John 10:24-39 Then came the Jews round about him, and said to him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly.… I. THE NATURE OF HIS CREDENTIALS. 1. His sayings. He had often told them who He was (ver. 25). 2. His miracles. These had been signs that they should have understood (vers. 25, 33). 3. His acceptance by the pious. Jehovah's flock and His own sheep had recognized Him; an indirect testimony that He was no imposter (ver. 27). 4. His ability to save. He could and did bestow eternal life on those who believed and followed Him (ver. 23). II. THE DIGNITY OF HIS PERSON. 1. The Father's Commissioner (ver. 26). 2. The Father's Shepherd (ver. 29). 3. The Father's Son (ver. 36). 4. The Father's equal (vers. 30, 33). The Jews understood this (ver. 33). III. THE VINDICATION OF HIS PRETENSIONS. 1. The charge preferred against Him. Blasphemy, in making out Himself, a man, to be God (ver. 33). 2. The punishment proposed for Him. Stoning, the penalty prescribed by the law for such offenders. 3. The answer returned by Him. (1) Scriptural — drawn from their own holy writings. (2) Logical. If God's Word called civic rulers "gods," it could not be blasphemy for God's Son to call Himself "Son of God."(3) Final. They could not reply to it except by violence; and He withdrew Himself beyond the reach of such machinations, Learn — 1. The sufficiency of the existing evidences for Christ and Christianity. 2. The irreconcilable antagonism between the unrenewed heart and Christ. 3. The ease with which objections and objectors to Christ can be answered. 4. The certainty that evil men can never achieve a final triumph over Christ. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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