Step 1: Opening and Introduction to the lesson – Personal Testimonies from last week’s study and Reflection: What is the big annual feast day for your family? Who usually comes? What is served? What is the big pastime? What family traditions are you going to preserve for your children?
Step 2: Hear – Read: The Unbelief of the Jews. John 10:22 – 42.
Step 3: Explore – Discover the Passage
- Given the meaning of the Feast of Dedication / Hanukkah (when Jews remember their deliverance during the Maccabean revolt, 168-165 B.C.), what feelings about Rome’s authority might surface among the crowds? How would Roman authorities prepare for this feast? What might be the real intent of the Pharisees’ question in verse 24? How does Jesus answer the Jews’ question?
- Describe the sheep’s relationship to the shepherd and the shepherd’s relationship to the sheep? Who are Jesus’ sheep? How do you know that you are? And will always be among them?
- How do the leaders interpret Jesus’ claim to be one with God? How does Jesus sidetrack them (verse 34; Psalms 82:6)?
- Why do the Jews want to stone Jesus (5:18)? him? To what does Jesus appeal? What argument does he use to refute the Jews’ charge? What could account for the difference in reception Jesus received across the Jordan (vv. 40-42)? What did the people say about John the Baptist?
Step 4: Connect – Apply the Passage:
- What has convinced you that Jesus is the Messiah? What old ways of looking at Jesus must you overcome by faith?
- What difference does it make that Jesus is God and not just a man? Would the promise of verse 28 mean much otherwise?
- What miraculous event(s) in your life has strengthen your faith and belief in God’s promises?
Step 5: Reflect: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; No one can snatch them out of my hand.
