John 10:22-26 22Then the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24Then the Jews gathered around him and were saying to him, “How long will you take away our life? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these things testify about me. 26But you do not believe because you are not from my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John gives another time indicator of Jesus’ travel with his reference to the Feast of Dedication. This feast was established after the cleansing of the temple after the Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes IV had desecrated it by setting up a pagan altar in 167 B.C. The Jews revolted against this in what is called the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabaeus. The temple was rededicated on 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C., which occurs in December in modern calendars. The feast lasted for eight days and is celebrated today as Hanukkah. It was a great time of celebration and lights. John confirms the timing of the next events and the feast as winter. John weaves his narratives of Jesus’ teaching in Jerusalem around major feasts, which is when Jesus, as a good and observant Jew, would have traveled to the city. More significantly, John shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of all these feasts. He also gives the setting as the temple area near the colonnade of Solomon, which was located on the easter side of the temple. This location would have been more ideal for teaching than the open courts exposed to colder weather.
After giving the time and setting, John records another confrontation between the Jews and Jesus. The Jews remain unnamed, but based on earlier passages, we can assume they included the Pharisees, who would have frequented the temple area. Their question and statement in verse 24 reveal that they were still clueless after all that Jesus had said. This event was likely at least seven or more months since the earlier encounter in this chapter. They had plenty of time to investigate, think, and pray about all that Jesus had said, but their hearts remained closed to the possibility. When the truth is clear, those who hear it become responsible to act appropriately based on it. These Jews needed to act by believing in Jesus, not quarreling with him.
Their question is idiomatic and difficult to understand with a literal translation. The phrase take away our life (phychēn, which can also mean “life” or “person”) carries a sense of bother or nuisance. Jesus was making their lives miserable and causing problems in Jerusalem and among the people. His message seemed to have bothered them deeply as they wrestled in their consciences whether to believe him or not. They were on a journey, but they needed to take the step of faith, and they were unwilling. They wanted more proof and evidence, but Jesus had already given it. Now they were asking for a plain, straightforward statement that he was the Messiah.
Jesus’ response indicates that he knew what was going on in their thoughts. He had already told them very clearly and taught for many days in the temple. John records only a few examples of the teaching in his Gospel, especially chapters 8-10. The proof of the truth of what Jesus said was in the miracles (works) he did. He did these in the Father’s name, meaning, with the authority of God. If Jesus said out loud, “I am the Messiah,” there could potentially be a riot or the Romans might get involved because they had already suppressed so-called “messiahs” (three are mentioned in the New Testament: Thadeus in Acts 5:36, Judah the Galilean in Acts 5:37, and an unnamed Egyptian in Acts 21:38).
There were at least two reasons why they did not believe. One is implied in that Jesus did not fit their pre-conceived ideas of what the Messiah should be like. They were not prepared to accept the prophecy in Isaiah 53 that the Messiah would have to suffer and die for the people. They wanted someone who kept their rules and fit their box. The second reason is given in verses 26-27, that they were not part of the sheep who heard and followed his voice. This statement returns to the earlier image in this chapter of the sheepfold, particularly verse 14. When Jesus as the shepherd comes to the sheepfold and calls for his sheep, those who know his voice leave with him for the green pasture. Those who do not know the shepeherd’s voice remain in the pen. The image could also refer to sheep out in the fields. The shepherd calls them to the safety of the sheepfold and they come. Other sheep remain out in the pasture, possibly in danger of wild animals.
Whichever way the image might be taken, the message is the same. Those who come to know the shepherd trust him and believe in him. These Jews were not part of the sheep because they refused to believe. Without believing, they would not follow. Believing is based on hearing and recognizing the truth of what Jesus claimed. The emphasis in verse 26 is not so much on these Jews not being predestined as sheep but on their need to accept the truth and become part of the sheep. The key point throughout John’s Gospel is the need to believe in Jesus. There are consequences for believing and also consequences for not believing.
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