John 10:30 -42   Jesus said, " I and the Father are one."  The Jews really didn't like this and took up stones to throw at Him.  They considered Him a blasphemer, claiming to be God..   Yet, Jesus pointed them back to the Scripture.. to Psalm 82 where it said, "I said, you are gods.. " 

The psalmist was talking about the people of God, men who were set apart to serve Him as judges and rulers.. given divine authority to carry out the judgements of God.  They were supposed to  "vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.. "  But, they failed at doing the work of God.. the work of the "sons of the Most High.." 

Jesus said to the Jews, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?"  (v32)  He was doing what the "sons of God" were meant to do.  He was sent by the Father for this purpose.. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father. " 

Jesus did the works of the Father.. those spoken about in Psalm 82.. those things that the rulers failed to do. The rulers of the Jews in His time were failing to judge justly.. they were failing to do the work of the Father too.. just like in the times of the Psalmist.  The proof of Jesus' statement, "I and the Father are One" is found in the "works of the Father" .. those very works that the "sons of God" were supposed to do..  He did. 

Jesus vindicated, or defended, the poor and fatherless. He showed justice to the poor and needy.  He delivered them from evil  and helped the helpless.  He was sent from the Father to do the work of the Father.. and He did it in complete unity with the Father.  

Though the Jewish leaders wanted to stone Him.  Others recognized the truth and followed Him.  "And many believed in Him there." 

Father in heaven, thank You for showing us Your works through the Life of Your Son, Jesus.  These are the precious works of God that are most glorious.. justice and mercy.. deliverance and help.. abundant lovingkindness..forgiveness and restoration.  We give You thanksgiving and worship.  You alone are God and Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son who has made a way that we might also be Your sons and daughters.. sanctified to do Your works among those around us.  Surround us and fill us Spirit of God that we might be faithful to do the Father's work today. We ask this in the Name of Jesus our King. Amen.

 John 10:1-30

  Jesus told a parable about sheep. There are two characters.. actually three.. that we need to recognize in this story...  First there is the doorkeeper.  He is the one who opens the gate for the shepherd.  Secondly, there is the shepherd. The shepherd goes to the doorkeeper and the door is opened. The shepherd calls his sheep and they follow him, knowing His voice. Thirdly, there is the stranger. the thief, the robber.. the one who comes to "steal and kill, and destroy." 

Jesus calls Himself the "good shepherd".  He also calls Himself "the door".   He came to give life to His sheep. He came to lay down His own life for His sheep.  Jesus tells us that He knows His sheep.. and that they know Him.  It is a relationship founded in the Father, Who loves the Son.. who gave the Son authority to lay His life down and to take it up again.. on behalf of the sheep. Jesus.. promises to bring "other sheep" to join His flock.. His flock will be all those who hear His voice and follow Him.  He knows His sheep, He tells us.. for the Father has given them to Him and "no one shall snatch them out of My hand."  -  the thief and robber cannot snatch those who belong to the Father for the Father is" greater than all".

To belong to the Father and to the Son is to have abundant life.. eternal life.. to be His sheep.. is the gift to all who will believe.  The Jews would not believe and Jesus told them that because they would not believe the witness of the works that He did in the Father's name.. they were not His sheep.  Those who don't hear His voice and follow Him.. those are the ones He does not know. They are the ones who will perish.. who will be snatched out of His hands... out of the Father's hand.. stolen by the great thief. 

Father, we pray to You.. to bring more sheep into the flock of Jesus Christ. More to hear His voice and follow Him.. more to believe so that they might not perish but have eternal life in Jesus.  Our hearts break to see so many who refuse to believe..who refuse the Truth. Oh Father of mercy and grace.. let Your Light shine through us, Your children, so that others might turn from unbelief and find life in Christ our Good Shepherd.. the only One to lead us to salvation .. Thank You for patiently waiting , for hearing our prayers. and for bringing others into the flock.. into the family of Heaven.  Amen.