STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – PART 55

                   March 21, 2007

Chapter 10, verses 15-“As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father”- use of the present tense (ginoskei) for timelessness, called “gnomic”.

It serves to express the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son (17:21) showing unity within the Trinity.  Alongside this “knowledge” of one another is the love shared between each member of the Trinity- 17:24, I John 4:8.   If the Father’s knowledge is inexhaustible (I John 3:20; Psa.139:4, 44:21; Dan.2:22; Lk.16:15) and Jesus’ knowledge is the same (even so I know..), then it follows that no one has such insight and capacity to know God as Jesus did.  Also, according to Matt.11:27,  Jesus Himself is inscrutable to all but the Father and Jesus exclusively can reveal the Father.  Further, such inexhaustible

knowledge is possessed by the Spirit (John 16:13-15) and is the source of what the Spirit declares to believers.

Chapter 10, verses 16-18- As the Savior of the World (4:42), Jesus refers

to “other sheep” that will make up the “one flock”—no doubt, looking to the Gentiles yet to come to Christ.  This verse is used by Rom.Catholic authorities

as speaking of the “unity” of the R.C. church (in contrast with the alleged

disunity of the multiple Protestant denominations).  But this “one flock” is unified (Eph.4:4) around the common work of the Holy Spirit (I Cor.12:13), not the bishopric of Rome. 

  Again, Jesus states the love the Father has for the Son (3:35, 5:20) especially

in view of Jesus’ obedience to the Father (5:29) and  willingness to die for the “sheep”.  Jesus makes clear that His death is not forced, but comes out of a choice that He has made to submit to the Father’s command (vs.18).  Such submission facilitates Jesus as a free-agent.  The word for “power” emphasizes authority possessed by Jesus (see 5:26).

  These verses in John reveal that Jesus has a unique intimacy with the Father (co-equal and co-eternal), yet also submits to the Father’s will.  This truth show both the essential and economic relationship within the Trinity.  This material in

John’s gospel is critical to our grasp of the intra-relationship of the Trinity.

Chapter 10, verses 19-21- here again, John describes the effect of Jesus’ words as dividing the Jews.  Jesus had declared this effect in Matt. 10:34-37.

The accusation of “demon” re-occurs.

Chapter 10, verses 22-27- “the feast of the Dedication” refers to a more

recent 8-day festival of Israel commemorating the cleansing of the Temple in 164 BC under Judas Maccebaeus in mid-December.  The defilement of the Temple was done by Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 11:31).  This festival is called

“Feast of Lights” and involves lighting candles in each Jewish home (Chanukkah

or Hanukkah).

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John says the Jews again challenge Jesus with “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  It may be noted that Jesus’ overt statements concerning His identity as Messiah were less public when made in the Judean region (near Jerusalem).

He again appeals to His works that sufficiently bear witness to His identity.

The difficulty is not with evidence, but with the attitude of those observing Him—

Note vs.25-26, twice “you do not believe”.  While evidence may be persuasive, it can remain unconvincing when the heart is hard.

   “you are not of my sheep”- as they expect Him to show Himself as Messiah, so He expects them to yield to His word.  When they fail to do this, it demonstrates their status as unbelievers (not sheep).  The positive side of this is,

“My sheep hear [respond] my voice, and I know them and they follow Me.”  While we take this statement as one of comfort, in fact, it was intended

as a rebuke to those standing there.  This is all the application side of 10:3-4 that He delivered earlier.  We are reminded here that man’s trouble is generally

volitional (5:40), not intellectual.  What becomes astounding is the degree to which the heart of man will go in refusing God’s truth and attempting to cover their self-deception.  The generation of Israel living during Jesus’ life sadly

illustrates just such darkness of heart