In His Footsteps Week 17: Jesus Relationship with the Father

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In this week's episode of the Living Words Podcast, titled "In His Footsteps: Jesus' Relationship with His Father," host Charles Vance explores the profound connection between Jesus and His Father through a detailed analysis of John 10:22-42. Recorded during the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, this session delves into a pivotal moment where Jesus asserts His identity as the Messiah and elucidates His divine relationship, sparking both faith and controversy among His listeners.

The episode begins with a serene prayer, setting a reflective tone, before transitioning into the scriptural narrative where Jesus is confronted by Jews at Solomon's Colonnade. They challenge Him to declare His messianic identity openly. Jesus responds not just verbally but points to His miraculous works as manifestations of His Father's will, emphasizing His deep, intrinsic unity with God.

Charles Vance articulates this episode's core themes—Jesus' assertion of unity with His Father ("I and the Father are one"), His role as the good shepherd, and the eternal security offered to His followers. These elements are not merely theological concepts but are presented as practical, everyday truths that impact believers' lives. The tension in the narrative peaks when Jesus is nearly stoned for blasphemy, a critical moment that underscores the stark divisions in perception among His audience.

The podcast concludes with practical applications, inviting listeners to reflect on their understanding of Jesus' divinity and to consider how His works demonstrate His alignment with God's will. Vance offers guided prayers for recognizing Jesus' voice in daily life, understanding His divine nature, and embracing the eternal security He promises.

This episode is not just a biblical exposition but a call to deepen faith through understanding and to recognize the enduring presence and power of Jesus in the lives of believers. It's an invitation to explore how scriptural insights can transform personal faith and provide unshakeable assurance in the divine covenant.

Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Shabbat Shalom, happy Sabbath.
Thank you for joining me.
This is week 17 on In HisFootsteps Jesus' Relationship
with His Father.
I'm Charles Vance.
I'm your host with Living WordsPodcast.
So the text for this week isJohn 10, 22 through 42.

(00:21):
And I'm going to do a briefprayer and then I'll read the
word.
Father God, we just praise yourname.
We thank you for your mercy,for your goodness, the love you
have for us.
We just pray that you'd lift usup and encourage us and open
our eyes and ears to hear yourword and to perceive it.
Now it was the Feast ofDedication in Jerusalem and it

(00:43):
was winter and Jesus walked inthe.
And it was winter and Jesuswalked in the temple and
Solomon's porch, and then theJews surrounded Him and said to
Him how long do you keep us indoubt?
If you are the Christ, tell usplainly.
And he answered unto them.
I told you, and you do notbelieve the works that I do in

(01:04):
my Father's name.
They bear witness of me, butyou do not believe because you
are not of my sheep.
As I said to you, my sheep hearmy voice and I know them and
they follow me and I give themeternal life and they shall
never perish.
Neither shall anyone snatchthem out of my hand.
My Father, who has given themto me, is greater than all, and

(01:32):
no one is able to snatch themout of my Father's hand.
I and my Father are one.
Then the Jews took up stonesagain to stone him, and Jesus
answered them Many good works Ihave shown you from my Father.
For which of those works do younow stone me?
The Jews answered, saying For agood work.
We do not stone you, but forblasphemy, because you, being a
man, make yourself God.
And Jesus answered them.
Is it not written in your law?

(01:53):
I said you are gods.
If he called them gods to whomthe word of God came and the
scripture cannot be broken.
Do you say of him, whom theFather sanctified and sent into
the world, you are blasphemingbecause I said I am the Son of
God.
If I do not do the works of myFather, you do not believe me.
But if I do, though you do notbelieve me, believe the works

(02:18):
that you may know and believethat the Father is in me and I
in him.
Therefore, they sought again toseize him, but he escaped out
of their hand and he went awayagain beyond the Jordan to a
place where John was baptizingat first, and then he stayed,
and then many came to him andsaid John performed no sign, but
all the things that John spokeabout this man were true and

(02:41):
many believed him there.
You know this text unfolds withthe context of the festival of
dedication, or Hanukkah, inJerusalem.
This portion of scripturecaptures a critical moment of
confrontation and revelation,further clarifying his identity
as Messiah and his relationshipwith the Father.
It navigates through thedialogue with the Jews and his

(03:04):
assertion of unity with theFather and the resultant
division in their attempts toarrest him.
The key themes are setting theinitial question, the setting at
Solomon's Colonnade during theFestival of Dedication provides
a backdrop of light anddedication.
Themes that resonate with hisidentity and mission.
Themes that resonate with hisidentity and mission.
Jews gathered around him,pressing him for a clear

(03:27):
declaration if you are Messiah,tell us plainly.
His response was that hepointed to his works as evidence
of his messianic identity,emphasizing that they are done
in the Father's name and testifyabout him.
Yet he notes the disbelief ofhis questioners attributing to
their not being among his sheep.
So the good shepherd isreiterated In this reiterated

(03:51):
theme from earlier.
In the chapter 10, jesusdescribes his followers as sheep
who know his voice, follow himand are granted eternal life.
He assures them of eternalsecurity, stating that no one
can snatch them from his hand.
He makes a profound declarationof unity with the Father,
saying I and the Father are one.
This statement intensifies thetension, as his audience

(04:16):
understands it to be a claim todivinity, and it prompts them to
accuse him of blasphemy.
They want to stone him.
The defense and appeal toScripture.
Jesus defends his claim byappealing to Scripture and to
the works he performs,challenging his accusers to
believe based on the evidence ofthese works, even if they

(04:38):
struggle to believe his words.
This appeal underscores theconsistency of his mission with
the revelation of God inScripture.
Now the response as the passageends is a divided response.
Some attempt to arrest Jesuswhile others believe, and he
retreats across the Jordan wheremany more come to believe in

(04:59):
him, recognizing the truth ofthe ministry and testimony of
John the Baptist about him.
Now the theological significanceis Jesus as Messiah.
This passage further clarifieshis messianic identity, not
solely through his words butthrough his works, which fulfill
the messianic signs foretold inscripture.
It's also the eternal securityin Christ.

