NOTES for Joh 10:17-28
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. |
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. |
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. |
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? |
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? |
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. |
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. |
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. |
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. |
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. |
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: |
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. |
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We humans sometimes love to simplify very much. We need to know clearly whether something is black or white. We do not recognize third options. We want plain truth, without any of those omissions and hints. And for the most part we apply this approach to others. We need to understand everything about them and put it all neatly on the shelves. But what is going on in our own soul at the same time is "a great mystery." How can our rich and many-sided inner world be described in two words and clear categories?..
The Jews can no longer tolerate the fact that Jesus actually pities them, understanding that His Word has no room in them (see John 8:37). The Lord gives us as much as we are able to understand. But it keeps seeming to us that He is being obscure, that there is some mystery around us carefully hidden from us. So the Jews demand a simple answer from Christ: yes or no. And the fact that He speaks to them only about this and manifests it by all His works is not enough for them, that is, for us (see John 10:25).
But what will change if Christ gives the answer expected of Him? As if those waiting are ready, depending on the answer, to formulate their position clearly - whether they believe in Christ or not. Unfortunately, they are not ready at all. We carry our freedom and finely organized soul around like a prized possession, while being unable to give an account of our hope (see 1 Pet. 3:15). And meanwhile, before God and for God there are no half-tones: "Let your word be: yes, yes; no, no" (Matt. 5:37).
Readings for 23 May 2025
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