The Gospel according to John (10:22-30)
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”
Reflection:
So, I mentioned in last week’s DEACON5 reflection that I’m leading a Bible Study this Easter Season on the Gospel of John at my home parish of St Rita. Last week’s session was of John chapters 10 through 12, so it includes today’s Gospel reading. The point that was made with that last session is that John 10 & 11 are the last portion of John’s “Book of Signs”, and John 12 starts the “Book of Glory”, which is the rest of the Gospel. Our materials make clear that last week’s segment is the “tipping point” of the Gospel, as John shows Jesus completing the last of His great “signs” with the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and from that point on, it’s all about how the religious leaders want to put Him to death.
Now, of course, there is more to it than that. But, pondering today’s Gospel (which is just a little before the story of Lazarus), it came to me that the “tipping point” might just be right here. That last statement that Jesus makes in John 10, verse 30: “The Father and I are one.” The Pharisees and other Jewish leaders knew everything about the Jewish Law. The way they are portrayed throughout the Gospels makes it clear that, in the view of the Gospel writers, the Pharisees literally viewed the Law AS God. For Jesus to make this provocative statement was too much, for they did not think that a mere man could ever be on the level with God. The very next verse (John 10:31) shows their reaction – they picked up stones to put Jesus to death by stoning.
Jesus’ words were intended to provoke a strong reaction. Living as a follower of Jesus is a hard path in a world that does not value faith. Those in our families or in our lives who do not have faith will likely think that we are crazy for valuing the words of Jesus, and His example of self-giving love. My answer to that is that we human beings are “wired” to be energized by giving to others. When we extend love and care to others, we receive it back from God in so many ways. In Linda’s and my ministry as a deacon couple, we are blessed that we are able to touch others’ lives. All we want is for those around us to see God in us, and to imagine that God loves them as He loves Linda and me. If we can do that every day, we are blessed indeed!
Action for the Day:
Have you contemplated that last line of today’s Gospel and how radical it was for those who hear it? Take a few moments today to ponder that, and be thankful that we have access to the Son of God, and it is he who seeks us!
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
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