John 10:22–30
The Bible4Jesus.com Podcast
About this episode
We come today to a confrontation in the Temple. It is winter, and the feast of Dedication is underway. This feast, Hanukkah, was a celebration of religious and national liberation, a remembrance of the Maccabean revolt when the Temple was cleansed of pagan defilement. The air is thick with expectation, with nationalism, with a longing for a Messiah who will once again throw off the oppressors, this time the Romans. Into this charged atmosphere walks Jesus, and the Jews surround Him. But we must understand what they are asking for. They want a Messiah who fits their political checklist. If He says yes, they can accuse Him of sedition before Pilate. If He says no, they can dismiss Him as a fraud before the people. They want to put God in the dock and force Him to answer their questions on their terms.