In 167 BC the Seleucid Emperor Antiochus Epiphanes captured Jerusalem. His boastful name – "Epiphanes" – means "god manifest." He entered the Temple, raised an idol of Zeus, and sacrificed a pig on the Jewish altar! He established additional altars to pagan gods. The invader forced the Jews to sacrifice to his foreign gods. He outlawed the Jewish Scriptures. And forbade the observance of Sabbath and circumcision. Finally, the Jews revolted under the priest Mattathias and his sons. A three year guerilla war followed under the leadership of the Maccabees. The Seleucid oppressors were defeated and Jerusalem was retaken. The Temple was cleansed and rededicated on Dec. 18, 164 BC, exactly three years after Emperor Antiochus Epiphanes had defied YHWH and defiled His altar. With the rededication of the Temple, the Jews declared a new, eight-day festival. Today it's known as Hanukkah. In Jesus' day it was called The Feast of Dedication.
In John 10:22 - 30 Jesus is found in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication. It is winter. The Jews ambush Jesus with a question. A question they hope will trap the Galilean. When He answers, they don't get it. And they can't. This text is the first half of John's record of this latest confrontation. Jesus outlines the blessing that can be enjoyed only by His sheep. The outline is simple: 1. A winter stroll (vv.22-23). 2. Another ambush (vv.24-29). 3. A stunning claim (v.30).
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