Feast of Dedication

The Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem

JOHN 10 BIBLE STUDY ◄
John 10:14-21 I Am the Good Shepherd

John 10:22-29 Feast of Dedication

JOHN 10:22-23 22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s Porch.

What is the "Feast of Dedication" (John 10:22)?
The Feast of Dedication was a feast to celebrate the re-dedication of the temple of Jerusalem in 164 BC after the Jewish victory over their Syrian occupiers. In an effort to religiously unify its empire, the Syrian occupiers had built an altar to Zeus in the temple of Jerusalem three years earlier, enraging the Jews and triggering their eventually victorious armed revolt.

What is the present name of the Feast of Dedication, held in December?
Hanukkah.

How long after the Feast of Tabernacles was the Feast of Dedication?
About two months, which had elapsed between John 10:21 and John 10:22.

What is "Solomon's Porch" (John 10:23)?
See Solomon's Porch.

JOHN 10:24 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Did Jesus keep the Jews in doubt about His identity and not speak plainly?
He spoke so plainly that the last time they squared off, "they took up stones to throw at Him" (John 8:59, see Before Abraham was, I AM).

Then what are they trying to do push him towards with their question. "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly" (John 10:24)?
What they consider to be blasphemy.

Why? And why did they "surround Him" (John 10:24)?
To try to make sure that He doesn't get away from them this time.

JOHN 10:25-29 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them everlasting life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

What does Jesus do above?
He tells them "plainly" (John 10:24) once again.

Based on John 10:28, once you become Christian, who can "snatch" you away from Jesus?
Nobody, and for emphasis Jesus repeats His statement in John 10:29, referencing God the Father.

Then what about the people who give up Christianity and choose another religion or become atheist?
They were never really Christian - the sheep of Jesus - to begin with.

What about the "Christians" who say, “Since we can't be snatched away, let's do whatever we want?"
In John 10:4, Jesus said that His sheep "follow" Him. Those who don’t follow Him are not His sheep.