WTTW: GOD'S WORD

SUNDAY

“Those Who Don’t vs Those Who Do ”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 10: 22-42

Paraphrase

It was winter, the time of Hanukkah with Jesus in the Temple near Solomon’s Colonnade when the Jews approached asking him to tell them straightforward if he was the Christ.

Jesus told them they haven’t believed what he has told them before nor in the miracles he has done in his Father’s name (like when he healed the man born blind) because they aren’t his sheep – referring to the metaphor they had just heard. He contrasts them as non-believers with his believing sheep – who listen to his voice, who he knows, who follow him, who he gives eternal life and who never perish. He tells them both that his Father is greater than all and that he is one with his Father who has given the believing sheep to him such that no one can take them away.

When the Jews again began taking action to stone him, Jesus asked them for which of the miracles he had done were they planning to kill him. They told him they were not going to kill him for any miracles he had done but because he was only a man but claimed to be God.

Quoting from the Psalms, He rhetorically asked them whether the Law stated “I have said you are gods.”? – going on to ask them if the word of God said this about those it was given to, that surely the one God sent special into the world isn’t committing blasphemy by calling himself God’s Son. Furthermore, Jesus told them that if they can see that he does what his Father does and especially the miracles, they should be able to understand that the Father is in him and he is in the Father. After saying this they again tried to kill him but he escaped.

Escaping with his life, Jesus went across the Jordan to where John baptized early on. While he staying there, many people came and told him everything John had said about him was true


Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that Jesus distinguished between the Jews that didn’t believe (v 26) he was Christ and those who did (v 27).

II. INT: How did Jesus distinguish between the Jews who didn’t believe he was Christ and those who did?

III. ANS: Jesus distinguished between the Jews that didn’t believe he was Christ and those who did by whether they:

1. Rejected vs Accepted His Word v 25a

2. Denied vs Believed in His Miracles v 25b

3. Perished vs Received His Eternal Life v 28

4. Dismissed vs Confessed He was God’s Son vv 34-36

5. Missed vs Grasped He & God were One vv 29-30, 37-38

6. Hated vs Loved Him vv 31-33, 39-42



B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers


I. CIT: John tells use today that Jesus distinguishes between those who don’t believe he is Christ and those who do.

II. INT: How does Jesus distinguish today between those who don’t believe he is Christ and those who do?

III. ANS: Jesus distinguishes today between those who don’t believe he is Christ and those who do by whether they:

1. Reject vs Accept His Word -> “Light of the World”

2. Deny vs Believe in His Miracles -> Healer of the Man Born Blind

3. Perish vs Receive His Eternal Life -> Out of the Darkness into the Light

4. Dismiss vs Confess He is God’s Son -> Does the Father’s Will

5. Miss vs Grasp He & God are One -> Don’t know Him because Don’t know His Father

6. Hate vs Love Him -> The Father of lies, the Devil, is their Father.

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

We pray for the Light of the world to open the eyes of people who are rejecting Your Word.

We pray for the Light of the world to move people from their state of denial of Your miracles to belief.

We pray for the Light of the world to stop people from dismissing Your Son and bring them to know Him as the "Son of God" instead.

We pray that the Light of the world will make You known far and wide and that knowledge of You will make Your Son known to all.

We pray that the Light of the world will shine so none may perish but have eternal life.

We thank You Lord for the Light of the world that we have because Your Son gave his life for us, that he suffered for our sin, our hatred that crucified Him.

We thank You for Your Power that resurrected Your Son from the grave defeating death forever.

LORD,

Use us to shine our light in this world so that others may come to know You through Your Son, Jesus Christ,

In whose name we pray,

Amen.