John 10:31-42

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 10:31-42

1. We should observe the extreme wickedness of human nature.
2. We should observe the high honor that Jesus Christ puts on the Holy Scriptures.
3. We should observe the importance which our Lord Jesus Christ attaches to His miracles.

"The true Christian has no right to be surprised if they meet with the same kind of treatment as our blessed Lord. In fact, the more they are like their Master and the more holy and spiritual their life, the more probable is it that they will have to endure hatred and persecution. Let them not suppose that any degree of consistency will deliver them from this cross. It is not their faults but their graces which call forth the enmity of men and women."

"Let us maintain boldly the complete inspiration of every word of the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. Let us believe that not only every book of the Bible, but every chapter, and not only every chapter, but every verse, and not only every verse, but every word, was originally given by inspiration of God."

"He who could suspend the laws of creation must be One who ought to be thoroughly believed and implicitly obeyed. To reject One who confirmed His mission by such mighty works is the height of madness and folly."

Questions:

1. We learn that Jesus was hated though he was perfect and did not sin. In truth, as Ryle points out, it is because he was perfect that he suffered ridicule because it pricks the consciouses of others when they see others better than themselves. If we are going to grow in Christlikeness, we should expect the same treatment as our Lord. And that really is the question: do we suffer for living and speaking in such ways that honor Christ by the world around us? Are we surprised by such actions?
2. We see that Jesus makes a mic-drop case by quoting one Scripture and declaring that Scripture cannot be broken. Ryle points out that behind this is the doctrine of plenary inspiration, that is, every Word of God (plenary) is from God Himself (inspiration). We are exhorted to keep this doctrine as the apple of our eye. Do we love this doctrine? If we struggle with it, have we considered Ryle's words, "if the difficulties of plenary inspiration are to be numbered by thousands, the difficulties of any other view of inspiration are to be numbered by tens of thousands?"
3. Jesus declares that even if the Pharisees would not believe his words, that they should believe just by seeing the miracles themselves. If you grew up in the church, there is a chance you take the miracles for granted. Is this true of you? Do the miracles give you unquestionable proof that Jesus is the Son of God?