Bible Study on John 10
As I was reading John 10, verses 24 and 25 stood out to me the most. It reads, “So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me”.
The Pharisees’ question shocked me because I thought Jesus had told them plainly. They heard the testimonies of healings and exorcisms and were even present to many of teachings; it was clear that Jesus is the Christ. But as Jesus points out, they were unable to understand these workings because of their unbelief.
Back in chapter 9, Jesus heals a blind man on the Sabbath by making mud with his saliva and rubbing it on his eyes. The man was then intensely questioned by the Pharisees and the man confessed that Jesus was his healer and the Christ. But their unbelief caused them to call the man a liar and Jesus a sinner, turning the man away from the Synagogue for his blasphemy.
When the Pharisees saw Jesus, his response was to reveal that unfortunately for the unbelieving Pharisees, they know the truth that Jesus is the Christ, they just choose to not accept it. And this will result in their judgment and guilt.
In chapter 11, after Jesus raises Lazurus from the dead, we can see plainly that this unbelief comes from pride. In council, the Pharisees were concerned, saying “If we let him [Jesus] go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (verse 48). “Our place” is in reference to the temple and “the nation” is reference to their tradition and their freedom.
This reveals that they idolized their religion in their hearts, but their actions reveal that they did not act it out in daily life.
Again, in chapter 9, the blind man had been sitting on the temple synagogue steps as a beggar being passed by those entering and exiting the temple, including the Pharisees who were supposed to embody righteousness. Jesus shows us in his healing that to steward righteousness to do the will of God the Father first, and honor the rules of our traditions second.
All this to ask, what am I so prideful about that I am unable to see the workings of God? Are there any places in my life that I choose to ignore what God is saying because I do not like the way that he is talking? And am I showing the love of God first and foremost?
Currently, I am hosting a bible study with some girls from work. I love reading and finding symbolic significance in stories, so a bible study is something that I am passionate about. But over the last week of meditating on the word and letting the girls talk about the struggles in their life I have realized that I am starting to idolize the study of a book aspect of this group and less so the community that it is supposed to build.
When I began this bible study, I wanted to show them the love and compassion of Jesus Chrsit. I wanted to host a space where the presence of God was palatable. I feel I have been unable to do that so far. But the grace of God has kept the girls inspired and excited about the community, so they continue to show up Monday after Monday.
So let us conclude in prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gift that is your LIVING word! Thank you for the gift of knowledge and understanding. Thank you for the passionate hearts you give the girls of my bible study. Thank you for teaching me the lessons I need to grow as a person, a leader, and follower of Christ. I lift up the girls in my bible study up to you. I ask you to come around them to protect them from the enemy’s attacks and that you fill them with your Holy Spirit. God, I ask that you tear down any pride I have, not only over this bible study, but over my family, my work, my education, my writings, my testimony, my research. Lord, I ask that you come in and fill these empty spaces, so that my life may look more and more like Jesus’. Amen.