Jesus was sent by his Father to the lost sheep of the house of Israel only (Matthew 15:24)Waiting for response for Matthew 15:24 but he knew that later the Gentiles would have the same opportunity to follow him, therefore he said concerning them: “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” v.16.Waiting for response for John 10:16
Like the man born blind, true disciples of Christ believe the witness of the Father’s works which Jesus did, but many others did not v.25.Waiting for response for John 10:25 The miracles proved that God was Jesus’ Father, who “is greater than all”, and Jesus plainly declared his Father was greater than everyone else, including himself. Jesus acted in unity with his Father so that he could say: “I and my Father are one”. This statement is often taken out of context to assert that Jesus and his Father are equal, even though this idea is diametrically opposed to Jesus’ declarations concerning his Father’s superiority.
The Pharisees misunderstood Jesus’ words and accused him of blasphemy, saying: “Thou, being a man, makest thyself God” v.33.Waiting for response for John 10:33 This was a false accusation, and Jesus immediately refuted it, showing from the scriptures v.34Waiting for response for John 10:34 that many people are called gods (same word as God v.33).Waiting for response for John 10:33 The LORD himself called the rulers he appointed over Israel, to whom also he gave his word, “gods” v.35Waiting for response for John 10:35 (Psalms 82:6).Waiting for response for Psalms 82:6 How then could it be blasphemy for Jesus to say he was the Son of God? v.36.Waiting for response for John 10:36 He declared he was “the Son of God” but never “God the Son”, which is a later invention of men. He did say: “the Father is in me, and I in him” v.38Waiting for response for John 10:38 which enraged those who did not understand his speech, and they tried to kill him v.39Waiting for response for John 10:39 but he escaped out of their hand v.40.Waiting for response for John 10:40 Many came to him and believed vs.41-42,Waiting for response for John 10:41-42 but since then many also have wrested such statements as “I and my Father are one” and “the Father is in me, and I in him” to make him equal with God. This is false, but we can readily understand that Jesus spoke of unity and intimacy, and this will be experienced also by the saints with Jesus and God, as Jesus prayed to his Father: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” John 17:21.Waiting for response for John 17:21
This chapter continues the conversation (from the previous chapter) between Jesus and the Pharisees relating to the man born blind in which Jesus declared himself “the shepherd of the sheep” v.2.Waiting for response for John 10:2 His sheep hear his voice and follow him v.4,Waiting for response for John 10:4 and clearly the blind man was in this category but his opponents were not v.26.Waiting for response for John 10:26 Jesus is the good shepherd who gave his life for the sheep v.11Waiting for response for John 10:11 in accordance with his Father’s will v.15Waiting for response for John 10:15 who therefore loves him v.17.Waiting for response for John 10:17 He gave his life that his sheep “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” v.10.Waiting for response for John 10:10 Our lifespan now is only “three score years and ten” but after the resurrection the saints will live throughout the Millennium and beyond. Jesus will give them “eternal life; and they shall never perish” v.28.Waiting for response for John 10:28