The Feast of Dedication (3 things)

• 1^st – The feast of hanukkah… vs. 22
  • Jesus went to the Temple in the winter for the Feast of Dedication…
    • About 3 months had passed since Jesus gave the parable of the ‘Good Shepherd’…
    • John 7-10 had all taken place at the Feast of Tabernacles – in the month of October…
    • The Feast of Dedication / or Hanukkah – takes place in the month of December…
    • The cross is now only about 4 months away – the end of Jesus’ ministry is near
  • The Feast of Hanukkah (meaning dedication) is only mentioned here in the Bible…
    • It is not one of the 7 main Feasts required of all the Jews in Leviticus 23…
      • Instead the Feast comes from the time between the Old and New Testaments…
      • It was an eight day celebration – also knows as the ‘festival of lights’…
    • The Jewish nation had been under the rule of an evil King – Antiochus Epiphanes…
      • He outlawed the Jewish religion / and set up an idol of Zeus in the Temple…
      • It is said he even sacrificed a pig (unclean animal) in the Temple to Zeus…
      • As a result a Jewish priest and his sons began a revolt against the evil King…
      • One of his sons – Judah – became know as ‘Yehuda HaMakabi’ – Judah the hammer…
      • The revolt took on his name – and became known and the Maccabees revolt!
    • The Jews recaptured the Temple – and overthrew the idol of Zeus…
      • They went to rededicate the Temple – but there was not enough oil for the Menorah
      • They only had enough for one day – and it took 7 days to make more…
      • Miraculously the oil lasted eights days – and the celebration of Hanukkah was born!
      • All Jews celebrate it to this day – they give gifts to each other for eight days…
      • Each day lighting a candle on a special 8-branched Menorah…
      • Jew do not celebrate Christmas – instead they have the celebration of Hanukkah
        
    • The Jews fought to ‘dedicate’ the Temple – and reignite their ‘flame’ for God…
      • But ultimately they ended up fighting for a dead religious system…
      • The same dead religion that would only a short while later rejected Jesus Christ!
      • Just because someone is VERY passionate about their faith – does make it true…
      • Most people’s beliefs come form being indoctrinated in a lifetime of traditions…
      • And they are proud and think ‘religion’ is enough to get them into heaven…
      • In the end it only hardens their hearts to the Gospel – to Jesus Christ!
      • Religion keeps people from knowing Jesus – keeps them out of heaven…
      • They trust in their traditions and rituals to save them rather than Jesus…
        
• 2^nd – Are you the Messiah… vs. 23-29 (3 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus was walking through Solomon’s Colonnade… vs. 23
    • A portion of the Temple that dated to the time of the first Temple / King Solomon…
      • A 45’ covered walkway with massive columns 40’ tall on either side…
      • Importantly – it was close to the Temple – but not considered part of the Temple…
      • Jesus was not welcome into the building that was the heart of the Jews religion…
    • The irony of Religion – is that Jesus is not welcome inside…
      • If we wear a hat/t-shirt that says ‘Manny Pacquiao’ – does not mean we are friends…
      • In the same way we can have pictures of Jesus on our wall – a crucifix on the door…
      • We can have a Bible on our shelf – but that does not mean we know Jesus…
      • If we trust in Religion – Jesus is on the outside knocking on the door trying to get in…
      • Revelation 3:20 – “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”
  • 2^nd – The Jewish leaders surrounded Jesus… vs. 24-27
    • They demanded – ‘Do not leave us in suspense – tell us plainly if You are the Messiah’…
      • But they were not really looking to believe – they were looking for an accusation…
      • They wanted to use Jesus’ words against Him – they wanted a reason to kill Him…
      • And when Jesus finally did confess in Words – they crucified Him…
      • Mark 14:64 – “You have heard the blasphemy! And they all condemned Him to… death.”
    • Jesus answered – I have already told you and you did not believe…
      • His answer was the work Jesus did in the name of the Father – that was His proof!
      • They had seen plenty of proof – the healing of the lame man / the blind man…
      • But it did not matter how many miracles Jesus performed – they would not believe…
      • Often we think that if only we could see Jesus – see a miracle – we would believe…
      • But if we do not believe – even if we saw Jesus/miracle – we would not believe…
      • Seeing is not believing – believing is how we see!  Faith opens our eyes to see…
      • When we believe – that is when we see Jesus – see that Jesus is the Messiah!
    • The reason they did not believe Jesus – they were not His sheep…
      • If they were His Sheep – they would have believed in Jesus and followed Him…
      • Have you ever invited someone to church – and they had NO interest at all…
      • And you are left to wonder why – you love hearing the Word – why don’t they…
      • It seems so obvious to us Jesus is the answer – how could anyone miss it…
      • I Corinthians 2:14 – “People who are not Christians can not understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.”
        
