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MAY 29
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a
good work we do not stone You, but for blas-
phemy, and because You, being a Man, make
17:13 evil for good. Solomon knew this Yourself God.”
proverb well since his father mistreated Uriah 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in
(2 Sam. 12:10–31). Contrast this with the man your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35 If He
who repays evil with good (20:22; Matt. called them gods, to whom the word of God
5:43–48; 1 Pet. 3:9). came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
36 do you say of Him whom the Father sancti-
fied and sent into the world, ‘You are blas-
The beginning of strife is like releasing pheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of
14
water; God’? If I do not do the works of My Father,
37
Therefore stop contention before a do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do
38
quarrel starts. not believe Me, believe the works, that you
He who justifies the wicked, and he who
15 may know and believe that the Father is in
39
condemns the just, Me, and I in Him.” Therefore they sought
Both of them alike are an abomination again to seize Him, but He escaped out of
to the LORD. their hand.
40 And He went away again beyond the Jor-
John 10:24–42 dan to the place where John was baptizing at
41
Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to
24 first, and there He stayed. Then many came
Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If to Him and said, “John performed no sign,
You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” but all the things that John spoke about this
42
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you
25 Man were true.” And many believed in Him
do not believe. The works that I do in My there.
Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But
26
you do not believe, because you are not of My
sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My
27
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall
28 10:38 believe the works.Jesus did not expect
never perish; neither shall anyone snatch to be believed merely on His own assertions.
them out of My hand. My Father, who has Since He did the same things that the Father
29
given them to Me, is greater than all; and no does (5:19), His enemies should consider this
one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s in their evaluation of Him. The implication is,
hand. I and My Father are one.” however, that they were so ignorant of God
30
Then the Jews took up stones again to
31 that they could not recognize the works of the
stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many Father or the One whom the Father sent (see
32
also 14:10,11).
good works I have shown you from My Father.
For which of those works do you stone Me?”
DAY 29: How secure is the believer in Christ?
In John 10:24, the Jews surrounded Him and said,“If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”In light
of the context of vv.31–39,the Jews were not seeking merely for clarity and understanding regard-
ing who Jesus was, but rather wanted Him to declare openly that He was Messiah in order to justi-
fy attacking Him.
Jesus’response is that He has told them and that His works confirm the truth of who He is.The
problem is that they do not believe because they “are not of My sheep”(v.26).This clearly indicates
that God has chosen His sheep and it is they who believe and follow.
But for those who do believe and follow Christ,“I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish”(v.28).The security of Jesus’sheep rests with Him as the Good Shepherd,who has the power
to keep them safe.Neither thieves and robbers (vv.1,8) nor the wolf (v.12) can harm them.Verse 29
makes clear that the Father ultimately stands behind the sheep’s security,for no one is able to steal
from God, who is in sovereign control of all things (Col. 3:3; Rom. 8:31–39). No stronger passage in
the Old Testament or New Testament exists for the absolute,eternal security of every true Christian.
“I and My Father are one”(v.30).Both Father and Son are committed to the perfect protection
and preservation of Jesus’ sheep.The sentence, stressing the united purpose and action of both in
the security and safety of the flock, presupposes unity of nature and essence (see 5:17–23; 17:22).
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