Jesus was in the Temple at the Feast of Dedication
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
Dedication
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
dedication, consecration; thus, in Nehemiah 12:27 for חֲנֻכָּה; an annual feast celebrated eight days beginning on the 25th of Chislev (our Nov or Dec), instituted by Judas Maccabaeus [B. C. 164] in memory of the cleansing of the temple from the pollutions of Antiochus Epiphanes
Strong’s Definition:
H2598 חֲנֻכָּה chănukkâh, khan-ook-kaw’; from H2596; initiation, i.e. consecration:—dedicating(-tion)
H2596 חָנַךְ chânak, khaw-nak’; a primitive root; (compare H2614) properly, to narrow; figuratively, to initiate or discipline:—dedicate, train up.
Jesus was in the temple for Hanukkah.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Jesus told the people in the temple that others had come before Him trying to lead the people of Israel but they were thieves and robbers. His sheep did not hear those other people because it was not the voice of Jesus. Jesus is the door into the sheepfold. If we enter into the sheepfold through Jesus then we will be delivered; we will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The thief comes to deliver us up to utter destruction. He wants to steal from us and to kill us. Jesus came so that we would have abundant life.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Jesus is the good shepherd and He came to give His life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
God is against the shepherds
1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
The shepherds of Israel were feeding themselves and not their flocks. They were feeding and clothing themselves and not the flocks. God was reprimanding the pastors!
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
The pastors were not strengthening the sheep. They were not healing them nor binding up the broken ones. They hadn’t brought back the ones that were driven away or sought the lost. Instead they ruled over them with force and harshness.
5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Israel was scattered because they had no shepherd. They became prey because they had no shepherd. The sheep wandered and were scattered upon the face of the earth and the shepherds did not search or seek for them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 10 Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
The shepherds better listen up! Because the flock wasn’t being fed and tended to properly and became prey, God was against the pastors. He will require His flock at their hand. God will cause them to cease feeding His flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves either because He will deliver the flock from their hands.
11 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
God will search and seek for His sheep. As a shepherd seeks out His flock in the day that He is among the scattered sheep, so will God seek out His sheep. He will deliver them out from all of the places that they have been scattered to. God will bring them from out of the people and gather them from the nations where they had been scattered. He will bring them to their own land and feed them.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
He will feed them in a good pasture. Their fold will be in the high mountains of Israel. God will feed His flock and cause them to rest. He will seek Israel who was lost and bring them back again. God will bind the broken and strengthen the sick. He will destroy the fat shepherds and give them judgment.
17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. 18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
God will judge. The pastors have taken the good and left the fouled residue for the flock.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. 21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; 22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Because of this God will judge between the fat and the lean. They have pushed and scattered the flock abroad. God will save His flock. They will no longer be a prey. God will set up one shepherd over Israel and He will feed them. His servant David will feed them and be their shepherd.
24 And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. 25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
God will be their God and David a prince among them. God has spoken this. He will make a covenant of peace and will cause all of the evil beasts to cease out of the land. Israel will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. The land will be plentiful again.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. 28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
Israel will be safe in their land. They will know that God is God when He breaks the bands if their yoke and delivers them out of the hands of those that served themselves of them. Israel will no longer be prey to the heathen and the beasts of the land will no longer devour them. They will dwell safely and not be afraid.
29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30 Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. 31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.
Israel will no longer be consumed with hunger in the land nor will they bear the reproach of the nations. They shall know that God is with them and Israel is His people. Israel is the flock of His pasture and He is their God.
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
The shepherds were not caring for the flock, therefore God will bring evil upon them. Israel was scattered because of the pastors.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
God will gather the remnant of the flock of Israel from all of the countries where they have been scattered to. He will bring them again to their folds and they will be fruitful and increase. God will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. Israel will fear no more or be dismayed. They will no longer be lacking.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.
God will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King will reign. He will execute judgment and justice in the earth and will prosper. In His days, Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell safely. He will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 8 But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
The days will come that it will no longer be said about God bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. But that God has brought His children out of all of the countries from where He had scattered them to and they will dwell in their own land.
9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness. 10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. 11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.
It’s heartbreaking how God and His Holy Word have been mishandled by the prophets. The land of Israel is full of idolatry. They have gone after other gods. Both the prophet and the priests were profane and wicked.
12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Their way is slippery in the darkness. They will be driven on and they will fall. God will bring evil upon them in the year of their visitation. The prophets in Samaria have prophesied in Baal and caused Israel to fall into error. The prophets of Jerusalem were walking in lies and committing adultery. They were strengthening the hands of the evildoers so they would not return from their wickedness. To God, they were as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. 16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
Because of this, God will feed the prophets wormwood and make them drink the water of gall. The prophets have made profaneness to go forth into all of the land. God warned not to listen to the prophets because they were speaking visions from their own heart, vain words, and not the Words from God.
