NOTES for Joh 10:27-38
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. |
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. |
30 I and my Father are one. |
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. |
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? |
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. |
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? |
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; |
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? |
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. |
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. |
Hide
Anyone who has tried to be a Christian knows that it is a difficult thing. We would very much like baptism, like a fairy-tale spell, to make us good and inaccessible to sin. We would very much like the admonition "you are baptized with a second baptism," appointed for confession, to be unnecessary. The power of love that the Holy Spirit gives a person is great, but the degree of our freedom is great as well. Therefore the need to make a choice remains with us forever, and this choice is hard, because the Lord calls us too to love as He loves, that is, by giving our life.
And therefore Christ's promise is so important for us: "...no one is able to snatch My sheep out of the Father's hand". Like the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, it opens for us the possibility of relying on Christ without fear and trusting Him. In Orthodox language, this means that salvation consists not in matching some given parameters, but in being together with Jesus.
Readings for 24 May 2025
After registering, you can subscribe to any Bible reading plan. Personalized settings and other services for registered users are planned, so we recommend registering now. Registration is free. | ||
