Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: His Hour Had Not Yet Come!

This weekend marks the weekend before Easter Sunday 2014. More importantly, we are now into the last week of Jesus' life on Earth. By now, he has almost done everything he was born to do. The wheels are now in motion for the final events leading up to His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

In this week's message, I'd like to retrace Jesus' steps from the point of His time in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication to His return to the roots of His ministry, across the Jordan River (John 10:22-41).

It was wintertime, as Jesus walked in Solomon's Colonnade, or porch, which was located on the outside of the temple, facing the east. (Note: Josephus, a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar and historian, said it was part of the original structure of Solomon [Antiquities, 20.9.7]).

Jerusalem's wet season starts in November and goes through April. Although, it can snow from time to time, for the most part, it doesn't get cold enough to snow. So, it was probably during a cold, inclement day, that Jesus stepped into the Temple to get out of the weather. After all, the porch was covered over, and the outside of it was enclosed with a wall, which made it convenient for such a purpose. Besides, as a Jew, Jesus most certainly would have participated in the Feast of Dedication.

The Feast "was instituted by Jude Maccabeus, to commemorate the purification of the temple from the profanations to which it had been subjected by Antiochus Epiphanes 165 B.C., and kept for eight days, from the twenty-fifth Chisleu (December), the day on which Judas began the first joyous celebration of it (I Maccabees 4:52,56,59; and JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 7.7.7)."  -The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown 

Some of the Jews who were there, saw Jesus, and took the opportunity to box him in. They then asked him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly" (John 10: 24). In fact, He might have even recognized a face, or two, in this crowd of interrogators as some who heard him speak previously (John 10:1-21). They asked this question, not so much because they wanted to really know who He was, or for the sake of information. But, they did this in order to trap him. They wanted to catch him in His own argument.

The Jews hoped to scare him into saying he was not the Christ. And, now as they had him by himself, hemmed in, it would  lessen his credibility among the people if he said, in front of all, that he was the Messiah. Then, they would have a good reason to accuse him to the Roman governor, as an enemy to Caesar; because he declared himself as king of the Jews.

However, Jesus stood firm, and calmly answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me" (John 10:25). His reply is full of wisdom. If he had at once given an affirmative answer, they would have misunderstood him, because he wasn't the Christ of their expectations. If he had denied that he was the Messiah, he would have been untrue to his deepest consciousness of reality.

In other words, Jesus was saying that he told them all of this before. That, the works which he had done, should have be more than enough to prove who He was. He also told  them that He was the light of the world: the Son of God: the good shepherd: that He came to save; to give life; to give liberty; and to redeem them: that, in order to do this, He must die, and rise again; and that He is absolute master of His life, and of His death. Didn't they notice his omniscience, in searching and discovering the very secrets of their hearts? Didn't they see His omnipotence in the miracles that He performed? Didn't this convince anyone? He did all of this, and still they refused to believe! (John 10:26)

I can just see the Jews, all standing there looking at each other, wondering what just happened! Instead of getting a confession out of Jesus, they just got "schooled!" Then, Jesus pauses for a second, glances at the crowd, and then continues, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).

Any person who reads without bias should easily see, that our Lord isn't insinuating that these people couldn't believe, because God had made it impossible for them. It's because they simply didn't hear and follow Christ, which all of our blessed Lord's lecture proves that they might have done. The sheep of Christ aren't those who are included in any eternal decree, to the exclusion of others from eternal mercy; but they are those who hear, believe in, follow, and obey the Savior of the world.

Those who continue to hear Christ's voice, and to follow him, shall never perish. They give themselves up to God, and believe that Jesus lives in their hearts. Only those who have Christ living in, and governing their souls, so that they possess the mind that was in him, are his sheep. And, they will never perish, because they have this eternal life (John 10: 28). "My Father gave my flock to me. I'm in charge of my sheep,  and no one can ever take them away from us!" Jesus tells the gathering crowd (John 10: 29). The sheep who hear His voice, follow Him and obey.

"I and the Father are one" concludes his final public disclosure of Himself to His people (John 10:30). It was the ultimate confession of His complete identity. However, this last act of public ministry didn't sit too well with the Jews. This isn't a man saying he has joined his efforts with God. This Man is saying something dangerous, something more, something blasphemous. He is saying He is God in human flesh. The hostile crowd reacted angrily and attempted to stone Jesus because they understood the implications of His claim (John 10:31, John 10:33, Leviticus 24:16).

But Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me" (John 10:32)?  Strictly speaking, He was telling them, "Look, I've healed your sick, delivered those of you who were possessed from the power of demons; I've fed multitudes of your poor, and I've taught you in all places, at all times, without expense, with patience; and this is my reward?"

The Jews then respond, "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy because you, a mere man, claim to be God" (John 10: 33). Twice before they understood Him to advance the same claim, and both times they prepared themselves to avenge what they took to be the insulted honor of God, as here, in the way directed by their law (John 5:18; 8:59).

Then Jesus replies, "Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods?" (John 10:34) He was talking about the law which was given to them, of which they boasted, and pretended to understand, and interpret, even in (Psalm 82:6); because the law includes not only the Pentateuch, but all the books of the Old Testament. The Psalm refers to Israel's judges, sometimes called "princes," who; even though they failed, were designated "gods" because they administered justice as part of their divine commission. So, how can they charge Jesus with blasphemy if He is evidently sent from God? (John 10:35-36)

"Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father" he tells them (John 10:37). The works of his Father are those which God only can do. As Jesus did them, it shows that the name "Son of God," implying equality with God, was properly applied to him. This shows conclusively that he meant to be understood as claiming to be equal with God. Therefore, the Jews naturally understood him, and they were left with this impression on their minds.

He follows this statement up with, "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 in the Father." (John 10:38) This was His way of telling them, even if you don't believe what I've said to you, consider all I've done, and then you'll see that this proves that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; and, consequently, that the Father and I are one.

This seems to be the main point of our Lord's argument; and every man must see and feel that it is conclusive. There's no possibility of weakening the force of this reasoning but by asserting that these miracles were not performed by the power of God; and then they must have proved that not only a man, but an evil man, such as they said Jesus was, could work these miracles.

His statement in John 10:38 really angered the mob. They dropped their stones, and tried to take Him and bring him before the sanhedrim, as they had done in John 5:18. But he escaped, slipping through the crowd untouched, and unharmed (John 10:39). Jesus escaped, not because he was afraid to suffer, but because his hour had not arrived. How did he slip through everyone? I've often wondered about that myself.

Interestingly, The Pulpit Commentary has this to say about how he eluded being captured: "His escape was facilitated by the strange moral power he could exert to render their assaults upon him vain. They stretched out hands which dropped harmlessly at their side - another confirmation of the solemn statement of verse 18." (John 10:18) Amen to that!

After nearly three months in Jerusalem, including: a very stormy ministry; escaping angry mobs twice (John 8:59 10:31); and almost getting arrested (John 7:32,45 10:39). We now conclude this week's message with Jesus safely across the Jordan River, where He began His ministry a few, short years before (John 10:40). This was where John the Baptist performed baptisms, and where Christ Himself was baptized.

Once the word got around that He had returned many people came to see Him in person; to be healed by Him; to watch Him perform miracles; and still others to hear Him preach. You see, although three years had passed, the name, ministry, and baptism of John, were still fresh in their memories. It's true, John the Baptist did not validate his mission by working miracles, however, he did show that he was a prophet by foretelling the character and success of Jesus. (John 10:41)

And as for Jesus? At least for now, He had some time to rest from all of the turbulence around Him. His time would not come yet for three months, until the next Passover.

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi