His Sheep recognize His Voice

BIBLE STUDY #805- CHURCH IN THE HOUSES TUESDAY, MARCH 11 – 17, 2014

Topic: “His Sheep recognize His Voice” John 10:22-30 It was a great and very cold winter, and Jesus was walking in Jerusalem to continue teaching those to whom He had been sent. The day of the Feast of Dedication arrived. That was the Feast that was later called the Feast of Lights. Today it is known as Januka (Hanukkah). It is celebrated for eight days at the same time we celebrate Christmas. Its origin dates back to the war of the Maccabees against Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria (175-164 BC) who wanted to prohibit their cults and religious customs. Although there were very few against the numerous enemies, they won the war. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem to purify the temple they saw that the seven arms of the chandelier (Menorah) had been profaned and only had oil left to burn for one day. Miraculously, the oil that could only last one day would last eight days without ending. Since then, the Jews celebrate each year the miracle of the eight days of the duration of the oil. They added another arm to their chandeliers which they use to recall that day (the eighth arm is lighted first coming to be a pilot arm used to lighten the other seven arms, lightening one for each day during the feast). Jesus was approached by Jews who wanted to keep on accusing Him. There were others who wanted to know if He was the Messiah, by His own admission. They were hard hearted; it was difficult for them to believe. The faith in them had died, all that was faith in those Jews had died, and there was no faith in them to believe in Jesus. Some wanted to entrap Him and others only were eager to know! He had revealed Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman. (John 4:25, 26) “The woman said: “I know the Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us”. The one who had been born blind was given the knowledge of knowing Him as the SON OF GOD. (John 9:35-37) “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man”. “Who is He, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him”. Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you.” But there are some declarations that do not need to be spoken, especially to a qualified audience to perceive. There were two things about Jesus that placed Him as the Messiah beyond any doubt, His words and His deeds. (John 10:25 “Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me”. Isaiah 35: 5-6 mentions the great vision the prophet had: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy…” Each one of Jesus’ miracles was proof that the anticipated Messiah had arrived. So, His deeds and His words are enough evidence. (Deuteronomy 18:15) “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to Him”. Moses had announced that God would raise a prophet who the people would have to listen to. With the same accent of authority which Jesus spoke, the regal manner in which He abrogated (leave without effect, suspend) the Ancient Law and placed His teachings instead were irrefutable proof (proves or demonstrates something in a clear and unquestionable form) that God had spoken through Him. There was already nothing to say, everything had been seen. The words and works of Jesus were a demonstration that He was God’s anointed. Look, that is how He is when He speaks to our lives; there is nothing to reason, nothing to doubt. Those incredulous men did not belong to Jesus’ herd. (John 10:26, 27) “But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me”. Over there in Palestine, in Israel, everyone knew very well that a sheep recognizes His pastor’s voice when it hears it. You do not have to let the sheep know: “I’m your pastor”, they already recognize it. Those who were listening had not been chosen; poor of them, they would condemn themselves. That’s the way they wanted it to be. Jesus promises His sheep three things. (John 10:28) “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand”. If they accepted Him as Master and Lord, if they came to His herd, He promised that all the small things of the earthly life would pass and they would come to know the glory and the magnificence of God’s life, a life that would never end. Death would not be the end but rather a new beginning; they would acknowledge the glory of an indestructible life, a reassuring life! Nothing could snatch them from His hands. That didn’t mean that they would not experience affliction, the suffering and death, but rather that the most painful moments and in the darkest hours they would realize that the eternal arms would be sustaining and surrounding them. There is always God’s serenity for the sheep! Those who are not sheep do not hear the Lord’s voice. How rebellious one can be, well the Lord’s voice cannot be heard. Those who are sheep hear the Lord’s voice very clearly. And that sheep is meek like his Pastor! Amen.