John Week 20

John 10:22-42

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 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.” 25 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, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 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. 30 I and the Father are one.”

• Some think he is the Christ, some have heard the claim he is Christ, and some are antagonistic that he claims he is the Christ
• the crowd confronts him, "are you the Christ?"
• Jesus rebukes them, basically saying "where have been this whole time?" They were definitely not paying attention and focusing with their eyes. Eyes betray us.
• Jesus works bear witness to who he is
• They are not his sheep so they do not understand. Why do they not understand
• His sheep hear his voice, know him, follow him, and will never perish. They will never be snatched away. 
• Father is the greatest of all, no one can steal them out of his hands. Jesus and the Father are one.

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 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.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 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’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 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.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

• The Jews picked up stones to stone him
• Jesus asked with of God's works are they going to stone him for
• the Jews answered for Blasphemy, claiming he a man is God
• Jesus refuted them. If they do not see the works of God in him then don't believe him, but if you see the works of God, believe in the works. Belief in the works will help you understand me and the Father.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

• Jesus went away.
• John the Baptist groundwork bore fruit. Many saw who Jesus is because of LISTENING to John.

How do we see?

• We see things with glasses on. Humor me.
• We often see things based on our own beliefs correct? Our own lens.
• This can sku how we perceive different things in our own life or how we see different events.
• We have our own bias, which is completely normal and ok, right?
• But sadly our eyes are clouded by us as well through selfishness and sin.
• As we see in scripture over and over again is that eyes can decieve us.
• God tells us to trust him and ask for new eyes so we can see what he sees.
• This new eyesight is apart of over transformation of becoming like Christ.

So what do we get with these new eyes?

• As in the Scripture above we can see that Jesus and the Father are one.
• We can see that Jesus, the Father, and Holy Spirit are one
• We can see their unity and work.
• We can see how they see people.
• We can see how they see sin.
• We can see how they see pain.
• We can see how they see joy.
• We can see how they see Their work that is ready for the Harvest.

So how do we get this new eyesight Henry?

• Ask
• Well Henry that see too simple, doesn't it?
• Well it is guys. But sadly its something we have to ask for them over and over again.
• Not because of the Trinity but because of us. We re-cloud our eyes every time we look away from God. So way to often. More then we care to admit.
• All of us this is part of our daily reliance on God. it takes effort because of our sin nature, but God gladly renews daily, hourly, and minutely (if that's even a word)
• Two questions remain:
  • Will you let him do it?
  • And will let him take away the fear of what you might see?

Family Questions

1. How do you see the world?
2. Is it hard to see God work?
3. Will you let him do it?
4. And will let him take away the fear of what you might see?