(05:21):
His assurance that his sheepwill never perish and no one can
snatch them out of his handspeaks to the doctrine of
eternal security for believers,rooted in the power and promise
of God.
Unity of Jesus and the Father.
Power and promise of God.
The unity of Jesus and theFather His declaration of
oneness with the Father is acornerstone of Christian
theology, affirming his divinenature and the intimate

(05:43):
relationship within the Trinity.
It challenges readers torecognize him not only as a
messianic figure, but as Godhimself.
Now the role of works in therevealing identity is.
He appeals to his works asevidence of his identity,
suggesting that genuine faithcan be informed and supported by
observing God's actions in theworld.

(06:05):
Now, recognition through faithand eternal security for
believers.
Jesus teaches that recognizinghim as Messiah and the Son of
God comes through faith, whichis supported by the testimony of
His works.
This faith grants believerseternal security, as Jesus
assures that no one can snatchHis followers from His hand,
emphasizing the permanence andprotection found in relationship

(06:26):
with Him.
Oneness with the Father and theimportance of works is evidence
.
His declaration of oneness withthe Father affirms His divine
nature and the intimate unitywith the Trinity, challenging
believers to see Him as Godincarnate.
Additionally, he points to Hisworks as evidence of a divine
mission, encouraging believersto see these miracles as

(06:48):
manifestations of the power ofGod and love that support faith.
The metaphor of sheeprecognizing the shepherd's voice
highlights the need forbelievers to be attuned to his
guidance, fostering arelationship characterized by
obedience and familiarity withhis voice.
He underscores the authority ofScripture, affirming its role

(07:11):
in revealing his identity andmission, thus encouraging
engagement with the Bible as thefoundational word of God.
Here's some questions forreflection and discussion.
Reflect on the significance ofhis statement I and the Father
are one.
How does this impact yourunderstanding of his identity
and mission?
How else could it impact us?

(07:32):
But to say, when you see JesusChrist, you see the Father.
He says I and the Father areone.
He is God.
He is God in the flesh dweltamong us.
So how do the works of Jesustestify to his unity?
Can you think of a specificinstance in your life or in
Scripture where his actionsreflect the Father's will,

(07:54):
scripture where his actionsreflect the father's will?
I just say that a lot of timeswe are drawn to do something
that is against our nature, andyou know that small still voice
within your heart that tells youto do something that may not
necessarily be in your nature,but it's the right thing to do.

(08:14):
That to me is the times when Iknow, but it's the right thing
to do.
That to me is the times when Iknow that it's the voice of the
shepherd.
So consider the promise ofeternal security, and how does
that assurance affect your faithin daily life?
It's important to know thatonce you've covenanted with
Messiah, it's permanent.
He seals you with the Spirit,he puts His Spirit within you

(08:38):
and that you can't lose yoursalvation.
It's a covenant and you'vecovenanted with him.
So here's some suggestedprayers.
This is a prayer forrecognizing his voice.
Lord Jesus, our good shepherd,we pray for the sensitivity to

(09:01):
recognize your voice in ourlives, amid the noise and
distractions of this world.
Help us to discern yourguidance and follow your lead
with confidence and trust.
May your word and Holy Spiritbe clear signals directing our
paths, helping us to navigateour choices and actions
according to your will.
Strengthen our commitment tolisten, learn and obey that we

(09:25):
may walk even closer to you.
Amen.
And a prayer for understandinghis divine nature.
Heavenly Father, we stand inawe of the mystery of your
Trinity, that Jesus and you areone.
Open our hearts and minds tomore fully grasp this profound
truth.
Help us to see Jesus not justas a historical figure or

(09:45):
teacher, but as the living God,intimately united with you in
essence and purpose.
May this understanding deepenour faith, enrich our worship
and inspire our devotion as wemarvel at the love you have
shown us through him.
Amen and a prayer for assuranceof eternal security.
Holy Spirit, thank you for theassurance of eternal life in

(10:07):
Yeshua, for the promise that noone can snatch us from his hand
In moments of doubt or fear.
Remind us of this unshakablesecurity that comes from being
known and loved by Jesus.
Let this assurance shape ouridentity, fill us with peace and
motivate us to live boldly forthe kingdom, knowing that our
future is secured by his powerand love.

(10:29):
Teach us to rest in thispromise, allowing it to sustain
us through trials and to propelus forward in hope.
Amen, hope this has been helpfulfor you as you go forward in
your week.
I hope you can find some nuggetof truth in this lesson that'll
help you the eternal securityof Jesus Christ, the fact that

(10:52):
he's not going to let you go,that nobody's going to snatch
you from his hand.
He's there with you in everycircumstance.
Father, just lift up all of thepeople that are out there and
believing and hearing and seeingyour works and hearing your
words, that you'll just plantwithin them the seed of power

(11:17):
and strength that, as it grows,that they'll grow in you and
know you better.
In Yeshua's name, amen.