7

In John 10:22, John mentions that it was winter and the Feast of Dedication had come. Earlier in the Festival Cycle, John transparently uses the various feasts to give a better understanding of Jesus to his readers. Passover clearly gives background to the Exodus themes running through the Bread of Life discourse in John 6. Similarly, it's fairly easy to see how John uses the Feast of Booths as background for the speeches and drama in chapters 7, 8, and 9.

However, what is the relationship between the Good Shepherd discourse and the Feast of Dedication? This one is less clear to me.

Improve this question
1
  • Can't say I think that particular parable has relevance to Chanukka. As an aside, Chanukka is also known as the "Feast of Lights," and Jesus is "the light of the world" (John 8:12).
    – user862
    Dec 12, 2012 at 10:34

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
7
+50

While John 10:22-42 in some ways continues the discourse running before it, the reference to the Feast of Dedication shows that some time has lapsed since the previous discussion, which creates some discontinuity as well. So while there might be a connection to Ezekiel 34, in understanding John's use of the festival, it's better to look ahead to the next exchange between Jesus and the Jews rather than necessarily back to the Good Shepherd discourse. In doing so, the reference to the feast is seen to create a fitting setting for the discussion that follows as well as allow to John to continue emphasizing Jesus' fulfillment of the feasts, and in particular of the temple.

Setting

The Feast of Dedication commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple following the Maccabean Revolt. According to Wright in "The New Testament and the People of God", the revolt, while successful in some of its aims, left the nation anticipating a Messiah who would overthrow at last the (Seleucid or) Roman rule and establish Israel again as an independent kingdom.

The Feast is therefore an appropriate setting for the question of the people: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." The political overtones of the feast, however, also ensure that Jesus does not answer directly, lest his purpose be misunderstood.

Fulfillment

While the Feast of Dedication is not one of the festivals required in the Torah, John also shows that Jesus fulfills this feast as well. Kostenberger argues in "A Theology of John's Gospel and Letters" that John writes a little after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD as (at least in part) an appeal to Jews struggling in the new environment to make sense of their religious practice.

While many at the time turned from a Temple-based worship to a Torah-based one, others still anticipated Messiah's coming to overthrow the occupation and rebuild the temple. John's gospel is then (in part) an appeal to those looking for a new temple to look to Jesus as a new temple. Thus John highlights Jesus' prediction: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

Continuing this theme, Jesus fulfills the role of the temple in the Feast of Dedication. Whereas in the festival it is the temple that is set apart (dedicated) for God's purposes, both Carson (PNTC) and Kruse (TNTC) observe that John highlights Jesus, in verse 36, as the one "set apart" by the Father.

Improve this answer
2

According to the Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible, one of the traditional lessons assigned to the synagogues during the Feast of Dedication is Ezekiel 34.

It would seem Jesus' lesson is an exposition of Ezekiel 34 - He is the good shepherd, He will seek out His lost sheep - and so this is a lesson appropriate to the feast.

See Ezekiel 34:23 (ESV):

And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.

This is fulfilled by Jesus according John 10:14 (ESV):

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Improve this answer
2
  • A quick Google search showed up levhashem.org/documents/hanukkah.html (see the third to last paragraph). I wonder if we only know of the tradition because of John 10, or if this is recorded elsewhere?
    – Peter
    Jan 14, 2013 at 4:33
  • After a bit more digging, most people who say Ezekiel 34 was a lesson assigned on the Feast of Dedication (that is most people who reference their sources!) refer to Aileen Guilding's 1960 book "The Fourth Gospel and Jewish worship". Unfortunately, without a copy on hand (and no good libraries near by), I am unable to go any further and find out what she bases her claim on.
    – Peter
    Jan 14, 2013 at 5:07
0

When Jesus talks about being the Light of the World it seems to be on the heels of the Feast of Booths. During that time they would build tall 'menorah' type structures outside the temple and light them which gave off lots of light during the 'tabernacles' celebration. At least that's one possibility.

Improve this answer
0

He was already there, a blind man was there, and it was the plan of God to heal him on that day.

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

John 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

Jesus was already there, also it was the Sabbath day, "Holy convocation". The Hebrews could go to the Synagogue or to the temple to keep that feast (day of rest)

Lev 23:1

Improve this answer
4
  • Hi Jose! How does that answer OP's question?
    – Tiago Martins Peres
    Jan 21, 2021 at 22:39
  • Showing that Jesus Always keeps the sabbath day, when he was not yet resurrected.
    – Jose
    Jan 22, 2021 at 2:44
  • José the question is «what is the relationship between the Good Shepherd discourse and the Feast of Dedication?»
    – Tiago Martins Peres
    Jan 22, 2021 at 7:04
  • That one, God Blessed the seventh day (sabbath), to have Holy convocation, many people think that there is a lapse of time during John 10:21 and John 10:22 , but NO, it was in the same day, Jesus was already in the temple, keeping the sabbath, see John 9:14. The real concern about the Good shepherd, is that Jesus always kept the sabbath and so , we should also. We(brothers) have congregate us in Sabbath, it is the blessed day.
    – Jose
    Jan 27, 2021 at 0:59
-3

John 10:22 My master was celebrating the feast of dedication of Ezra 6:15

Third day After the NEW MOON, in the 12th month of ADAR, key word...it was in the winter....Bible Calendation is a subject many do not understand...

and the Bible SABBATH is the 7th day after the NEW MOON...go outside AND LOOK..

My master and the disciples , and their forefathers (Moses) used a LUNAR-SOLAR calendar...not a PAGAN SOLAR ONLY , Man Made Calendar.....in order to celebrate the SABBATH, and ALL HIS FEASTS...you need to go outside and Look to the Heavens to determine Time.....

Improve this answer
4
  • Please use less ellipsis (…) and instead actually use the space here to fully explain the relevant issues. This is almost impossible to follow. You can use the edit link below your post to improve it.
    – Caleb
    Jan 31, 2014 at 21:13
  • Ezra 6:15 temple dedication 12th month 3rd day (winter)
    – user3417
    Jan 31, 2014 at 21:34
  • Isa. 66:23 from one NEW MOON to another, and from One Sabbath to another shall All flesh come and worship YAH. google the HEBREW CALENDAR, and may Yah bless you as you seek the Truth...
    – user3417
    Jan 31, 2014 at 21:36
  • Welcome to BH-SE! I encourage you to fill out your profile page so folks can get to know you. Your user name automatically posts at the bottom of your questions/answers and links to your profile page. Please also read through the pages of the "help" drop down box on the top right of this page. This will assist you in acclimating to the unique characteristics of the forum. Also, to assist you, there is a "?" icon to the right of answer boxes, a help link at the bottom right of the comment boxes. Finally, on the "Ask a Question" page, there is an help box to the right. Again, welcome!
    – user2027
    Feb 14, 2014 at 21:48

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.