22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the Portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us openly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; 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.”
John 10: 22-30 LSB
John 10: 22-30 One
V. 22 At the time the Feast of the Dedication - This is Hanukkah which commemorates a time of great distress among the practicing Jews and also a time of great triumph. Antiochus Epiphanes was a Hellenistic ruler of that time from the area of Syria, and many of the apostate Jews in Jerusalem had made an alliance with him. This led to the desecration of the temple, the priests being force fed pork, all in order to punish the faithful for not becoming polytheist, for saying there is only one God. Also called Epimanes by his subjects, meaning mad one, he erected idols of other gods, and sacrificed to them on the temple altars, hence desecrated. This was an abomination of desolation, and part of Jewish history, so when Jesus later speaks of these things the people have a clear picture in their mind. It makes desolate in that the temple is defiled, much as sin defiles us, for we that believe are the temples of the Holy Spirit. So in order to use the temple or the altar again there had to be a cleansing and rededication or sanctifying of the temple, setting them apart for holy use.
At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem - NLT paraphrases it accurately "It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication." The Feast of Dedication is also known as Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights (because of the lighting of lamps and candles in Jewish homes to celebrate the Feast) and began in the intertestamental period when the temple was rededicated after the Maccabean revolt (led by Judas Maccabaeus = ‘Judas the Hammer’), that threw off the rule of evil Antiochus Epiphanes and recaptured the temple and reconsecrated it to God on 25 Kislev (the lunar month that approximately coincides with December), 164 BC. (1 Maccabees 4:52-59). This feast is mentioned only here and was not one of the feasts sanctioned in the Old Testament. - PA
V. 23 Portico of Solomon - All that was left of the original temple after the Babylonian destruction and occupation.
V. 24 How long will You keep us in suspense - They are trying to trap Him, that is the main purpose of the religious leaders, get Him to make a confession of this, that He is the Messiah, and hopefully turn the crowd against Him as a blasphemer. There are some peripheral people who are on the fence probably as well, and everyone wants Messiah to come as a deliverer, so there may be some of the hopeful there in that sense as well, but these Pharisees want Him dead. This drips of sarcasm, and not of the meaningful sort, because it is blindly be directed at the Son of God.
…67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”…
…70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.” Luke 22: 67-71
V. 25 I told you and you do not believe - He has said that He is from the Father, and for that they wanted to kill Him. In John 5:21 Jesus tells them that He gives life as the Father gives life, to whom He will. In verse 23 He states that all should honor the Son as they honor the Father. In verse 27 He reveals His authority as the Son of Man, and this is a clear Messianic claim. He had told them, and it's not even that they didn't hear, but that they heard and don't want Him. Why? This is the T in TULIP, they are dead in their trespasses and sins and the fruit of their bondage is unbelief, and we will see that it is in the face of damning evidence.
Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you ("ou" = absolutely) do not believe (pisteuo = lengthy note in John 8 Commentary) - Jesus boldly calls those who question Him "unbelievers!" (cf Jn 10:26) Jesus says "I DID tell you!" For example read John 5:17-43+ (and see the Related Passages above). The problem was not in Jesus' words, but in the hearer's hearts! This is always the case! Jesus had made a similar declaration to the Jews who professed belief in Him in John 8:30+, declaring "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word" (Jn 8:43+) - PA
…18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.… John 3: 18-20
…6Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. 8Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”… John 7: 6-8
V. 25b The works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me - He had performed many miracles that they were well aware of, and that would substantiate His claims to deity. He has also fulfilled the Scriptures written about the Messiah and is nearing the end of this ministry when He will be lifted up on a cross, further fulfilling the bruising of the heal as He crushes His adversary's head. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. He has healed the deaf and blind, but the problem they have with Him is that He confronts their sin, and that is the problem still today. If I tell you God is love, Jesus loves you, He has a wonderful plan for your life, then most aren't offended, but if I confront your sin and tell you that God requires that you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to avoid eternal punishment, then the crowd goes wild, they throw themselves down in full temper tantrum mode.
