The Gospel of John: John 10.19-33

Read and meditate on John 10.25-27.
Jesus reminds us that our witness to Him is one of both words and deeds. And even when these are as clear and obvious as can be, many will refuse to believe. Those who believe, follow.

                                   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.”

- John 10.25-27

Reflect
1.  Emily Dickinson wrote, “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant/Success in circuit lies…” The people insisted that Jesus “tell” them “plainly” if He was the Christ. Jesus says, “I told you…” But had Jesus used that term to refer to Himself? Had He been telling the truth “slant” to this point? Did He consider that to have been sufficient? Explain. Complete this prayer: Help me to be plain and clear in my witness for You, Lord. Today, give me the opportunity to…

2.  Even though He’d told them – in so many ways – that He was the Christ, they did not believe. Would it have made any difference to these people if He’d just come right out and said, “I am the Christ”? Why or why not? Why do you suppose it’s so hard for some people to believe in Jesus? Give me grace and patience, Lord, so that I my witness for You…

3.  It wasn’t just by His words that Jesus claimed to be Messiah. His works also bore witness to Him (v. 25). How did the works of Jesus in Jerusalem show Him to be the Christ? How would you explain the relationship between words and deeds in your calling to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 1.8)? Lord, let my life and my words faithfully point others to You. Keep me from…

4.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice…” He also said, “you shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1.8). Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. If you hear Jesus’ voice, calling you to be His witnesses, what will it look like as you follow Him day by day? Today, Lord, as I go out into my Personal Mission Field, help me to…

5. Those who are not Jesus’ sheep may “hear” His voice, but they do not really hear it, because they do not follow Him. This is because they hear, but they do not believe. To believe is to hear and to follow. If we are not following Jesus by our words and deeds, what can we conclude? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“What is the voice of the shepherd? ‘And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name throughout all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’ There is the voice of the shepherd. Recognize it and follow if you are a sheep.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

Are you one of the Lord’s sheep? How do you know? How does He know?

Closing Prayer
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (Taladh Chriosda: Song of the Christ Child)
The Lord my Shepherd is, and I
Shall not want; He makes me lie
In green pastures, leads me by
Refreshing waters, still.

Restore my soul, Lord, day by day;
Lead me in Your righteous way
For Your Name’s sake, Lord, I pray,
According to Your will.

And though through death’s dark vale I go,
I no fear of evil show,
For Your rod and staff, I know,
Shall guard and comfort still.

A table You before me spread
In the midst of those I dread,
And with oil anoint my head;
My cup You over fill.

Thus goodness e’er shall follow me;
Mercy all my path shall see;
Your house shall my dwelling be,
Forever after still.

T. M. Moore

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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.