Christ at Feast of Dedication. (Instituted in Maccabean Times) December 14-15, 28 A.D. John 10:22-38

Transcription

1 1 Christ at Feast of Dedication (Instituted in Maccabean Times) December 14-15, 28 A.D. John 10:22-38

2 2 Text: John 10:22-38, Christ at Feast of Dedication (Instituted in Maccabean Times) 22. And it was at Jerusalem at the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon s porch. 24. 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. 25. 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. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father s hand. 30. I and my Father are one. 31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

3 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Commentary: John 10:22, 23, And it was at Jerusalem at the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon s porch. I. The events recorded in John 10:1-21 occurred approximately three (3) months before the events of John 10: A. The events of John 10:1-21 occurred just after the Feast of Tabernacles. B. The events of John 10:22-38 occurred at the Feast of Dedication. II. The Feast of Dedication was begun by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. to commemorate the cleansing and rededication of the temple after the defilement through pagan worship under Antiochus Epiphanes and was celebrated every year for eight days beginning on the 25 th of the Jewish month Chislev. Note: Antiochus was the name of 13 members of the Selucid dynasty of Syria that gained power following the death of Alexander the Great. Epiphanes was one of the cruelest rulers of all time. He had monumental conflicts with the Jews (circa 167 B.C.) as recorded in 2

4 4 Maccabees. Religious persecution was severe. The Syrians were driven out of Jerusalem on the 25 th day of Chislev in 165 B.C. The cleansing of the temple became known as the Feast of Lights (Hanukkah). A. The Feast of Dedication was not one of the great feasts ordained by Moses, and could be observed elsewhere without the need to travel to Jerusalem. B. The feast was also called the Feast of Lights. C. It was held at the time of the winter solstice, our December, and was called by some, The Feast of the New Age, because the Greek word used was literally in newness. D. The scriptures state, It was winter. III. Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon s porch. A. Solomon s porch is supposed to have been located in the southeastern portion of the temple enclosure overlooking the Valley of Kedron. B. Josephus stated that Solomon built this porch which was some 600 feet long, and was left undamaged when the Babylonians invaded and burned the Temple in 587 B.C. John 10:24, 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. I. The Jews (the religious hierarchy) gathered around Jesus and asked him to tell them plainly whether or not he was the Christ.

5 5 A. These enemies of Jesus claimed they were experiencing suspense, anxiety in regard to Jesus being the Christ. B. This was not a sincere question but one designed to trick Jesus into saying something they could use against him to charge him with a capital crime such as sedition against the Romans. 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. I. Jesus knew the hearts of his enemies and did not give them anything they could effectively use against him. A. Jesus replied: 1. I have told you (answered your question) already, but you did not believe what I told you. 2. The works I have performed bear witness of me, answer your question also, but you did not believe. 3. You did not believe because you are not my sheep (a reference to the parable of the sheepfold addressed earlier in this chapter). a. The devil s sheep don t listen to shepherds other than the devil. b. Devout disciples (sheep) of Christ recognize Jesus voice and follow him.

6 6 John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: I. Jesus true followers (his sheep): A. hear his voice. B. are known by Jesus. C. follow Jesus. II. Those who close their eyes, stop their ears and harden their hearts (like these Jews) could not have possibly heard Jesus voice, know Jesus and follow him. III. Those of honest and good hearts hear the Shepherd s voice and follow him. John 10:28, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. I. Jesus promised his sheep: A. eternal life (as contrasted with eternal death). B. protection from destruction. C. protection from being forcefully snatched away from the care of the Good Shepherd. 1. Romans 8:31-39, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up

7 7 for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. II. We can depart from the Lord by our own choice, but no external force can cause us to lose our souls against our will! John 10:29, 30, My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father s hand. I and my Father are one. I. God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: A. has given the sheep to Jesus. B. is greater, stronger than all making it impossible for anyone to snatch the sheep away from Jesus.

8 8 II. God the Father and God the son are one, absolutely agreed, united in providing eternal life for the sheep, one in essence, nature, dignity, power and purpose. A. The Greek word one used here is neuter, not masculine, in gender. B. Jesus said we, He and the Father, are one in essence, not that they are one person. III. Christ here asserts his supernatural nature and his being equal with God the Father. A. Jesus did indeed make himself diety, God. B. This made the Pharisees uncontrollably angry. C. Augustine stated that this verse refuted two heresies; that is, (1) there is only one person in the godhead, (2) the Son is inferior to the Father. John 10:31, Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. I. The Jews lost all control and literally picked up stones with which to kill Jesus. A. What does this say about the godliness of these religious leaders? B. This reminds us of another similar case in Acts 7, the stoning of Stephen.

9 9 Note: The NIV begins this verse with the word Again indicating the Jews had attempted before to kill Jesus. John 10:32, Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? I. Jesus responded, I have performed many great miracles, good works. For which of these do you stone me? A. These miracles, works were performed through the Father s power. B. The Pharisees were not interested in considering Jesus good works. C. The Pharisees were not interested in fairness nor truth. They were not sincere! John 10:33, The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. I. The Jews answered: A. We do not stone you for doing good works. B. We stone you because you are guilty of blasphemy. C. We stone you because you, a man, make out that you are diety, God. II. The Jews fully understood what Jesus was saying; that is, that Jesus claimed to be divine.

10 10 A. Jesus was or was not what he claimed to be. B. Jesus was either what he claimed to be or a fraud worthy of death! John 10:34-36, Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? I. Jesus answered: A. The Old Testament book of Psalms (considered your law ) referred to certain people as gods. 1. Psalm 82:1, 2, 6, God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 2. God was the speaker here. He was not guilty of blasphemy for calling these people gods. B. Jesus declared he should not be charged with blasphemy because he asserted he was the Son of God. Note: Law, word of God, the scripture refer to the entire Old Testament.

11 11 II. The Scripture cannot be broken! A. Disregard its laws, consider it a work of man full of mistakes if you will. B. This changes nothing! You and I will face its every word come judgment day! C. The Scriptures cannot be broken! John 10:37, 38, If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. I. Jesus concluded by saying: A. If I do not perform the works of God the Father, don t believe me. B. If I do the works of God the Father, even though you don t believe what I say, believe in me because of the works I perform. C. Know and understand by the works I perform that God the Father is in me and I in the Father.

12 12 Christ at Feast of Dedication Questions 1. The of was held in in the. At that time Jesus was walking in the at s. 2. What was the origin of the Feast of Dedication and what did it commemorate? 3. The feast was also called the of and the of the. 4. Jesus true followers ( ) his, are by,. 5. Jesus promised his true followers, from, from being away from the of the. 6. God the Father had given the to and, because of his, makes it for anyone to the away from.

13 Then the took up again to him. 8. Jesus asked, have I showed you from my ; for which of those do you me? 9. The Jews answered Jesus, For a we you not; but for ; and because you being a, make yourself. Jesus did not blaspheme. Why not? 10. Jesus concluded, If I do not the of my, me not. But if I do, though you not me, the : that you may know, and, that the is in, and I in.