What is the Feast of Dedication mentioned in this passage?

The Feast of Dedication was a Jewish festival that remembered when the temple in Jerusalem was cleansed and rededicated after it had been polluted by a foreign ruler. It happened in winter and lasted several days. Lamps and lights were used to celebrate what God had done. In this passage, Jesus is walking in the temple during this feast. That setting matters because people are thinking about the temple, holiness, and God’s past saving work, while Jesus is speaking about His identity and His relationship with the Father.

Why do the Jewish leaders ask Jesus to tell them plainly if He is the Christ?

The leaders come around Jesus and ask, “How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” On the surface it sounds like an honest question, but the passage shows they already had plenty of evidence from His words and miracles. Their problem is not lack of information but hearts that refuse to accept Him. They hope to trap Him: if He clearly claims to be the Christ, they can accuse Him; if He denies it, they can dismiss Him. Jesus points them back to His works as clear witness.

What does Jesus mean when He says, “My sheep hear my voice”?

When Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” He is talking about people who truly belong to Him. His sheep are those the Father has given Him. They recognize His voice in His teaching, trust Him, and follow Him in obedience. This is more than just hearing sounds; it is a heart response. In contrast, the leaders who reject Him show that they are not His sheep. This picture of sheep and shepherd stresses a close, caring relationship and a willing, ongoing response to Jesus.

How does this passage show the security of believers in Jesus?

Jesus says, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” He then adds that His Father, who gave them to Him, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. Together this means that those who are truly His sheep are held by both the Son and the Father. Their salvation rests on God’s power and promise, not on their own strength. This gives strong comfort that He will keep His people to the end.

What does Jesus mean when He says, “I and my Father are one”?

When Jesus says, “I and my Father are one,” He is claiming a real unity with God the Father. In the passage He has just spoken about giving eternal life and holding the sheep in His hand, the same way the Father does. By saying they are one, He shows that He and the Father share the same will and work in saving and keeping the sheep. The listeners understand this as a claim to equality with God, which is why they pick up stones. The verse teaches that Jesus is not just a messenger but shares in God’s own identity.

Why did the Jews try to stone Jesus for blasphemy here?

The Jewish leaders tell Jesus plainly why they want to stone Him: “for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” They see His words about being one with the Father as a claim to deity. In their minds, a mere man claiming to be equal with God deserves death. They ignore His works, which show His unity with the Father. Instead of weighing what His miracles and teaching say about who He is, they harden themselves and try to silence Him with violence.

What does Jesus mean by quoting, “I said, Ye are gods”?

Jesus quotes a line from Scripture where human judges or leaders are called “gods” because they received God’s word and acted under His authority. His point is not that people are divine, but that Scripture can use strong language for those who represent God in some way. If that is true, then the leaders are wrong to accuse Him of blasphemy for calling Himself the Son of God, the One whom the Father has set apart and sent into the world. He also reminds them that Scripture “cannot be broken,” so they must take its wording seriously.

Why does Jesus tell them to believe the works even if they struggle to believe His words?

Jesus says that if He does not do the works of His Father, they should not believe Him. But if He does those works, then even if they struggle with His claims, they should at least consider what the works show. His miracles are signs that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. By pointing them to His works, He gives them another chance to see that His life and power match what He says about Himself. This shows His patience, even toward those who oppose Him.

What does this passage teach about why some people do not believe in Jesus?

In this passage, Jesus says, “Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.” Their unbelief is not due to lack of proof, since His works clearly point to who He is. Instead, it reveals that they are not part of the flock the Father has given Him. This shows that faith is more than just seeing miracles; it is a work of God’s grace in the heart. Those who are His sheep hear His voice and follow, while others stay hardened in their own prejudice and resistance.

John.10.22

John 10:22

KJV

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

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.

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.

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

I and my Father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

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.

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

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?

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

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.

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.