      • We do not understand because we are so smart – it is because we are Jesus’ sheep!
      • Only those who are His sheep – are able to hear His voice – and follow after Him…
      • If someone has no interest in Jesus – if they have no interest in the Bible…
      • Because they are not one of Jesus’ sheep – and His Word makes no sense to them…
  • 3^rd – The benefits of being a sheep… vs. 28-29
    • You want to be a sheep – because Jesus gives eternal life to His sheep…
      • Only those who are sheep will never die / speaking of the 2^nd death…

• Our physical/corrupt bodies cannot inherit eternal life – I Corinthians 15:50…
• They were not designed to live forever – they were not meant to go to heaven…
• II Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
• I like the idea of a tent – tents are never permanent – our bodies are only temporary…
• One day the Holy Spirit will give us new bodies – meant and designed for eternity….
• There will be no more pain / no more sickness / no more tears – Revelation 21:4
• You want to be a sheep – because no one can snatch (harpazo) you out of Jesus’ hand…

• The Father gives the sheep to Jesus – and no one is greater than the Father!
  • Therefore NOTHING can separate us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ!
  • Romans 8:38-39 – “Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Not death – which is a great fear for those who do not know Jesus…
  • The greatest fear of all men is the fear of death – because it is an unknown…
  • Some fear it is an end / but most of all because it means we will be judged…
  • But we have no need to fear dead – it has not sting / no bite for us…
  • We know that it is not the end – far from it – it is the beginning of eternal life…
  • Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 
• Not Angels / principalities / powers (the spiritual world – satan & his demons)…
  • I John 4:4 – “You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won… cause the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
  • No need to fear spirits – or the abundant superstitions we were raised with… 
  • Jesus is FAR greater than any power that might try and come against us!
• Not – Present/future – nothing we can do today/nothing that will happen tomorrow
  • We may not see tomorrow – or next week – or next year…
  • But God does – and He knows – and can assure us nothing can separate us…
• Height / depth / or any created thing – in case anything was missed...
  • Nothing can separate us from the LOVE of God – in Jesus Christ our Lord!
  • Cause we are sheep we can have ‘confidence’ in Jesus – in His LOVE for us!
  • God gives us assurance – nothing and no one – could ever separate us from Him!
    
• 3^rd – The Father and I are one… vs. 30-42 (4 things)
  • 1^st – The Religious leaders wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah… vs. 30
    • Jesus took it one step further – He told them ‘He was God’…
    • One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God – Deuteronomy 6:4…
    • Yet God exists in three distinct persons – God the Father / God the Son / God the Spirit…
    • The Bible makes no effort to explain how this is true – only that it is a fact!
    • I John 5:7 – “There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
    • What makes a religion a cult – rather than a denomination – Mormons / Iglesia…
    • Is there denial of this ‘key’ doctrine – rejecting the divinity of Jesus Christ!
  • 2^nd – Immediately the Leaders took up stones to kill Jesus… vs. 31-33
    • Jesus asked – ‘I have done many things to help – which one are you killing me for’…
    • Not for any good work – but because you blaspheme – you a man call yourself God!
    • If all Jesus had done was heal and hand out for the poor (feeding of the 5000)…
    • The leaders never would have crucified Him – they hated Him because of His message!
    • We are called as believers to practically reach out in love / help out those in need…
    • If someone is hungry and we say – God bless you – what good does that do – James 2:16
    • It is through showing the Love of God – we have the opportunity to share the Gospel…
    • But no matter how much ‘good’ we do – they may still hate us because of the Gospel…
    • I remember handing clothing to a poor / remote village in the mountains of Nepal…
    • But when we asked everyone to sit down for a Bible study – they all quickly left!
  • 3^rd – You are gods… vs. 34-38
    • Jesus argued the Bible called some men – ‘Gods’ – quoting form Psalms 82:6…
      • This passage has caused a lot of unnecessary confusion…
        • In fact these verses are the basis for the Mormon doctrine we can become gods…
        • They even teach the Father was once a man (Mormon) – who became our God…
      • As with all heresy – it comes from taking the passage out of context…
        • Psalm 82:2 – “How long will you judges hand down unjust decisions?”
        • The Psalm is not talking about becoming a God – it is talking about Israel’s Judges!
        • In the OT the ‘Judges’ of Israel would at times be referred to as gods – ‘eloheem’…
        • A title of respect because God appointed them to judge Israel – Exodus 21:6…
      • One of the most important concepts in understanding the Bible is CONTEXT…
        • Interpreting a verse or passage in relation to the surrounding verses….
        • Understanding a verse in the context of the other verses before and after…
        • The context within the chapter / within the book / within the whole Bible!
        • That is why we study the whole Bible – teachings chapter by chapter…
        • So we learn the Bible in CONTEXT – have a right understanding of God’s Word!
    • Jesus point – if they respected ‘Judges’ – how much more should they respect the Son…
      • We would not go up to a judge and be disrespectful – afraid of what they might do…
      • Yet people use God’s name as a curse word / show Jesus very little respect…
      • It is sad that many people today give more respect to men – than to God…
      • Yet it is God who will one day judge all men – He is the one we should fear…
    • Jesus added – ‘Do not believe Me – unless I do the work of My Father…’
      • Then even if they did not believe – they would have no excuse – Romans 3:4…
      • No matter what people might say / no matter what excuses they may invent…
      • The bottom line is in the end – God is right and everyone else is wrong…
      • You can say – ‘I do not believe in God’ – but He will still judge you one day!
  • 4^th – With or without miracles – no excuses… vs. 39-42
    • The Jews tried to arrest Jesus – He escaped to where John had baptized…
      • Many people came to Jesus there – ‘John the Baptist never performed any miracles’…
      • But everything John the Baptist told us about Jesus was true!
    • Many believed – because they listened to the Word and saw it was true!
      • That is why we take so much time studying God’s Word – simply teaching the Bible
      • That is why we put the Word of God out on the Radio – so everyone can hear…
      • Faith in Jesus – faith to believe – to grow – comes only from hearing God’s word…