John 10:19-42 At the Feast of Dedication

John 10:19-30 seems to be just a reference back to the on-going disputations recorded in chapter 9. It is not entirely clear if this is a continuation of the previous interchange or a different and subsequent date. The Jews ask a question that was already answered. He had also given them miraculous signs of His authority. They had both words and power. What did they want? Jesus answered that question too. They did not believe because they were not His sheep, and did not know Him. He does not dwell on reasons why they do not know Him. But He simply says that He knows His sheep, they hear His voice and follow Him, and He gives them eternal life. He adds a new revelation. No one can snatch them out of His hand, because His Father is greater than all and no one can snatch them out of the Father's hand. And then the clincher, answering the question they asked, He declares that He and the Father are one.  There is no clearer claim to deity in all of the New Testament.

          There is further elaboration on this in John 17, in which Jesus prays to the Father for His disciples, and makes clear the Father's role in their lives.

John 10:31-42 The Jews had previously picked up stones to stone Jesus in John 8:59 after Jesus had declared His deity by saying, "before Abraham was, I AM", identifying Himself as one with YHWH. Instead of leaving as in that case, this time He tries to engage them in discussion. The Jews claim to be following the Law of Moses, which required the death penalty for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16). Jesus responds with a quote from Psalm 82:6, which is in the context of a rebuke of unjust judgments. In the first five verses the Psalmist says that God will take a stand and judge the unjust judges, those who show partiality to the wicked. The Psalmist urges the rulers to vindicate the weak, orphans, the afflicted, and the needy.  The Psalmist goes on to explain that the unjust judges walk in spiritual darkness, even though they are gods and are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless they will die like men and fall like princes who are judged.  Jesus then once again cites the witness of the miraculous signs that He had performed as evidence that the Father was in Him and He was in the Father.  The fourth commandment (Exodus 20:7) is to not take the name of YHWH in vain. Perhaps what Jesus was trying to convey by these contrast of verses, is that doing good in God's name is not taking His name in vain. It is the opposite, claiming His name to justify evil, that is taking it in vain.

          Since they rejected His explanation, Jesus avoided arrest by escaping out of their hand. The text gives no further details on how Jesus avoided arrest. He went to the place mentioned in John 1:28, and many people came to Him there. The logic seems strained. John performed no sign, but had borne witness to Jesus (John 1:29-36), and therefore many people believed in Jesus there. The people had accepted John as a prophet and so his testimony had some weight, but Jesus did miraculous signs. Of course, Jesus had pointed to all of the different types of witness in John 5:33-47. But at this point many began to believe in Him. Not in the Temple, but at the place in the wilderness where John had baptized many.