The Gospel of John: John 10.19-33

Read and meditate on John 10.19-33.
The Jews at last blurt out their objection to Jesus’ claims. They clearly understood what He was saying when He took upon Himself the mantle of Good Shepherd. God had said that He would come to shepherd His flock, and now here was Jesus, claiming to be that one (cf. Ezek. 34.11-31). There was no mistaking Jesus’ claim, and they hated Him for it.

¹⁹And those who heard Him say these things became
divided. ²⁰Many said, “He is insane,
or has a demon. Why pay any heed
to what He says?” ²¹Yet others said, “Indeed,
these words are not the words of someone who
is demon filled. Are demons able to
bring healing to a blind man?”

                                              ²²Later on,
in winter in Jerusalem, and on
the Feast of Dedication, ²³Jesus walked
in Solomon’s porch, and as He walked, He talked
with ²⁴many people who surrounded Him
and asked Him, “Will You keep us ever in
suspense and doubt? If You are Christ, say so,
and tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus said, “I told
you, yet you still do not believe. I do
the works My Father gives me, and to you
they give clear witness of Me. ²⁶You do not
believe in them or Me, for you are not
My sheep, as I said to you. ²⁷My sheep hear
My voice; I know My sheep, and they keep near
to Me, and follow Me. ²⁸I give to them
eternal life; their lives will never end,
and no one from My hand can snatch them. ²⁹And
My Father, He Who gave them to Me, than
all others is the greatest; none can from
My Father’s hand remove them. ³⁰I am One
with God the Father.” ³¹Then they took up stones
to kill Him. ³²Jesus answered, “I have shown
you many good works from My Father. For
which one of these do you stone Me?” ³³They said,
“For no good work do we stone You; instead,
because of blasphemy. You are a Man,
but You insist that You are God.”

- John 10.1-18

Reflect
1. Not everyone who hears the Good News about the Good Shepherd will readily welcome and believe it. Jesus created divisions among people wherever He went. He did not shy away from controversy or from challenging and upsetting settled convictions and worldviews. What should we learn from Jesus’ example about our own witness for Him? Complete this prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful as Your witness, even when…

2.  We also see that Jesus was open to questions – even hostile questions, questions designed to put Him on the spot and, if possible, trip Him up. What kind of questions might you anticipate, as you share the Good News with people in your Personal Mission Field? Lord, give me grace when questions come, and help me to…

3.  Even though people got angry at Jesus – angry enough to stone Him – He tried to make them think through their responses (vv. 31, 32). Why is this a good idea? How might you do the same? Let me not cower when people get upset or angry over my witness for You, Lord. Instead, help me…

4.  Jesus was careful to keep His teaching and works within the framework of the will of the Father (cf. vv. 25, 29, 30, 32, and beyond our passage, 36, 38). Meditate on Hebrews 1.1-3a. Jesus came to manifest or express the Father by His words and works. He pointed beyond Himself to the Father, because He had come to be the Way to the Father (Jn. 14.9). In our witness for Christ, we must always remember that we’re not trying to get people to come to church, nor even merely to come to Jesus. We want them to come to God the Father, and Jesus is the Way. How should keeping this in mind affect the content of our witness? Father, thank You for sending Jesus so that I can know You and have eternal life. Help me, as I live and proclaim my witness to Jesus, to always….

5.  Review John 10.1-33. From Jesus’ teaching, what impression are you getting about what it means to be one of His sheep? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Our Savior and Lord in his relation to the Father and God of the universe is not one flesh or one spirit but something higher than flesh and spirit, namely, one God. The appropriate word when human beings are joined to one another is flesh. The appropriate word when a righteous person is joined to Christ is spirit. But the word when Christ is united to the Father is not flesh or spirit but more honorable than these—God. This then is the sense in which we should understand ‘I and the Father are one.’” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

Jesus is our Shepherd Who leads us to the Father. To know Jesus and the Father is eternal life (Jn. 17.3). In our witness for Jesus, can we leave out the Father? About being reconciled to God the Father? About becoming sons and daughters of God the Father (Jn. 1.12)? Explain.

Closing Prayer
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
“You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
…I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He isat my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence isfullness of joy;
At Your right hand arepleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16.1, 2, 7-11

Psalm 16.1, 2, 7-11 (All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
Preserve me, O my God; I refuge seek in You.
You alone are all my good, my Lord and Savior true!
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

I bless Your Name, O Lord; my mind instructs each night.
You teach me by Your Word, and guide me in the right.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will come to gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

T. M. Moore

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Men, God is calling you to pray. Watch this brief video, then seek the Lord about joining our Men at Prayer movement.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.