John 10:19-42 ~ I and the Father are one

Model of Solomon's Porch in Jerusalem
Photos of existing building thought to look like the interior of Solomon's Porch






John 10:19-42

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 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?”

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 part of my flock. 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 [What my Father has given 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.”

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

At the Feast of Dedication, people would be brought to the Temple by the sounding of the shofar - a ram's horn. Jesus and the people would have heard the prayers called from Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your hearts.

How difficult it was for that generation to see Jesus as grace and truth dwelling with them. The Second Commandment said not to have images to worship; yet worship in the Temple in that era had been replaced by rules (Herod's appointments), buildings and (Roman puppet state and controlled religious) authority. In trying to follow the Law of not worshiping images - religion had become an image. As if God was safely tucked in the Ark and hidden behind the curtain - the every day work a day instead of Glory in a relationship with Him.

Isaiah 6:9-10
9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The government was indeed upon Jesus' shoulders; God's given Son. In persecution during His ministry and the cause of death upon the cross is suffocation, from the weight displaced upon His shoulders. Yet Jesus is the Prince of Peace for us. In His victory and in His Eternal Kingdom, Jesus is the King. Hallelujah.

Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.


Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].

Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus [God saves], for he will save his people from their sins.”

Isaiah 29:13
13 And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men

Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Isaiah 8:14-15
And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Psalm 35:19
Let not those rejoice over me
who are wrongfully my foes,
and let not those wink the eye
who hate me without cause.


And of John the Baptist:

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

In the first chapter of John's Gospel, we see John, Simon, Andrew, Philip and Nathanael are ready to follow Jesus upon meeting Him.

John 1:9-18

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Father God, You told Moses no one would see Your face and live, yet You gave us Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord to live among us. The Dead Sea Scrolls wrote during the time of Jesus: the lame would walk, the blind would see, the deaf would hear and the poor would have good news preached to them. Thank You, You are still working today.

Help us in Your example, knowing the days You lived in were filled with materialism, position, career, children, political strife, war and riots - remembering not to be the ones worshiping image as they did in the time of Jesus.

In Your mercy we are saved. Forgive us our wrong doings, our sins, forgive us and let the Light of Jesus Christ shine in our lives. Help us to remember what we do to one another - we do to You. In Your name let us take each day of our lives and give it to You knowing with the eyes of faith - we live the plan You have for us in hope and joy. We will live to Your Glory, In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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