I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE

John 10:22-30 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.

It is well to know at the beginning of this lesson that the feast of the dedication was not established and required by the law of God given to the Jewish nation through Moses. Neither is there any evidence that Jesus observed it, even at this particular time. This feast, which began in the winter month of Chisleu (part of which falls in the month known to us as December), lasted for eight days. It was instituted by the Jewish leader, Judas Maccabaeus, approximately 164 years before the birth of Christ. It was to commemorate the purification of the temple and the restoration of worship services after it was defiled by the Syrian army, which was led by Antiochus Epiphanes, who had invaded, conquered, and kept Israel captive for about three years. The Syrians intentionally desecrated the temple by slaughtering and sacrificing swine on the altar. The feast was designed to be a time of joyousness. Today, this Jewish celebration is known as Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.

While this feast was being celebrated, Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch, which, bible historians tell us, was a covered walkway attached to the east side of the temple. Immediately as they had done on numerous occasions in the past, the Jews, hoping to find grounds to accuse Jesus of blasphemy, intentionally came into His presence to question Him. Again, when "the Jews" is used to describe a group of Israelites, it almost always refers to the Jewish leadership - the priests, scribes, Pharisees, members of the Sanhedrin, or any combination of these Jewish religious leaders. Their question at this time was, How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. With all miraculous evidences that established Him as the promised Messiah and the Son of God being resisted and denied by these Jewish leaders, they still asked Jesus, that if true, to eliminate any doubt in their minds by plainly establishing Himself to be the Christ. Isaiah 40:11 clearly states the Messiah was to appear as a Shepherd, and the first 21 verses of this chapter tells us that He claims to fill this prophecy. The many miracles He performed was further proof of being the Son of God, and many believed this to be true (See John 7:31). He was born of the seed of David and was from Bethlehem of Judea. Yet these Jews ignored these proofs preferring to believe He was from Galilee. The fact that Jesus had poor, common, and of ordinary heritage, eliminated Him as the promised Messiah because they expected a regal earthly king to rule over them. The Savior they expected did not fit the humble, compassionate character of Jesus.

Knowing their rejection of Him, Jesus answered, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. He revealed to them that He was the Son of God (John 5:19), and confirmed it with miracles, but still they denied His deity. They did not accept Him as the Savior because they refused to believe His teaching. As a shepherd, they would not follow Him because they did not recognize His voice (the doctrine He taught). In His preaching, He offered them eternal life (See John 5:24), a never ending life of their soul. There is no earthly or satanic power that is capable of removing a faithful follower of Christ from the safety of His protective hand. This omnipotent power Jesus attributed immediately to His Heavenly Father. Being in the hands of Jesus affords the same wonderful protection as being in the hands of our Father in heaven. My Father, which gave them Me can be understood with two meanings. God gave all Christians to Jesus by adding them to His church - the church of Christ. On the other hand God gave all Christians His Son as an atoning sacrifice by which their sins can be forgiven. It can be said by Christ Jesus, I and My Father are one: united in the purpose, plan, and power of salvation.