John 10:22-42


"At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.' The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?' The Jews answered him, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy because you, being a man, make yourself God.' Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, "I said, you are gods"? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming," because I said, "I am the Son of God"? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.' Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, 'John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many believed in him there." (John 10:22-42 ESV)


The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

In this passage, Jesus makes a profound statement about His identity and relationship with those who follow Him. He declares, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (v. 27-28). Here, Jesus emphasizes the security and assurance that His followers have in Him. Those who belong to Christ are known by Him intimately, and He promises them eternal life—a life that cannot be taken away. This is a powerful declaration of the unbreakable bond between Jesus and His followers, rooted in His sovereignty and power.

Jesus' claim that no one can snatch His sheep from His hand reveals His authority as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). His ability to protect and preserve His people flows directly from His unity with the Father: “I and the Father are one” (v. 30). This statement is a clear claim to divinity, provoking outrage among the Jewish leaders. Yet, for believers, it is a comforting truth—our salvation is secured not only by Christ’s love but also by the power of God the Father.

Scriptures to Study:

John 6:37-40, Psalm 23, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 1:3-5


Jesus and the Father Are One

Jesus’ declaration, "I and the Father are one," (v. 30) not only speaks to the unity of purpose between the Father and the Son, but also to their shared divinity. Jesus is not just a prophet or a moral teacher; He is fully God, co-equal with the Father. This profound truth has enormous implications for how we relate to Christ. To trust in Jesus is to trust in God Himself. To reject Jesus is to reject the Father. The Jewish leaders understood Jesus' claim, which is why they accused Him of blasphemy and sought to stone Him.

In discipleship, this truth forms the foundation of our faith. We follow Jesus not only because of His wisdom or example, but because He is God. Through Jesus, we come to know the Father, and through Jesus, we experience the fullness of God’s love and grace. This oneness between the Father and the Son guarantees that Jesus' mission to save and sustain His people will never fail, because it is grounded in the very nature of God.

Scriptures to Study:

John 14:9-11, Colossians 1:19-20, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 1:1-3


The Works of the Father

Jesus challenges His critics by pointing to His works: “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (v. 37-38). Jesus’ miracles and teachings were not random acts of power—they were demonstrations of His divine authority and His unity with the Father. These works testified to the truth of His identity as the Son of God.

For us today, the works of Jesus continue to reveal His nature and His mission. His miracles, His compassion for the lost, and ultimately His resurrection all confirm that He is the Savior of the world. Believing in Jesus means recognizing that He is doing the Father’s work—bringing redemption, healing, and eternal life. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to continue this work, living out the gospel and bearing witness to Christ’s life-changing power.

Scriptures to Study:

John 5:19-21, John 14:10-12, Acts 2:22-24, Matthew 11:2-5


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