[2026. 5. 3.] I and the Father Are One | John 10:22–39

[2026. 5. 3.] I and the Father Are One | John 10:22–39

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 5. 3. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 30
본문: 요한복음 10:22-39
제목: 나와 아버지는 하나이니라

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

There are three festivals that appear in the Gospel of John: the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Dedication. During which festival does today’s passage take place? It is the Feast of Dedication. [John 10:22] Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter. Israel’s three major festivals are the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Weeks. The Feast of Dedication is not included among them. In fact, the Feast of Dedication does not appear in the Old Testament. Yet in Israel, this Feast of Dedication is observed for eight days, and during that time even schools close for vacation. It is a major cultural and popular festival.

The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) means “the dedication after repairing and purifying the temple.” In Hebrew it is called Hanukkah (meaning “dedication”), and in English it is called the Feast of Dedication. Verse 22 says it was winter, and indeed this festival takes place around December.

To understand Hanukkah, we must first know the nations that ruled Israel. In Jesus’ time, who ruled Israel? The Roman Empire. Rome ruled from 63 BC until the 7th century AD. Before Rome, Israel was ruled by the Greek Empire, specifically the Seleucid dynasty of Syria, from 198–142 BC. Among the Seleucid kings, Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the most notorious. He set up an image of Zeus in the Jerusalem temple, sacrificed pigs, persecuted Judaism, and defiled the temple.

This severe persecution sparked a revolt led by Mattathias, a priest, and his son Judas Maccabeus. This became the Jewish independence movement known as the Maccabean Revolt. The Jewish autonomous kingdom established afterward was the Hasmonean dynasty, which lasted about 100 years (167–63 BC) until Pompey of Rome conquered it. The Feast of Dedication is related to this period.

The Feast of Dedication commemorates the restoration, cleansing, and rededication of the defiled temple to the Lord in 164 BC after the Maccabean Revolt. The main event of this festival is lighting the lamps of a ninebranched menorah (the Hanukkiyah). Using the center candle, one candle is lit each evening, and on the eighth day all eight candles are lit, making all nine flames shine. According to tradition, there was only enough oil for one day, but miraculously the oil lasted for eight days. To commemorate this, people eat potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot) fried in oil. During the festival, Psalms 113–118 are recited in thanksgiving. The core meaning of Hanukkah is “the restoration of the temple,” “the restoration of God’s presence,” and “the restoration of light.”

In today’s passage, verses 22–23 say: [John 10:22–23] Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. Solomon’s Colonnade was a long corridor-like structure with pillars and a roof but no walls. Many people gathered there to rest or discuss matters. Since Hanukkah is in December, Israel’s rainy season, many people would gather there to avoid the rain. It was also located near the Court of the Gentiles, so even Gentiles could enter, making it a crowded place.

At that time, the Jews surrounded Jesus and demanded, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [John 10:24] The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Today’s passage is not one of the seven “ego eimi” statements in John, yet through the entire passage Jesus reveals His identity as the Christ, the Messiah, and God Himself.

 

1. Jesus is the true God who is one with the Father.

[John 10:30] “I and the Father are one.” This does not mean that Jesus and the Father gradually become united. It means they are essentially one. Jesus possesses the same divine nature as God. In other words, this is a declaration: “I am God.”

Did the Jews understand what Jesus meant? Yes. They understood perfectly. That is why they tried to stone Him. [John 10:33] “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” They understood what Jesus meant but thought it was impossible, so they attempted to stone Him.

The same is true today. Many people respect Jesus as a great moral teacher. Some accept Him as a prophet sent by God. But what is Jesus’ true identity? He is the true God who came to earth in human form. This is the core of the gospel. If Jesus were not the holy, sinless God, He could not atone for human sin. If Jesus were not truly God, He could not conquer death and rise again. The atonement of the cross and the resurrection are possible only because Jesus is truly God.

