John 10: 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.
Let this passage get into your mind. There is much to speak to us. There are practical things to receive. We need to realize where this is taking place, the timing of it, and what its saying. God used all the writers of the Bible from Moses to John, beginning to the end. Their personalities show in their words. John had an observant character. We see a side of Jesus we don’t see from the other gospel writers.
The setting is the Feast of Dedication at the temple. It’s winter. Jesus is walking the portion of the temple grounds known as Solomon’s porch. The timing is three to four months before Jesus would come to Jerusalem on a donkey for the final time before his death. The weather would have been similar to ours. It would be about the time of December in our months. This was not an original feast under the law. It came about because of the Maccabees revolt. Antiochus Epiphanies had killed the Jewish priests and desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig upon the altar. The Jews were so incensed that they revolted. A priest named Matthias had escaped death, defeated Antiochus, and cleansed the temple. The Feast of Dedication is the victory celebration, a time of joy, worship, and giving of thanks. If we had lived then, it would appear much like our Christmas season with all the lights aglow and the people busily enjoying time together with their relations privately and publicly. This event happened between the time of the closing of the Old Testament with the writings of Malachi and the birth of Jesus. There was 400 years of silence. It was a bad time for Israel. There had been many times of turmoil. By the time Jesus was born Rome was in control.
Here we find Jesus walking on the porch of the outer court of the temple. The chilly breeze of winter is blowing. The people would have on their winter clothes as they came to light candles to celebrate and dedicate themselves to God. They would have run right into Jesus. No matter how rough our winters are, the church is not shutdown. Jesus is on the porch when the winds are against us. It’s easy to stick with the Lord in the summers of our lives, but remember that even when times get tough, Jesus is still on the porch. There is never an unseasonable time for the Lord. Life can’t get so bad as to put out the candles of God. The lights of the house of God shine forever because the Light of the World walks on the porch and is accessible to everyone.
Of all the miracles they had seen over the past couple of years, the people still cornered Jesus saying “how long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” How preposterous! Everything he had said and done should have proven the opposite to them. There should have been no reason at all to doubt him. He told them that if they would not believe what he said they should believe his works. Let’s never doubt who Jesus is. The people wanted to complain. How much does it take for us to believe that Jesus will get us through? We need to be thankful, not complaining. You and I are the temple of God. There is a Solomon’s porch in each of us. It may be tough. You may be in the hardships of life. Jesus is walking on the porch. God forbid that we’d ever walk up to him in doubt.
Jesus ended this ordeal by saying “I and my Father are one.” The people got so angry they tried to stone him. If we say we belong to God, it means Jesus is our Savior. He should be welcome on the porch and into the deepest parts of our mind, soul, and spirit. This group ran Jesus off from his own Father’s house. They wanted Jesus to have no part in this precious celebration. We all know those who have done the same thing and turned their backs on Jesus. This should have been a time of happy fellowship for Jesus, but he was not received and believed. How extremely sad it was that the very Master of the feast could not even enjoy the celebration his Heavenly Father had brought into being. It would be like not allowing Jesus to enjoy or participate in our present day Christmas celebration, but sadly that too has become a growing reality these past few years.
Jesus, being forced to leave his Father’s temple, quietly went off the porch eastward, into the desert beyond Jordon where he was baptized. Some found him there and believed on him. If anyone should have been allowed to enjoy the feast, it should have been Jesus. If anyone was allowed on the porch, it should have been Jesus. He deserves to be there. Let’s give him what they failed to do themselves. Never quit believing no matter how cold and hard the winter gets. Always let Jesus stay on the porch. Let Him be Lord of His House, His feast, this coming Christmas, and every day of our year. By our accepting, honoring, and believing him both we all, including Him, can enjoy the blessing of every season.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 