The people were walking in their own ways, instead of in the way that God said to walk. The prophets told the people that they would have peace and see no evil. Take note, that God said that these people that were rebellious of His Ways, despised Him. When we don’t obey the things that God has said to do, He thinks that we despise Him. Ouch.
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
Who has listened to God and perceived and heard His Word? God is angry because none have taken His council. In the latter days, He will perform the thoughts of His heart.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. 23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
God did not send the prophets that were speaking their own words, instead of His, yet they spoke. He did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. If they had listened to God’s council and caused the people to hear His words, then they should have turned from their evil way and their evil doings. Isn’t He the God at hand and not one far off?
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
No one can hide from God and Him not see. Is He not in heaven and on earth? The prophets prophesy lies and imaginations of their own hearts. They caused Israel to forget their God for the name of Baal.
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
If someone has a dream or a word from God, let them speak His Word faithfully. The chaff is nothing to the wheat. God’s Word is like fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks into pieces.
30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
God is against the prophets that steal His Words from their neighbor. They withhold the Word of God in order to speak their own vain thoughts.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
He is against the prophets that speak and say that God has said when He really did not.
32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
He is against those that prophesy false dreams and cause the people to err because of their lies. God did not send them nor command them. The prophets that speak falsely do not profit the people.
33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord. 34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.
When these people. The prophets and the priests speak these things, God will forsake them. They and their house will be punished.
35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken? 36 And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.
Everyone will be asking their neighbor and their brother what the Lord has said. But His Word will no longer be spoken.
The words of men will be spoken and the Word of God will be perverted.
37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken? 38 But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord; 39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
God will forget them and forsake them. He will cast them out of His presence and bring an everlasting reproach upon them.
Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah prophesied against the pastors of Israel. The pastors had not been feeding the people of Israel with the words of God. Instead they were prophesying their own words. The prophets were prophesying to Baal. They all were committing adultery with the gods of the nations around Israel and causing the people to walk after their gods. The prophet and the priests were profane. God was not speaking to the prophets, yet they were speaking in His name. They were not standing in the council of God and so the people were not hearing God’s Word and not turning from their wicked ways.
The prophets had perverted the Word of God. This caused God to scatter the people of Israel to the nations. The sheep were a prey and none of the shepherds went to find them. But God was going to be a shepherd to His flock. He would find and gather all of the sheep that had been scattered to the nations. God said that He would set up shepherds over His flock that would heed to His voice and who would speak His Words. He will set up His servent David over the flock as the shepherd. Israel is the flock of the pasture and He is their God.
Jesus was referencing these prophecies while He was speaking in the temple.
God has come for the lost sheep of Israel
Matthew 15
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
John 10
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Keep in mind Jesus was in the temple speaking to the Jews from the tribe of Judah and those that had joined themselves to them. The rest of the tribes of Israel had been scattered to the nations. Jesus came to start gathering the tribes of Israel back to Himself.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Isaiah prophesies that God will come and feed His flock like a shepherd and He will gather His lambs. He asks who has taught God or who directed the Spirit of God? Who has made everything? Who did God council with, or who instructed God and taught Him in the path of judgment? Or taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding? The nations and their understanding is nothing but vanity. Their idols are nothing and can’t be compared to God.
1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
God says to keep judgment and to do justice for His salvation is near to come. Blessed is the man that takes hold of His Sabbath and doesn’t defile it. Don’t let the son of a foreigner (non Israelite) who has united himself to God say that the Lord has separated him from God’s people. Or let the eunuch say that he is a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
God says that the eunuchs that keep His Sabbaths and choose to do the things that please God and take hold of His covenant; He will give them a place within His walls. He will give them a name better than sons and daughters. God will give them an everlasting name that won’t be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8 The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
And to the sons of a stranger, or a son from the nations outside of Israel, who join themselves to the God of Israel. Those who love His Name, to the one who is His servant, every one that keeps the Sabbath and doesn’t profane it and takes ahold of His covenant; They are who He will bring to His Holy mountain and He will make them joyful in His house of prayer. Their offerings will be accepted on His altar. God’s house will be called a house of prayer for all people.
The Lord God who gathers the scattered of Israel, will also gather others into Himself. You have to join yourself to Him by cleaving to the covenant of Israel and by keeping His Sabbath.
