I and My Father are one

Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? 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, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

- John 10:19-30

Over the past few readings, Jesus has healed a man who was blind since birth, and in the ensuing debate with temple authorities, He referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd. See I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is still day; One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see; and To Him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice. The healing of the blind man was the sixth sign or miracle in John's Gospel. This healing took place after Jesus preached during the Feast of Tabernacles; the water with which the blind man was told to wash his eyes was from the pool of Siloam, from which water was drawn for the rites of that feast. In today's reading, Jesus finishes his dialogue with the authorities after healing the blind man; then, He returns to the temple for another feast day.

Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" We are given a picture of the discussion around the ministry of Jesus, after a confrontation with the authorities because He has healed the blind man - again, at least some of the dispute contains accusations of violating the rules of the Sabbath. But the important thing is that we understand the dispute itself: they are all talking about Jesus. Many of the authorities want to arrest Him, but others among them call to listen to Him and debate the issue in accordance with traditional spiritual and Scriptural understanding.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. My study bible notes, "This encounter with the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem takes place approximately three months after the Feast of Tabernacles (chs. 7--9). The occasion of Christ's presence in Jerusalem is again a religious festival, the Feast of Dedication (Hannukkah), the festival of lights. This Feast commemorates the rededication of the temple to the God of Israel after the Seleucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes, desecrated the temple in 167 B.C. (see 1 Macc. 1--4). The leaders of Israel's past are commemorated, many of whom were literal shepherds." We recall (as given in the context of the note) that Jesus has just finished preaching that He is "the Good Shepherd."

"How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe." The dispute continues. The authorities demand a sign, they demand to know -- but the truth is that Jesus has repeatedly preached precisely the reality of His own identity and declared Himself openly to them.

"The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me." Furthermore, Jesus has performed signs which point to the origin of His work, the spiritual reality behind His work, and they testify to His identity. At each sign or miracle Jesus has declared that the origin is with the Father.

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." This is a powerful understanding of the nature of faith and our relationship with Christ. His sheep hear His voice. The knowing comes in the heart, in the response to the voice, to His word. As He has previously stated earlier in His preaching in John's Gospel, those who are His own He will keep with Him - even to His eternal life. And no one can take them away from Him. This is a union and bond of love - just as Peter's confession of faith was called the rock upon which His church would be built, and even "the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." This is the depth of the bond of love He is describing.

"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." In His preaching in this Gospel, Jesus always takes us back to the Father and the nature of this relationship with us. It is a circle; it always comes back to the Father. We are led to Christ by the Father, just as Jesus claimed that Peter's confession was inspired by the revelation of the identity of Christ that comes from the Father. Here, Jesus puts it a different way: it is the Father who brings the faithful to the Shepherd. Jesus allies His identity to the Father here in many more ways than one. We understand that he preaches of love and faith and understanding, but He is also allied in might and power - "no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."

My study bible has a note that applies to the last verse ("I and My Father are one"), as well as two that will follow in tomorrow's reading. I will quote partially from it, as applicable to today's reading: "Responding to their question (v. 24), Jesus reveals Himself as fully God: one means one in nature. He was God before the Incarnation, and He remains fully God after that union of God and man in His one Person. The verb are indicates the Father and the Son are two Persons. They are always distinct, but united in essence, will and action."

So now, the stage is set for what is to come. Jesus has declared Himself fully: His divinity, His unity with the Father in all respects. What will their reaction be? We will see in the following readings. Perhaps it is a good time to consider what our reaction would be. The words seem utterly astounding, offensive to the religious or temple authorities. We have the signs He's done (six of them so far, out of seven altogether in John's Gospel). But there is more to faith than conviction by signs. Jesus tells us so Himself: "My sheep hear My voice." What is it to hear that voice, to be inspired to faith? How does the Father work in us to reveal faith or understanding? This is still a depth of mystery, to which we belong. And it is also, to my mind, a tremendous, awesome thing. How does the Father work in us? We have a depth of connection to eternity that forms a circle: from the Father through us to faith in the Son who is One with the Father. An awesome thing, in the truest sense of the word "awesome" and its root. Christ's teaching uplifts us - human beings - to a place in the universe that is extraordinary; it ties us to the Father of all things, and makes us known as those whom the Father loves so deeply that we are bonded in union in a future sense - for growth in depth of relationship to, hopefully, an eternal bond and connection. How "awesome" is that? It is, indeed, beyond understanding and deep into mystery. But it's all there plainly for us to read, to hear in Jesus' words. What do we - and the authorities - make of them?