John 10:23

John 10:23 says, And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. We are told Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon's porch.  This was done to remember the dedication of a new altar and the cleansing of the second Temple during the reign of Judas Maccabaeus. Jesus came to cleanse not only the Temple, but all the wrong actions and attitudes of worship.  We today have our Christian holidays, but sometimes it seems we lose sight of the significance they have. The religious holidays were not the problem, but how and why they were worshipped were often seemingly forgotten.  We need to ensure that God is honored, no matter the occasion of celebrating what He did for us.  Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny often get more attention than the manger and the cross.  Verse twenty-four adds, Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  The Jews came to Jesus and asked Him to tell them plainly if He were the Christ, the awaited Messiah.  They asked how long He would leave them to doubt. Their doubt was not Jesus's responsibility.  If someone today doubts that Jesus was and is Who He says He is, it is not because He has been unclear about Who He is.  God calls all people to Christ, and gives them the faith to believe, so if people choose not to believe, it is no one's fault but theirs.  Verse twenty-five continues, Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.  Jesus said He told them, and they didn’t believe Him, and that the works that He did in His Father's name bore witness of Him.  If someone were to ask us today if we are a Christian, we should be able to tell them, but our works should also bear witness to the fact.  Still, they did not believe Jesus. When we witness today, since they did not believe Jesus when He witnessed to them, we should not be surprised if they don't believe us.  Verse twenty-six declares, But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  He also said in this verse that they were not His sheep, as He had told them.  Had they been, they would have recognized His voice.  Verse twenty-seven adds, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  Jesus said His sheep heard His voice, and He knew them, and they followed Him.   One thing we can say with certainty is that if we are followers of Christ, we must recognize His voice, no matter how He speaks to us.  Jesus had spoken to the Jews with both words and miracles, but most chose to believe neither.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  Jesus said He gave them eternal life, though I still personally think everlasting life is a better description, since the definition of eternal is without beginning or end.  They will never perish nor be plucked from His hand.  We have everlasting security in Christ.  Verse twenty-nine says, My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  Jesús said His Father Who was greater than all gave them to Him, and no man was able to pluck them out of the Father's hand.  This applies to all believers for all time.  Verse thirty adds, I and my Father are one. Jesus said He and His Father were One.  Someday, we will truly understand that statement, but for now we can only accept and believe it.  We worship one God, through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.                                                           

John 10:19

John 10:19, says, There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. We read once again of a division amongst the Jews over the teachings of Jesus.  God's people should have no trouble understanding what He says, but often do.  Verse twenty adds, And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?  Again, many of the Jews, God's chosen people, accused Jesus of having a devil or being mad.  We might expect this reaction from the world, but certainly not of God's chosen people.  God's people today, the church, should never argue over the nature of God.  Verse twenty-one continues, Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?  Others of the Jews once again pointed out that these were not the words of one with a devil, and that a devil could not open the eyes of a blind man.  Both Jesus' words and actions spoke of Who He was, but many simply refused to see.  The same is true today.  God's words and actions through the Holy Spirit speak to the truth of Christ as the Messiah, the Savior of mankind   Verse twenty-two concludes, And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.   This all happened in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication when it was winter. 

John 10:11

John 10:11 says, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  Jesus again said He was the Good Shepherd Who gave life to the sheep. If we are to follow the example of Christ, we should be willing to give everything to protect the church, His sheep.  He gave His life for all people, but He protects those who are His.  We need not fear the forces of evil, because we have the Good Shepherd to protect us.  Verse twelve adds, But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  Verse thirteen continues, The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  Jesus said that the hireling, who doesn't own the sheep, when he sees the wolf will flee and abandon the sheep.  The hireling does not set out to harm the sheep, but still puts himself ahead of the sheep.  Though Jesus alone is qualified to be the Good Shepherd, we as His followers need to ask how we behave when trouble comes to the church.  We can act as the Good Shepherd and lay down our life in defense of the church, God's people, or we can look to what is best for us.  Verse fourteen states, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  Once more Jesus said He was the Good Shepherd, and that he knows His sheep, and are known by them.  As His followers, His sheep, we must know and recognize His voice in order to follow Him.  Verse fifteen adds, As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  Jesus said that as the Father knew Him, He also knows the Father: and He laid down His life for the sheep.  The death of Jesus for the salvation of the world was the Father's will.  It is also His will that we accept the gift of salvation that Jesus provides for us.  Nerse sixteen continues, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  Jesus spoke of other sheep not of this fold.  He was speaking of the Gentiles who were not of the Jewish fold.  That includes us.  He was not speaking of people in America, or anywhere else, that He physically appeared to.  His life on this earth was in a particular place in a particular time for a particular purpose.  Verse seventeen says, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  Verse eighteen adds, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  No one took His life, but He willingly lay it down, so He could take it up again.  As we are confronted by the lost world, how much are we willing to lay down for their salvation through Christ.  If we must lay down our life, we can rest assured that Jesus will raise us up again to everlasting life. 

John 10:6

John 10:6 say, This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.  The people did not understand the parable of the Good Shepherd.  Often today, even we as His followers may fail to understand what Jesus is telling us, so it should be no wonder that the lost world fails to understand.  Verse seven adds, Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  Jesus is the door for the sheep.  Again, in order for anyone to be His sheep, His followers, they must go through the door that only He can provide. To state it once more, Jesus is not a way to salvation, but He is the only way.  Verse eight continues, All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  Jesus said all that came before Him were thieves and robbers, but His sheep didn't hear them.  There had been others who claimed to be shepherds of Israel, but they had sought their own glory. The scribes and Pharisees were supposedly the ones leading people to God, but instead they sought their own position of power.  We are never to feel that we in anyway control salvation and are superior to other people.  We are to be His sheep, His servants, and to reach the lost world with His message.  Verse nine states, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  Jesus said, He was the door: and that by Him if any man enters in, he would be saved, and would go in and out, and find pasture.  We go in and out into the world to witness for Christ, but we rest secure in His protection.  We have our needs met through Him as we find pasture.  Too often, we want more than just having our needs met.  We think another pasture looks better than the one God has provided. That is when the thief steps in.  Verse ten adds, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  Jesus warned of the thieves coming to kill and destroy, but that He came to give abundant life.  When we look to the things of this world to bring satisfaction instead of looking to God in obedience, we have that abundant life stolen.  We sometimes seem to believe that abundant life means material riches, but instead it means a close personal relationship with Christ.  If we go in and out through the door of Christ, we will not be led astray.