9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
The watchmen are blind and ignorant. They are all dumb dogs, sleeping and loving to slumber. The watchmen are greedy dogs that can never have enough and they are shepherds that cannot understand. The shepherds are all looking to their own way and for his own gain. Everything is about abundance. They are not following the ways of God.
There is only one fold and one shepherd. Those who hear His voice and join themselves to Israel, by keeping His Sabbaths, become part of that fold.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Jesus declared that He would lay down His life and He would take it up again. He would be doing it by choice and no one could take it from Him. Jesus had the power to lay down His life and to take it up again. It was ordained by the Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
Jesus was declaring these things in the temple during the Feast of Hanukkah. Many said He was mad and had a devil and others said those were not the words of a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The Jews wanted to know if Jesus was the Christ that had been promised to come. They wanted Him to tell them plainly. Jesus said that He had told them but they did not believe Him. His works bear witness of Him. They did not believe Jesus because they were not His sheep. Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and He knows them, and they follow Him. He gives them eternal life and they will never perish nor will any one pluck them out of His hand.
His sheep hear His voice and follow Him
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
We’ve had the Word of God since the beginning. If the Word remains in us we continue in the Son and in the Father. The promise is eternal life.
1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
If we confess not the commandments of God then the Truth is not in us and we deny that Jesus has come in the flesh. Many deceivers have come into the world to turn God’s people away from His voice. Jesus came to turn us back to His voice. Let us not turn from the Truth so that we can receive a full reward.
The Jews couldn’t see Jesus for who He was because they didn’t know God. They couldn’t hear God’s voice and obey His Commandments and so they couldn’t see who Jesus was. His sheep hear His voice and walk according to His voice. His voice gives eternal life.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The Jews did not want to accept Jesus for who He was. They wanted to stone Him, rather than to follow Him.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John bare witness about Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God and the Word is God. His word was from the beginning and all things were made by it. The darkness cannot comprehend the Word of God. Jesus was in the world, yet the world did not know Him. The Word of God became flesh, Jesus, and was full of grace and Truth. He came to His own and they did not receive Him. If we receive Him, the Word of God, we get the power to become His children.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.
The Jews did not want to accept Jesus for who He was and so they wanted to stone Him. The religious leaders could not decipher the One from heaven. They did not want to follow Him but rather themselves.
Jesus was in the temple speaking to the Jews during the Feast of Dedication. He told them that others had come before Him trying to lead the people of Israel but they were thieves and robbers. He referenced both the prophet Ezekiel and Jeremiah who had prophesied against the pastors of Israel. The pastors had not been feeding the people of Israel with the words of God. Instead they were prophesying their own words. God was not speaking to the prophets, yet they were speaking in His name. They were not standing in the council of God and so the people were not hearing God’s word and not turning from their wicked ways.
They had perverted the Word of God.
The prophets were prophesying to Baal. They all were committing adultery with the gods of the nations around Israel by participating in their worship and feasts. The prophet and the priests were profane. The sheep were a prey and none of the shepherds went to find them. This caused God to scatter the people of Israel to the nations. But God was going to be a shepherd to His flock. He would set up His servant David over the flock as the shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd and He came to give His life for His sheep. He came to start gathering the tribes of Israel back to Himself. Jesus will find and gather all of the sheep that had been scattered to the nations. His sheep did not hear the thieves and robbers because it was not the voice of Jesus. Israel is the flock of the pasture and He is their God. He will set up shepherds over His flock that will heed to His voice and will speak His Words.
Jesus is the door into the sheepfold. If we enter into the sheepfold through Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, then we will be delivered; we will go in and out and find pasture. There is only one fold and one shepherd. Those who hear His voice and join themselves to Israel become part of that fold.
Jesus was laying the foundation of the Kingdom. No one can enter into the Kingdom but through Him. He is the Word of God, God Himself, made flesh. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. There is no other way into the Kingdom but through Him. If we reject the Word of God, we will not be allowed into the Kingdom. Only thieves and robbers try to get in through any other way.
God, Jesus, The Word never changes
3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Psalm 119
89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God does not change. There is no variable of change in Him. Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, does not change.
If you know a Jesus that is speaking words that are contrary to the Word of God, you don’t know the true Jesus. There are many false prophets in this world leading people away from the Word of God.
The Word is going forth. The way is being prepared. The King is coming back. Repent and let us turn to God. Do not be in error, cling to the Word of God! Build your temple on the sure foundation.
Dedication:
- Hanukkah: A Time of Dedication
- Antiochus Epiphanes: A Type of Antichrist
- Hanukkah: Know Your Antiochus Epiphanes
- Hanukkah: Building On the Foundation of Jesus
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