Chapter
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John 10:25

ESV Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,
NIV Jesus answered, 'I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me,
NASB Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.
CSB "I did tell you and you don't believe," Jesus answered them. "The works that I do in my Father's name testify about me.
NLT Jesus replied, 'I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.
KJV Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

What does John 10:25 mean?

Jesus is standing in a specific area of the temple, the colonnade of Solomon, which blocks a person from leaving except through the temple itself. There, He is physically cornered by the local religious leaders with whom He's been in conflict. This encounter is neither polite, nor subtle. These men don't merely approach Jesus: they are described in verse 24 using a Greek term related to siege warfare. Later verses speak of an attempt to stone Jesus, but this happens well inside the temple where stones aren't left laying around. So they are already armed and prepared for violence. Like school yard bullies, these men swarm around Jesus, trapping Him, holding weapons, and daring Him to repeat His former claims.

Jesus does exactly that. In fact, as this conversation continues, He'll make a statement almost guaranteed to send them into a rage (John 10:30).

A recurring theme in Jesus' conversations with His critics is that they are being willfully obstinate. Jesus' life and teachings align perfectly with the Scriptures these men know all too well—but they actively refuse to accept Him (John 5:39–40). An intent to disbelieve, not a lack of knowledge, is their main problem (John 7:17). Others have seen Jesus' miracles, and properly interpreted them as signs that He is divinely empowered (John 3:1–2; 10:21). The men who threaten Him now, however, have proven they're opposed to God (John 10:1–6) by crediting Jesus' miracles to Satan (Mark 3:22).

Jesus will continue to answer in the next verse by reiterating the first of His three shepherding-related analogies from this chapter. This puts His answer in plain terms: I already told you who I was, but you're not going to listen.
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