Feast Of Dedication Series

Jerusalem

Lesson: Feast of Dedication

(Psalm 82:6) John 10:22-39

(John 10:22) And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

The Feast of Dedication of the Altar or the Feast of the Purification of the Temple (Hanukkah, as it is most commonly called today) occurs in December and lasts eight days. A candle is lighted each day in observance of this celebration, which is also called the Feast of Lights. The feast celebrates the victories of Judas Maccabaeus (165 B.C.). When Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of Syria (175–164 B.C.), tried to abolish the Jewish religion, he attacked Jerusalem. He killed 80,000 Jews, profaned the temple courts and chambers, and sacrificed swine to the pagan god Zeus on the temple altar. Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers fought Epiphanes and won. They cleansed and restored the temple and rebuilt the altar. This Feast of Hanukkah is still celebrated by the Jews. John referred to the various Jewish feasts more than the other gospel writers.

“And it was winter. Jesus is through with the nation. From here on, in the Gospel of John, He talks to His own. He will not make another public call. It is now too late for the harvest. The Lamb of God is being shut up in preparation to go to the Cross and die for the sins of the world.

(John 10:23-24) And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

There was a big porch out there which was for Gentiles, for those who were outside the nation Israel. Our Lord was no longer coming into the temple. It was winter, and He walked in Solomon’s porch. Solomon’s porch was a structure with a roof supported by rows of 40-foot-high pillars. This structure would have protected Jesus from the wintry weather. People often walked there to meditate, pray, and teach. It is also called “the portico of Solomon” or “Solomon’s colonnade.” While Solomon had built the oldest of the porches on the east side, Herod had built the porch on which Jesus walked.

Jesus had made His identity very clear, and those who accepted him understood that He was the Messiah, the Christ. Remember, that Andrew had told his brother, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Nathaniel also recognized Him, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49). The Samaritan woman understood who He was; and the Samaritan men said, “Now we believe; not because of thy saying; for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42). Also the man healed of his blindness believed and worshipped Him. Now these religious leaders with their subtle questions are actually casting the blame on Him! They make it sound as if it is Jesus’ fault for not giving enough information, but it is their lack of willingness to believe what God had revealed to them. Well, Jesus has revealed His Messiahship to those who will hear, and now He declares it to these religious leaders.

(John 10:25-26) 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. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Jesus tells them that He has proofs of His messiahship. His works bear witness to it. He was born in the line of David, according to prophesy. He was introduced by John the Baptist. No man taught as He taught. No man could convict Him of sin. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to find out whether He was the Messiah or whether they should look for another, Jesus told them to go back and tell John the Baptist the things that He was doing. Then John the Baptist would know that He had the credentials of the Messiah. You see, His teaching demonstrated that He was the Messiah, His life demonstrated it, and the miracles demonstrated it. The problem was not in His lack of credentials. The problem was in the unbelieving heart. The fact that they did not believe demonstrated that they were not His sheep. God’s people are His flock, and they must beware of strangers, thieves, and hirelings. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and speaks to them, so He is not like the strangers. He protects the sheep, so He is not like the thieves; and He gives His life for the sheep, so He is not like the hirelings who run away from danger.

When you trust the Good Shepherd, He leads you out of the wrong fold and into the right flock. He goes before you and leads you by His Word. There are many churches but only “one flock and one shepherd”.