JOHN 10:22-4 HOW MANY TIMES IS ENOUGH
Through the prior 9 chapters of John we have seen several very important actions of Jesus. Each had a different yet similar result.
1. Chapter 2: A wedding feast at which Jesus turned water into wine. And, not just cheap everyday wine, but the best!!!
*Key verse: verse 5. Jesus' mother said to the servants; "do whatever he tells you".
2. Chapter 2: The Passover was coming and Jesus went to the temple and found people selling what worshipers would need for a sacrifice. And, obviously exchanging money. Then, specifically confronting those vendors selling doves, Jesus told them: Verse16“Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”
• The Jews confronted him and asked under what authority did he have to do this?
*Key verse: Verse 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days .”
3. Chapter 3: Jesus and nicodemus.
John 3:1-2 [1] Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, “ Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him .”
John 3:5-7 [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
*Key verse: Verse 16.For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4. Chapter 4: Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.
• Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water.
• She reminded Jesus about the fact that he is a Jew and she is a Samaritan and they don't associate with each other.
[10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water .”
Then Jesus let her know that he knew things about her that made her take interest. At least she recognized him as a prophet.
*Key verses: verse 25 and 26.
John 4:25-26. [25] The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he .”
5. Also chapter 4. Jesus heals the officials son.
*Key verse: John 4: [48] “Unless you people see signs and wonders ,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
6. Chapter 6 Jesus feeds five thousand and more. With 5 loaves and 2 fish. Then there were 12 baskets full left over.
*Key verse: John 6:14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world .”
7. Chapter 6 Jesus walks on the water.
*Key verse: John 6:29
John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
8. Chapter 9 Jesus heals the blind man.
John 9:34-37 [35] Jesus heard that they had thrown him (the man healed of blindness)out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” [37]Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you .”
*Key verse: John 9:39: [39] Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind .”
The prior review is strictly to prove a point!
HOW MANY TIMES IS ENOUGH?
So here we are with Jesus at the Festival of Dedication. (Hanukkah) SEE INCLUDED TEXT PAGE
John 10:22-24
[22] Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade. [24]The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly .”
• Jesus' message had been clearly wearing on the conscience of the Jewish leaders.
• Jesus was just walking on the Colonnade/ porch at the east side of the temple.
• The Jews wanted to pick a fight.
• They needed a reason that would satisfy their own consciences. (When they accuse Jesus).
• They basically blamed Jesus for their own lack of faith.
Verse 24: If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly .”
Example of a stupid, ignorant, hateful comment.
• This was like telling a traffic cop that if they would put up a speed limit sign every 100 yards – then you would keep the speed limit.
• All of the proof Jesus had given to them was basically pointless.
John 10:25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.
• The book of John has no less than 16 times that Jesus could refer to where he clearly had shown them. (HOW MANY TIMES IS ENOUGH?)
Read John 10: 26 thru 30
• Jesus is basically telling them that they are not worthy of being the shepherds of God's chosen people.
• And they are are not even among the sheep that listen to his voice.
• A major blow!
Read verses 31 thru 42
• The TRUTH really hurts when you're a liar!
REF: John 8:31-32
[31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The question is: Where can you find TRUTH?
The answer is: GOD'S WORD!
NOTE: When you're not sure, God gives the answer.
HOW MANY TIMES IS ENOUGH ?
2 Peter 1:3-4
[3] His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4]Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.