John 10 - NIV Bible Study Commentary

The failure of his opponents to understand is dramatically portrayed in Jesus’ healing of the man blind from birth. The meaning of this story occurs in Jesus’ last words to the Pharisees: “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” (9:41). Because the blind man knew he was blind, he also knew when he received sight (v.25). Those who could see, however, were in danger of confusing their sight with understanding. The blind man could easily draw the conclusion from his healing that Jesus was sent from God (v.33). The Pharisees saw with their eyes but refused to believe (v.34).

Jesus is the good shepherd (10:1 - 21). Like the blind man, his sheep hear his voice and follow him; they do not follow the thief who comes only to steal and destroy. When they hear Jesus and follow him, he gives them life. Though the Pharisees and those listening to these parables did not understand them (v.6), the reader has the whole book of John. Again, the prologue provides the key. Jesus is the one sent from God who came to his own people but who was rejected by them (1:11 - 12). He was the light of the world that “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (v.5); hence, he gives sight to the blind (cf. v.4). Though his own rejected him (v.11), there were many who would accept him (v.12); hence, Jesus has other sheep that will listen to his voice (10:16).

It is not hard to see why those who heard Jesus speak “were again divided” over his meaning (10:19). They had to judge by the signs they had: “Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (v.21). John’s readers have much more to go on. Seen from the perspective of God’s eternal plan, Jesus’ words not only make sense but place Jesus himself at the center of God’s eternal decrees for the salvation of people.

At the Feast of Dedication, Jesus continued these themes among those who did not believe. His miracles were to demonstrate that he was sent from God; in spite of them, not all believed (10:25), but only those whom the Father had given to Jesus (v.29). They were the sheep who heard the voice of the shepherd (vv.26 - 27). The crowd that picked up stones to kill Jesus showed by their actions that they understood his claims: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (v.33); but they did not believe him or his message (vv.38 - 39). They found themselves fighting against what was written in their own law (v.34).