Welcome Valley Bible Studies

Lesson 44: John 10:22-30

John 10:22-30

22  And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 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.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.

Background Information
The feast of the dedication was not required by Old Testament Law. It was a national commemoration of great events that happened during the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. This feast, called Hanukah today, celebrates a Jewish political and religious victory over a foreign oppressor. It especially recalls the day when the faithful were able to bring the newly cleansed temple back into use after the enemy had deliberately defiled it. [Based on an audio tape by Jewish Christian teacher Marv Rosenthal in the 1980’s and the writings of the late Harry Ironside.]

The Bible used in this lesson was translated into English long ago. When the translators wrote: “neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” and “no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand”, they didn’t mean that Jesus could only protect us from other humans. The use of the world man reflects the way people spoke in those days. Today we would translate these verses to say “no one” rather than “no man”. Jesus protects His followers not only from other people but also from the devil and from evil spirits.