John 10:22-42

The feast of Hanukkah or Dedication celebrates the rededication of the temple in 164 BC following a revolt against Antiochus IV after the desecration of the temple in 167 BC.

Here again we see the great dilemma the people are in. Should they believe in Jesus or not? On the one hand it seems that he blasphemes by claiming to be one with God yet on the other hand he does astounding miracles. These miracles are witnesses to the truth of who Jesus is. Jesus points to the miracles as testament to the truth of his word. We know miracles are not always enough for people to believe. I have seen this myself over the years; salvation requires a heart acceptance of our sin and the need to repent, and miracles won’t necessarily bring a change of heart. They certainly don’t for the Jewish leaders. Jesus challenge regarding his works will not stop them from wanting to arrest and stone him. Once again Jesus escapes, it is not yet his time. But still in amongst the sceptics there are those who choose to believe on the evidence of the miracles. The contrast is made here between Jesus and John the Baptist; the people recognising that Jesus is who John the Baptist said he was.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.