John 11:33-35 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept.

“Weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). We see a loving expression of empathy in Jesus. Although He knew Lazarus was only “sleeping” and that God was going to raise him for His glory, He still wept. John seems to imply that Jesus’ tears were motivated by a movement of God deep within His spirit which was troubling. What do you think was troubling? Was it that he saw familiar faces—Jews who caused trouble the last time He was in Jerusalem? I wonder if He always felt that way when He saw death—it was always troubling to see the affects of sin on His creation, wasn’t it? It’s what He came to conquer. For whatever the reason, Jesus was ready to look death in the face in the power of the Holy Spirit with His Father. But still He wept. Filled with the hope of glory, Jesus wept. Isn’t God’s love amazing? Lord, I worship You.

John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”

“Snatch them out of My hand,” said Jesus, and "…snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Jesus told them plainly that He was the Christ—just like they asked Him in vs. 24. Jesus wasn’t a good man showing all mankind how to be your best you. He wasn’t a mere mortal who for a time had the spirit of the Christ upon him. He was the Christ in flesh. He was God the Father’s hand in this world. He was perfectly united with His Father. To see Jesus was to see the Father (John 14:9). To know the Father, and the one whom He sent, Jesus Christ, is to know and have eternal life. For the Jews, He was saying the truth. “When you look at Me, you are looking at God, the Father.” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will, toward those with whom He is well-pleased. Jesus is Immanuel.

John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."

Jesus’ sheep are given to Him by His Father. He is greater—more powerful—than any one who would like to snatch His sheep out of His hand. His sheep can’t be snatched out of His hand because not only are the sheep in Jesus’ hand, they are in the almighty, all-powerful Father’s hand. Our security isn’t based on what we do or don’t do. Our salvation isn’t based upon our good works. We are saved and have eternal life because of the Father’s sustained will toward our highest good, even if it cost the Shepherd’s life. He created us in Christ and gave us to Him forever. That’s security! However, those who are not His don’t need to be snatched out. They aren’t in the Father’s hand. They do not believe because they are not His sheep. They refuse to listen to His voice because they do not know His voice. We are living through a time in history where it appears that the devil is snatching sheep out of the midst of Jesus’ flock. He doesn’t have to snatch them, he can just call them. Progressive “Christianity”, which isn’t Christian at all, is calling his sheep out from His flock. The apostasy has begun. God is separating the world’s sheep from His sheep before He brings them into the fold.

John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Don’t you love this verse?! Jesus is the giver of eternal life and every single sheep will be safely drawn into the fold—not one will be lost. What a comfort it is to be in the hand of Jesus Christ! How do we know if we are in His hand? We hear His voice and follow Him. We do not follow the voice of another shepherd. There are some sheep who are not of Jesus’ flock, who for a time, mix and mingle amongst the sheep of His flock while they are out in pasture. But they will never get into His fold because they are not His. Living to love with Jesus is the primary characteristic of Jesus’ sheep. It is God’s way of keeping His sheep in Jesus’ hand. Living to love with Jesus is the heartbeat of all sheep who have eternal life. They will never perish.

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

Living to love with Jesus is like being an impersonator who sounds like another. We want to be sure our “voice” is the same as our Shepherd. He will speak through us if we speak with His words and His Spirit in love and care for His sheep. We can trust God to give His sheep ears to hear His voice as He puts them in our paths. May we speak of Him and His love. His sheep are waiting to hear His voice, and they will follow Him to the praise of His glory.

John 10:26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

Those who don’t believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, the Door, the good Shepherd, the Light of Life, the one who lays down His life for us, don’t believe because they are not His sheep. They follow another shepherd, the shepherd of the world. They recognize the voice of their shepherd, Worldly-wiseman, and they believe he is the door to significance, security, acceptance, and self-glory. Unbelief in God and in Christ characterizes all who are not His. You could tell them about Jesus all day long, and they will not have ears to hear. However, we can’t tell who are His sheep or who are not His sheep until we love and speak in Jesus’ name.

John 10:25. Jesus answered them when they asked Him, "If you're the Christ, tell us plainly," "I told you, and you do not believe the works that I do in my Father's name. These testify of Me."

What do these works testify of regarding Jesus? Just to name a few, the miracles testify that God is with Him. They tell us that Jesus's passion is for the name of His Father. They tell us that Jesus is the Christ, God in a body like ours. These testify that Jesus's words are true. As people hear, listen, and follow Him, it testifies that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Those who live to love with Jesus should say the same. We should say, "The works that I do, I do in the name of Jesus Christ. These testify of me that I'm a child of God and that Jesus lives in me." Jesus taught this in John 14:12-14. Let's think about this today: Are all of my works bringing glory to the name of Jesus? Do they accurately testify of who He is, and who I am as His disciple?

John 10:24. The Jews then gathered around Him and were saying to Him, how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.

Some people want to know who is the Christ. God may put one or more of them in our paths today. How can we tell who they are? Love them for their highest good, which is pointing them to Christ. When possible, make a statement that might beg a question. For instance, if you pray the live to love prayer daily, you could say, "It's nice to meet you. I prayed for you this morning." Then when they look at you with a puzzling inquisitive look, you can share what you prayed.

Don't keep them in suspense. Then say, "I prayed for you. I just didn't know your name, but God knew you and he loves you. Do you know Jesus?" Then if there's an opportunity, tell them plainly. Now that's a live to love with Jesus adventure.

John 10:22-23. At that time, the feast of the dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was Winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple and the Portico of Solomon. In 165 BC, when Judah Maccabee recaptured the temple, after it had been desecrated by a Syrian king, he ordered it to be cleansed, a new alter to be built and new holy vessels to be made. After these steps, the temple was rededicated to the Lord. However, unadulterated, undefiled, pure olive oil from the seal of the high priest was needed for the menorah, or the lamp stand, in the temple, which was required to burn throughout the night, every night. Unfortunately, only one flask was found with only enough oil to burn for one day.

Yet when the Jews poured in the oil, and lit the menorah, it burned for eight days. Well, of course, eight days is the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah. It is this miracle that is commemorated during the feast of dedication. It's also called the festival of lights or Hanukkah.

Jesus went to the temple to celebrate this wonderful work of God. That's what love for God does. Plus He is the light of the world. Jesus has recaptured our temple that has been defiled and desecrated by the world. Let's celebrate the work of God today that restored His temple so that it could be a holy place of worship to God. We celebrate that by living to love with Jesus.

John 10:21. In verse 20, there were some, many in fact, said, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to him?" Then John says, "Others were saying, 'These are not the sayings of one demon possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind can he?'"

Although many are afraid of Jesus, there are others who cannot deny what Jesus has done and who He is in spite of what we don't understand about Him, we believe and follow Him. Don't let what we don't know or understand hinder us from responding to what we do see, know, and understand. Jesus is the light of the world, and that light is His love.