[519 words]
One would have thought Jesus’ sayings would engender unity and love everywhere he went because that was his message, right? That was not the Jew’s reaction. Their reaction was division.
In John 10:19, the apostle John wrote, “There was a division therefore again among the Jews” about Jesus’ sayings. Some claimed he was possessed by a devil. Others rightly said Jesus could not be demon possessed and cure the blind.
Jesus’ answer was, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify of me. But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep” (John 10:25-26).
Then, Jesus made three statements that proved the Jews were not his sheep. They were not his sheep because they did not listen. “The sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). To hear Jesus’ voice means to do what Jesus said. “If you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins,” Jesus said, (John 8:24). The belief Jesus wants is that belief that obeys. Listening to Jesus is vital to one who would become a sheep in Jesus’ fold. A sheep that does not do what the shepherd wants is soon dead.
The second statement was, “I know them.” There is no confusion or doubt here. He knows them because they know him and do what he says. John wrote, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4 NASB).
There are many that claim to know Jesus, but he will say he does not know them on the Day of Judgment. Jesu s said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord. Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB). Does Jesus know you?
The third statement was, “they follow me.” This is the “Litmus Test” for all who would be called Christians. Those who belong to Jesus follow him. Jesus’ sheep do not follow men’s creeds or books, the philosophies of men, or the doctrine s of men. They follow Jesus.
Are you a lamb of Jesus? You can know for sure. The apostle Paul wrote, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18). Have you obeyed the form of doctrine Jesus commanded? Are you one of Jesus’ sheep?
John Henson
Grand Blanc Church of Christ
Grand Blanc, Ml