The Festival of Dedication or Hanukkah was approximately two months after the last festival, the Feast of the Tabernacles after the healing of the man blind from birth. Jesus was not teaching; He was simply walking when He was surrounded (encircled in some versions) and they wanted to know from Him, is He the Messiah. Many recalled His last miracle, and they did not understand that such a miracle could not have been by someone possessed by a demon, so maybe, perhaps hopefully, He was more than a man.
They were torn, they did not really want to believe, but they could not deny His miracles and that they would have to come from God the Father. So, Jesus provided an answer that would not have pleased them, 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. Earlier He had spoken of Himself as the Good Shepherd (v1-21) where at the end certain Jews accused Him of being demon-possessed and raving mad. 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
His acts, His miracles, His teachings, all told of who He is, thus His answer, 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. They could not be His sheep because they did not believe, would not believe. The act of believing was crucial to becoming one of His sheep, able to recognize His voice and to follow Him. The voice His sheep heard was His divine voice which now followed with these blessings for His sheep; 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. Notice, Jesus does not say He will give them eternal life, but that He gives them eternal life implying at the time of believing and trusting in Him. I like how Matthew Poole wrote of this, I do give them, and I will give them, eternal life; as soon as they shall come to hear, and believe my voice, and to follow me, they shall have a sure right and title to it.
Bottom Line: Some will refuse to believe even when acknowledging Jesus’ miracles. Others will believe and trust in Him and follow Him knowing who He is.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for letting me love Jesus more than my sin life and make the choice to believe in Him and the Grace You offer through Him. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek