Saxlingham/Briningham/Hunworth 02-05-04
This morning’s Gospel reading takes place in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (v.22), which is still celebrated today in Israel as the Feast of Hannakuk.
Hannakuk takes place in December each year and for the Jews is their equivalent of Christmas.
Background
The Feast of Hannakuk
The Feast Of Dedication about two months after the Feast of Tabernacles and commemorates the rededication of the temple in 164 B.C. (1 Macc 4:36-59; 2 Macc 10:1-8; Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 12.316-26).
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) had forbidden Jews to continue to practice their religion and had tried to force them to worship Zeus.
He had an altar set up in the temple in Jerusalem and had sacrificed a pig on this altar on the 25th of Chislev in 167 B.C. This was the ultimate insult for the Jewish nation.
This led to a revolt known as the Maccabean Revolt. It was initiated by a priest named Mattathias and then carried on under the leadership of his son Judas, known as Maccabeus, "the hammer" (1 Macc 1--3; 2 Macc 5--9; Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 12.248-315).
The revolt was successful, and the temple was restored and rededicated, with proper sacrifice being offered once again, beginning on the 25th of Chislev, 164 B.C.
An eight-day feast was held to commemorate the event and continued each year from then on.
A hallmark of the festival is the lighting of lamps and a sense of joy. [IVP Bible Commentary - Jesus Claims to Be the Messiah and to Be One with God (10:22-42)]
The occasion for Jesus’ words today is highly significant, if not ironic
1. Messiah
At the Feast of Dedication, the Jews celebrated Judas Maccabees as the Messiah – the one who had freed them from the yoke of the Syrian King.
Yet standing among them was THE Messiah who was to free them from the slavery of sin – and they didn’t recognise him. They remembered Judas Maccabees – as the Messiah for that time. Yet they missed the timeless Messiah.
It is not as if they weren’t told:
“Tell us plainly if you are the Messiah” the Jews ask. To which Jesus replied “I did tell you, but you did not believe” The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.(Jn 10:25-26)
They celebrated the rededication of the Temple by the lighting of lamps yet missed the One True Light - the very one who said: “I am the Light of the World.”
2. Freedom
At the Feast of Dedication the Jews celebrated the earthly freedom of Jerusalem.
Yet they missed eternal freedom that Jesus came to bring to his own to His Sheep. A freedom for everyone to enjoy YET which he offers – on his terms.
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (Jn 10:27-28).
3. God’s people
The Jews claimed to be God’s people, yet Jesus redefined this term.
Yet they missed the fact that God’s people were those whom received his son Jesus.
As St John put it:
But to all who received Him who believed in His name, he gave power to become children of God.
The supreme irony is that they thought they were God’s people yet they weren’t.
And who are God’s people – the people Jesus refers to as His sheep. They are those who
i) listen to Jesus’ voice;
ii) follow Him and
iii) are known by Him.
Let’s have a look at the three aspects of God’s people in a little more detail
1. The first aspect of the people of God - Jesus’ sheep – is that they listen to His voice
What does it mean to listen to Jesus’ voice?
I think it is best summed up by the Parable of Wise and Foolish Builders. (Lk 6:46-49)
You will recall that Jesus told the parable of the wise man who built his house on a rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.
And Jesus explained the meaning of the parable.
The house symbolises our lives.
Both builders heard the word of God .But the difference between them is that the wise builder put Jesus’ words into effect in his life while the foolish builder did not.
2. The second aspect of the people of God is that they follow Him
What does it mean today to follow Jesus? To be his disciple.
The Jews to whom Jesus was speaking were very religious. Yet Jesus says about them.
“....but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” (Jn 10: 26)
As I go around the parishes I hear people say that it doesn’t matter who you follow – be it Jesus. Mohammed, Buddha. What matters is that you are good or that you believe in God.
But Jesus doesn’t leave that option open.
Only those who follow Him are his sheep. And only his sheep will receive the gift of eternal life (Jn 10:28)
If we really want to follow Jesus, we would take the Great Commission to go and preach the Gospel to all nations (Mt 28) far more seriously.
We would pray about it.
We would talk about it
We would go out to tell those around us all about Jesus.
Story: I think the challenge was put very nicely by the ’Sunday Times’ journalist Matthew Parris – a man, who by his own confession, is not a Christian. Parris wrote:
’The New Testament offers a picture of God, who does not sound at all vague. He has sent His Son to earth. He has distinct plans for each of us personally and can communicate directly with us.
We are capable of forming a direct
relationship, individually with Him, and are commanded to try.
We are told that this can be done only through his son.
And we are offered the prospect of eternal life – an afterlife in happy, blissful or glorious circumstances if we live this life in a certain manner.
Friends, if I believed that, or even a tenth of that, how could I care which version of the prayer book is used.
I would drop my job, sell my house, throw away all my possessions, leave my acquaintances and set out into the world burning with desire to know more and, when I had found more, to act upon it and tell others.
Far from being puzzled that the Mormons and Adventists should knock on the door, I am unable to understand how anyone who believed that (which) is written in the Bible could choose to spend their waking hours in any other endeavour.’ (Matthew Parris).
3. The third aspect of the people of God is that they are known by Him
What you might ask does Jesus mean by that? What does it mean to be known by Him?
Jesus had this to say on the subject
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
24He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ’Sir, open the door for us.’
"But he will answer, ’I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26"Then you will say, ’We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27"But he will reply, ’I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." (Lk 13: 22-30)
Not exactly “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild” that the hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote about.
The Narrow Gate that Jesus is talking about is His call for us to be his disciples. Discipleship will be costly
I believe Discipleship is more than going to church on Sunday, though that is an important component of it.
It is to lead a life totally dedicated to Him
In the spring of 1867 in Bristol - D.L.Moody the Billy Graham of the 19th Century was challenged by the words of Henry Varley who said:
“The world has yet to see what God can do with one man wholly committed to him.” he said
DL Moody responded to that challenge by saying : “By God’s grace I will be such a man”
Is our commitment to Christ in the same league?
Are we willing to make such a commitment?
DL Moody wasn’t a clergyman. He was an ordinary shoe salesman who was called by God and who responded.
God’s people – Jesus Sheep respond to HIS Calling.
I wonder HOW God is calling us this morning to FOLLOW HIM?
John 10 The Unbelief of the Jews
22Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one."
