"tel Us Plainly Who You Are" Series

“Tell Us Plainly Who You Are”

John 10:23-42

Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ

July 11, 2021

Video Link: https://youtu.be/4XueEHVVQ08

INTRODUCTION:

1) The opening verse of our text tells us this account was at the Feast of Dedication.

A) The Feast of Dedication also called the Feast of Lights, or Hannukah and would come on our calendars in November or December.

B) It would not be one of the major feasts, nor was it included in the feasts that were mandatory for the Jewish males to be present for.

C) The background to this feast is found in the first book of Maccabees which would not be part of our Bible.

ca.) Prior to 164 B.C. the Greeks had dominion over Jerusalem and Israel.

cb.) One of their leaders Antiocus Ephanes IV entered into the temple of God and defiled it by sacrificing a pig on the holy altar, and allowing its blood to also drip over the scrolls of Holy Scripture.

cba.) By this action the temple had been defiled and made unclean.

cbb.) In that state, the Jewish people could not enter to worship God there as the house of God had become unclean.

cc.) Judas Maccabees and his brothers formed a revolt against these Greek forces and eventually drove them out of the area.

cca.) The objects of Greek idolatry were removed from the temple, and in 164 B.C. the temple was rededicated to Almighty God.

.01) A festival of lights was given to celebrate the victory, and that the temple was again dedicated as a place of worship for the people of God.

.02) In that festival there was enough oil for light for one day, and yet God miraculously caused the oil to last for eight days.

.021) From that time on the Jewish people have celebrated this feast each year just before the time we observe Christmas.

.022) That is the backdrop for today’s text.

I) THE PEOPLE GAVE AN AN EAGER INQUIRY.

1) At the feast, Jesus was walking intent on his mission.

A.) By this time, Jesus was in the final few months of his ministry, and his work on earth was coming to its climax.

aa.) Everything he had come to earth to accomplish would in a few months be carried out on Calvary.

ab.) As the time came closer to the cross the conflict between the forces of God, and the forces of Satan were becoming stronger.

ac.) Those who were opposed to Jesus and the Will of God were becoming more numerous and vocal.

aca.) In the midst of all this Jesus held his ground, and continued to proclaim the Word and Will of God.

acb.) Even in the midst of this persecution, more and more people were wondering:

2) Could this be the prophesied Messiah?

A) John 10:24

aa.) The “Jews” demanded him to tell them plainly if he is the Christ.

aaa.) We must remember they were all Jews, but usually when the Gospels use that term it is referring not to all Jews, but usually to the Jewish leaders.

aab.) That being the case, it is quite likely that this was a question to stir up trouble for Jesus.

B) None the less: people were becoming aware of the prophecies of Scripture, and of the work which Jesus was carrying out.

ba.) Zechariah 2:10; Zechariah 3:8

bb.) These and many other prophecies also spoke of the coming of the Messiah.

bc.) The people were looking for a Messiah.

bca.) At each of the feasts there was more and more of a looking for the Messiah, and with many an openness to Jesus as the promised one.

II) JESUS GAVE THEM A CLEAR ANSWER.

1) Jesus answer was that he had often told them who he is.

A.) John 10:25a.

aa.) How many times had Jesus already revealed himself to the people?

aaa.) In John 4 the woman at the well said: “I know that Messiah (called Christ) coming. Jesus declared: “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:25-26)

aab.) John 6:41,48,51) “I am the bread of life.

aac.) John 8:12 “I am the light of the world.”

aad.) John 10:7-9 “I am the door of the sheep.”

aae.) John 10:11,14 “ I am the good Shepherd.”

aaf.) These were direct statements in which Jesus identified himself as the Messiah, and on par with God the Father.

aag.) In addition to these “I Am” statements, many other times Jesus had also identified himself as the Messiah.

2) Not only had Jesus told them who he was, he had shown them by his miracles.

A.) John 10:25b.

3) His flock who know and follow him rejoice in his blessedness.

A) John 10:27-29

aa.) Jesus again goes back to the sheep and the shepherd which we looked at last week.