But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep - This is the reason, you are still in chains, the slaves of sin, you haven't been born again. This is the U in TULIP, Unconditional Election. You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you. People like hearing about this the same as they like hearing that they are sinners. Every bit of your salvation is dependent upon Christ. The Father draws you to Him, the Holy Spirit gives you new life to believe in Him. The faith you exercise in believing is a gift itself, because your free will is only so free as to the end of it's chain, the width of your cell, you are a slave to sin unless He frees you. Your good works are all filthy rags, there is no work that you can do to save yourself, least of all anything of your so called "free will", for the will of a sinner is in bondage. God is sovereign here as well.
…6For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. 7The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.… Deuteronomy 7: 6-8
…14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it. 15Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day. 16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.… Deuteronomy 10: 14-15
…3When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions. 4Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple. 5With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.… Psalm 65: 3-5
…13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.” 15Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.… Matthew 22: 13-15
…10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”… Romans 9: 10-12
V. 27 My sheep hear my voice - The gospel goes out, the seed is thrown all over by the sower, but it only takes root and produces fruit in the tilled ground. The L in TULIP is for Limited atonement, meaning that the work of Christ on the cross was effectual to the saints who were elected by God before time began. These hear the call and respond in saving fashion, because they have been regenerated, given sight and hearing, and are being drawn by the Father to Christ Who is the way provided. The Pharisees did not like Jesus voice, refused what He was saying.
…20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:… Matthew 1: 20-22
…47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.… Acts 13: 47-49
V. 27b -28 They follow Me and I give eternal life to them - We call God's unmerited favor, grace, and every bit of our salvation is most gracious, and this would bring us to the I in TULIP, Irresistible Grace. It is not that God, as RC explains, brings us kicking and screaming, but rather that through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are made alive, convicted of sin and judgment, and convinced to believe. We, who were once strangers to God and enemies, are now caused to love Him by way of a new nature. The apostle says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God and not of works, lest any man should boast." People get mad when you say "irresistible", because they put much on their free will, but this reflects back to the T, the doctrine of Total Depravity, in that the dead cannot make themselves alive, the prisoner is bound in chains, the slave to his sin, and in denial of that as well, so he will never come of his own accord. I would encourage you, if you struggle with this, to go back and read John 3.
…13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”… Romans 8: 13-15
…10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.…
…13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.… 1 Corinthians 2: 10-15
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… 1 Peter 1: 1-3
V. 28c And no one will snatch them out of My hand - Now there are those who believe that you can lose your salvation, but this is not what Scripture teaches. Many of these also put a lot of weight on free will, and yes, if that were the case, I suppose if you could will yourself to be saved then you could un-will yourself by changing your mind, as I did. When I was young I walked the aisle and said the prayer, but when I was older I left the faith, wanted desperately to believe atheism, but God graciously called me later in my life, and kept me alive through those times when He only owed me death. This brings us to the P in TULIP, the Perseverance of the Saints. Of those who leave the faith, He says they were never of us.
…13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. 14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans. 15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.… Job 23: 13-15
…23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel. 24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth, 25who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,…
…26who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’ 27who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’ 28who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’ ”… Isaiah 44: 23-28
…2He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. 3Surely You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words— 4the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.… Deuteronomy 33: 2-4
18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.… 1 John 2: 18-20
V. 29 No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand - He is speaking of God, as prior He says, My Father is greater than all. Those in His hand are a gift to Him from the Father, and this was settled before time. No one also includes me, I don't hold my salvation, Christ does, which is the equivalent of God, and He will make that even clearer still.
…5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.… Philippians 1: 5-7
1Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.… Isaiah 43: 1-2
…3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.… Colossians 3: 3-5
V. 30 I and the Father are one - Another claim to deity, and they will now want to stone Him again.
…26Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.… Matthew 11: 26-28
…12It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.… Titus 2: 12-14
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