The God Shepherd

Who is Jesus? Even after all the miracles and bold claims that Jesus had made, the religious leaders still were not sure if Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah. So, at the Feast of Dedications or Hanukkah, the leadership surrounds him and demands that Jesus tells them plainly if He is the Messiah! Jesus refused to fall in their trap, citing the fact that He had already told them through words and works, and they failed to believe. They had attributed Jesus' words and works to the devil. In their assessment, Jesus was demon possessed. The reason they did not believe is because they were not His sheep. Jesus' sheep hear His voice, Jesus knows them, and they follow Him. And He gives to them eternal life, secure eternal life for Jesus has a firm grasp on His own and his Father's hands surround jesus' hands. Eternal life is just that-- eternal! And then jesus makes an even greater claim than being the Messiah. He claims to be one with the Father-- not the same person or on the same page-- but one in essence, in being, in substance. jesus claims to be God! To answer the charge of blasphemy, Jesus challenges the leadership to be consistent in applying the tag 'blasphemer' and to be objective in following the evidence to its logical conclusion. His Works back up His Words and prove that He indeed is the Messiah.