John 10:19-42

Believe in the Name of Jesus

In these passages, we see the continued dispute among the Jews about the deity of Jesus and his response to them. Some describe him as insane and demon-possessed while others were captivated by his teachings and the divine power he continued to demonstrate.

Here we picture the unbelieving Jews virtually cornering Jesus saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” It is ironical that when Jesus taught them with words and authority, they demanded miracles or signs to prove his authority. (John 2) Jesus had already performed a number of miracles to manifest his divinity, including turning water into wine (chapter 2), healing a royal official’s son (chapter 4), healing the man at the pool of Bethesda (chapter 5), miraculously feeding a crowd of five thousand (chapter 6) and healing a man born blind (chapter 9). Yet they wanted Jesus to acknowledge if he was indeed the Messiah. This clearly shows that they asked this question not in earnest to know the truth, but to trap him and find in his words a reason for accusation.

Jesus, knowing their intentions, exposes their duplicity saying, “I told you, and you do not believe,” and points to his miracles as ample evidence of his claims. He rebukes them saying that they do not believe because they are not his sheep and at the same time provides insights into some wonderful truths and promises for his sheep (disciples):

• They believe in him with complete and continued obedience. (v 26)
• They discern his voice and words. (v 27)
• They are known by him. (v 27)
• They follow and continue to abide in him. (v 27)
• He gives them eternal life and they shall never perish. (v 28)
• The sheep are the Father’s gift to Jesus. (v 29)
• The sheep have twofold protection in Jesus and in the Father. (v 28-29)
• The Scriptures and promises of God cannot fail (v 35)

Jesus then continues to make a bold claim that he and the Father are one (v 30) in essence and nature, thereby affirming his divinity.
In response, some Jews get ready to stone him for blasphemy, while others put their trust in him. This shows that there will always be skeptics who reject the truth despite having overwhelming evidence.
The entire essence of the book of John is a call to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and to receive eternal life in his name. The word believe is used almost 100 times in this Gospel, showing the Apostle’s desire for us to believe in Jesus.

What about us who believe in his name? Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Let us take God at his word along with his great and precious promises and walk in the light of the abundant life we have received in Christ.

Prayer: Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:19-24) Amen.