NOTES for Joh 10:22-42
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. |
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. |
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, |
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. |
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. |
42 And many believed on him there. |
Hide
Those who demand a direct answer from Jesus about whether He is the Christ are not asking because they are truly interested in where the truth is. They have already answered the question for themselves and rejected Jesus, and now they need His positive answer only as a pretext for doing away with Him. At that moment, His direct answer is no longer needed in order to accept Christ; His earlier words are enough to draw the necessary conclusions. And once again we see how, in response to Christ's words, an attempt is made to do away with Him.
This time He leaves His ill-wishers; the time for an unjust execution has not yet come. It is hard for us, and perhaps impossible, to understand fully why His sufferings had to happen under other circumstances. In any case, those who justify Judas by saying that he was carrying out the Teacher's instruction to betray Him should remember that Christ could have been seized even without Judas's help.
And the evangelist has also preserved for us an important testimony: although John the Baptist performed no miracle, this can deny neither the truth of his words nor his holiness. Demanding obligatory miracles from saints has become customary and traditional, but we should not regard them as the only necessary proof of faithfulness to God. The Lord gives the ability to work miracles, but not every miracle is from God; the powers of darkness know how to counterfeit miracles. But a life transformed by union with God cannot be imitated.
Readings for 11 December 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. | ||
