Untitled Sermon (5)

Introduction

At first glance it seems that John has provided us with a lot of useless information. He tells us that this was the feast of dedication and that it w

The setting is important here and we will address why it is a little later. John seems to go into great detail about the setting. It is winter and it is the feat of dedication. The feast of dedication is what we would now call Hanukkah. This feast is in remebrance of the rededication of the temple in 164 b.c. The Seleucid King Anitochus Epiphanes had forbidden the Jews to practice their religion. When the king set up an altar and sacrificed to the god Zeus in the temple a revolt broke up. The revolt was successful and the temple was rededicated

It is during this time that we find Jesus walking through Solomon’s Colonnade. Most biblical commentators consider this the climax of Jesus’ public ministry. John MacArthur notes that, “As far as John’s gospel is concerned, here is John’s final record of Christ declaring Himself to be God, and calling on people to believe.”

As Jesus is walking through the Colonnade the some of the Jews notice him and gathered around him. We are not told that these are Jews from the elite groups of the Pharisees or the Sadducees. No, these were most likely ordinary and faithful Jews who have come to celebrate at the feast. “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

We have two ways that we can understand their question. The first is that they were truly curious about who Jesus really is. The second is that they were trying to get a clear answer about who Jesus is so that they can have evidence to support their attack. But, has Jesus really kept his identity from them? Sure, Jesus had not come right our and say, “Hey guys, I am the Messiah!” No, but his works pointed to his identity. Do you remember when Jesus fed the multitudes? How did they respond? “Oh this is the prophet that is to come!” Or, to put it another way…this man is like Moses…then they said, “Let’s make him our king!” Yet, Jesus disputed their remarks by telling them that it was not Moses that gave them the bread but their father in haven. In other words, Jesus did the sign to show them who he was! D.A. Carson says, “ Indeed, for those with eyes to see (John informs his readers), so deft had been Jesus’ self-references, his use of the Old Testament, his handling of titles, his discussions of the relation between God and himself, that he has virtually pointed himself out as the Messiah.”

However, the Jews wanted plain language. No parables, no signs, just the straight up truth. If you remember last week Jesus used the visual of a shepherd and the gate and John tells us, “This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” The Jews were done with figures of speech.

Indeed, for those with eyes to see (John informs his readers), so deft had been Jesus’ self-references, his use of the Old Testament, his handling of titles, his discussions of the relation between God and himself, that he has virtually pointed himself out as the Messiah

Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 392). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.