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Rejected by the Religious Leaders

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In 1858 the Illinois legislature, using an obscure statute, sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am … More

Rejection
Bible scholars say that approximately two months had passed between the previous account and these events. The “feast of the dedication” (Hanukkah) (v. 22) takes place in December, which is near the time when we celebrate our Christmas. This feast celebrates the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabeaus in 164 B.C., after it had been desecrated by the Romans. The leaders surrounded Jesus in the Temple so that He would have to stop and listen to them (vv. 21-23). They had decided that it was time for a “showdown.” They said; “If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly” (v.24). Jesus made a statement that He knew would only give these religious leaders more reason to oppose Him (vv. 25-29). It was the “plain answer” they had asked for. “I and my father are one” (v. 30).

These Jews were angered that Christ would claim equality with the father and so they “took up stones to stone Him” (v. 31). Jesus asks why this good work deserves such cruel  treatment (v. 32). They claimed that they did not have a problem with His works but objected because He, a mere  man, claimed to be God (v.33). This they said, was blasphemy. They had ignored what Christ did, and were judging Him on what He had said. He told them; If His works did not verify His claim, then they should not believe on Him (vv. 34-38).

Again they wanted to arrest Jesus, but because of their hostility He went across the Jordan river to Perea, and did not return to Jerusalem until “Palm Sunday” (vv. 39-41). The common people continued to seek Jesus, as He continued to minister to them “and many believed on Him” (v. 42).

 

Application

Lord, help me to see things from your prospective and not mine.

John 10:22-42 (English Standard Version)

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you 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 that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken-- do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there.

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