Sermon nuggets Tues June 23
Theme The Sheep of His pasture
Verses- John 10:22-26 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do 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.
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT CHRIST.
The setting is at the temple. Scripture gives even the details of the date of the conversation that took place at the Temple. It was in the winter during the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. This is the same as Hanukkah, or the Feast of the Lights. Even though this was not a Biblical celebration, it points to the grace of God during the period of the Maccabees, which we call the inter-testamental time, between the Old and New Testaments.
When the Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, came into power, he did everything he could to bring in Greek practices: in culture, in worship, in language, in art, in money. The biggest resistance of course, came from the Jewish people dedicated to the Old Testament law and seeking to honor God. The King sought to annihilate all resistors. He not only slaughter many Jews, but enraged them by desecrating the Temple with prostitution, placing up idols of Greek Gods, and even killing swine and sacrificing this forbidden animal on the altar to God. Jews were greatly insulted and motivated in confronting this evil, so with the bravery of the fighting rebels, lead by the Macabbean brothers they were able to win back their freedom. They sought to purify the temple. They also got the only consecrated oil they could find to light the lamps in the temple, but there was only enough oil for one day. It would take them a week before they could get more consecrated oil.
Miraculously the oil burned not for one day, or two, but for eight days. The people celebrated that God blessed them and their efforts. God visited them in this miracle. So it was a time of celebration from the Greek domination and it was a Holy and great moment which is still practiced today with the menorah, the candle holder with eight candles symbolizing the eight days the oil burned in the Temple.
Symbolically, during the festival of the lights, Jesus had claimed to be the light that shines in darkness. He is the miracle from even that never goes out. It was during the celebration of this Holiday that Jesus was walking in the temple and the area of the colonnades Rabbis and their disciples would discuss and answer questions. Here Jesus and His disciples were walking through and they stop Him to confront Him with his identity. "Tell us plainly, are you the Christ?"
His simple answer gives us important things to consider. He answered, "I did tell you." Jesus is one who was concerned about the timing of his revelation, but there have been clear teachings all through this gospel of John about who he was. He witnessed with his words. Jesus had said plainly in 4:26 "The woman said, "I know that Messiah called Christ is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. " Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." or again, the Pharisees were there in the scene with the blind man when we hear this dialogue, Jn 9:35-37. Where He is clear in his identity. We are reminded of the clear testimony of John the Baptist and at the baptism of Jesus the Heavenly voice declared "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, Hear ye Him."
"Look at my miracles" he tells them. If we need any evidence of who He is, we just need to look at the great miracles He had accomplished. People were following Him from all over because of these signs and wonders. He fed thousands, He healed people from incurable disease, He even raised the dead. That in and of itself pointed many people to the Christ and they believed in Him.
Pastor Dale
