Let’s imagine that you are doing a house renovation. How would you approach that? Well if you are sensible you won’t just take the builder’s word that they can do a good job. You will want to see evidence of their work. Perhaps they will bring along some photos of a previous job they are proud of, or they might give you the references of some recent clients. These things serve as proof that the builder can do what they claim to do. Now in our passage today we see that Jesus again clashing with the religious leaders and he tells them: look even if you don’t believe my words, have at least believe in my works. Let’s have a look.
Scripture: John 10:22-42 (ESV)
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.
Now remember how John is structured. It is structured around two bodies of proof of who Jesus is. The first section is the “Book of Signs”, where John presents us with various signs and wonders that Jesus performed in order to prove his divinity. We are now nearing the end of the book of signs, and as we see in this passage Jesus’ signs, his miraculous works have not convinced many of the religious leaders.
Jesus is at Solomon’s Colonnade, and the people around him want him to tell them outright: “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answers that he has already told them through his works, his miracles and actions in the world. But notice, that even though the people had clearly seen Jesus’ work and his actions, they still fail to believe. That is odd isn’t it? If you saw a miracle with your own eyes, such as that of someone born blind suddenly being able to see, wouldn’t you accept that as evidence that the healer comes from God?
But Jesus tells us why they don’t believe. The unbelievers aren’t part of his flock. They are not part of the elect. No matter what proof is given, it will fail to convince them. This hasn’t changed over the years either. If someone is not elect, nothing you do, will ever be able to convince them. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about who is and who isn’t elect. That is entirely up to God.
We do however have a responsibility for ourselves. If we are Jesus’ sheep, if we are in his sheepfold, then we have a responsibility to listen to his voice. We have a responsibility to follow him wherever he leads. And we have a responsibility to thank God for the assurance we have that we can never be snatched from his hand.
And that’s a pretty special position to be in.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are our Good Shepherd. Help us to trust in in your voice and follow where you lead. When we are tempted to doubt or follow other voices, remind us of the evidence of Your love and power that we’ve already seen, both in your miracles, but ultimately on the cross. Thank you for leading us. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Today, take some time to reflect on all the ways God has worked in your life. This may be his work as shown to us in the Bible, or it may be times when you can see that God has intervened or worked in your life. Thank God for these reminders.