What about you? Do you believe Jesus is truly God? Or do you still struggle to believe? Then listen to Jesus’ words spoken with a heart of compassion toward those who did not believe. [John 10:37–38] “Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even 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 says that if they cannot believe His words, they should believe His works, because His works reveal that He is God. What works? John’s Gospel records seven signs. We have already seen six of them: (1) Turning water into wine at Cana (2:1–11), (2) Healing the royal official’s son (4:46–54), (3) Healing the man who had been sick for 38 years (5:1–15), (4) Feeding the five thousand (6:1–14), (5) Walking on water (6:16–21), (6) Healing the man born blind (9:1–7), (7) Raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1–45)

Jesus did far more than these. At the end of John’s Gospel, the apostle writes: [John 21:25] Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Seeing all that Jesus did leads to only one conclusion: Jesus is truly God.

[Application] Do I believe Jesus is truly God? Or do I still think of Him only as a good man, a great teacher, or a prophet?

 

2. The sheep of Jesus hear His voice and follow Him.

[John 10:25] Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me.” Jesus had already told them He was the Christ, but they asked again because they did not believe. Jesus says that His works clearly reveal who He is, yet they still do not believe—and there is a reason. [John 10:26] “But you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” Jesus connects this to His earlier declaration that He is the Good Shepherd. They saw His works and heard His words, yet did not believe because they were not His sheep.

When Jesus says “my sheep,” it includes ownership. What is the essential confession of a believer? Believing in Jesus is not merely acknowledging that He is God or the Savior of the world. Even demons know that. The most important confession is about our relationship with Jesus. Who is Jesus to me? When we call Jesus “Lord,” we are confessing: “Jesus is my Lord.” “My life belongs to Jesus.” “I am His.” 

Saying “Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior” is a precious confession, but if it lacks this personal confession—“Jesus is my Lord”. Without this, one may shout “Hosanna!” at first but later cry “Crucify Him!”

So I ask everyone here the most important question of life: “Who is the true master of your life?” Ask yourself: “Is the master of my life me, Jesus, or money?”

Jesus continues: [John 10:27] “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus describes the characteristics of His sheep: they hear His voice and follow Him. Those who believe Jesus is their Lord hear His words and obey. Jesus’ sheep do not merely hear—they hear and follow. They obey His will.

Do you obey the Lord’s Word? Charles Stanley once said, “Obedience is the key that unlocks God’s heart.” Do you want God’s heart opened toward you? Obey His Word. Obedience can be difficult and painful. In today’s world, living according to the Word may seem foolish. Yet when we obey fully, God delights in us and leads us into a truly beautiful life.

A painter father was teaching his young child to draw. Airplane, bus, puppy, pigeon. Then the child grabbed the pen, insisting on drawing alone—but could not draw well. The father held the child’s hand to guide him, but it still didn’t work because the child kept resisting. If the child relaxed and let the father guide, a beautiful picture would emerge.

Our lives are the same. We try too hard to control everything ourselves. Let go. Obedience begins with trusting God enough to let Him lead.

[Application] Who is the true master of my life—me, Jesus, or money? Do I actually spend daily time in Scripture and prayer to hear and follow the Lord’s voice?

 

3. Jesus protects His sheep forever.

When we hear the Lord’s voice and follow Him, our lives become far more beautiful than we could ever imagine. The reason is in today’s passage. [John 10:28] “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” What is a truly beautiful life? A life that has life. A living flower has fragrance and bears fruit. A fake flower has no fragrance and bears no fruit—only the smell of plastic, the smell of death.

When we acknowledge Jesus as our Shepherd and Lord, hear His voice, and follow Him, He gives us eternal life, and He protects us with His hand. Not only that: [John 10:29] “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Jesus repeats that no one can snatch us from His hand or the Father’s hand. Whose hand holds us? The hand of our Lord Jesus and the hand of God the Father.

In our Bible study, we sing the hymn “Lord, Hold My Hand.” In the sheet music, there is a picture: the upper hand is the Lord’s hand, the lower hand is ours. We say we hold the Lord’s hand tightly, but sometimes we grow weary or fall into temptation and let go. But the Lord’s hand never lets go of us.

Hanukkah commemorates how God protected and restored the temple despite external attacks. Likewise, God protects and preserves His people to the end. We may waver, we may fall, but we never fall completely out of God’s hand.

Beloved saints, no matter what we face, the Lord has given us eternal life, and He never lets go of us. Therefore, our lives will never perish. May you live today for the glory of the Lord with this assurance.

[Application] When circumstances become difficult, does my assurance of salvation waver? What decision must I make today, trusting that God will protect me to the end?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.