The One

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE ONE

John 10:22-33

22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."  31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"  33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

NIV

So much here, it could take a complete book to cover everything to the fullest, yet because it is one statement of Jesus we must keep it all together. First we should note that we are his sheep, all people who acknowledge him as their Shepherd listen to his voice and are his sheep; therefore we will not perish but have eternal life. We follow Jesus, we do not follow a religious pattern, or in fact any one religion, or denominational doctrine, but we follow Jesus. We are not in the hand of a church, but in the hand of God, and although churches could, if they wanted to, excommunicate us, like the blind man’s parents were in fear of, but God will never cast us out or throw us away. There is nothing, no power which can overcome that of God. The second thing we should note, as if we already don’t know, is that Jesus has just stated that he and the Father are one. It is interesting that Jesus did not use the term, “My Father” but rather used “The Father”. If Jesus would have said my father then it might have been understood he was speaking about Joseph, his earthly father, but by using “The Father” the Jews did understand he was speaking about the Most High God, the one ever spoken about in scripture, the creator of all things, the judge of all men, the Father of all spirits of all men, are one, one in nature. It is clear they understood him to say that he and the God Most High are the same, they are the One. Jesus told them he was God and they just could not buy it, in fact, it infuriated them to the point of wanting to stone him immediately. How belligerent some people can get when faced with the truth that does not agree with what they believe. Some people are so ingrained in their doctrine, whether it is true of not they cannot see the truth, and in fact, react in a violent manner defending their belief. Are we like that? Do we defend what we believe, or do we actually believe the truth? Do we find scripture to defend or prove what we believe, or do we believe based on the scripture? Do we believe because we agree with a churches statement of faith, or do we believe because the scripture has spoken to our hearts? The Jews were so steeped in their beliefs they could not stand to be faced with the truth. We must live according to the truth, not according to traditional thought as the Pharisees did. We must not refuse the truth about Jesus. He and the Father are One.