John 10:22 - Exposition

Now , £ the Feast of Dedication (the enkainia ) was (celebrated) in Jerusalem . This feast is not elsewhere noticed in the New Testament. The account of its origin is found in 1Ma John 4:36 , etc.; 2Ma — John 10:1-8 ; Josephus, 'Ant.,' John 12:7 . 7. And it was winter . It was held on the 25th of Chisleu, which, in A.D. 29, would correspond with the 19th of December, in commemoration of the "renewal," reconsecration, of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus after the gross profanation of it by Antiochus Epiphanes (1Ma John 1:20 -60; John 4:36 -57). It occupied eight days, was distinguished by illumination of the city and temple and of other places throughout the land, and hence was called the "Feast of Lights." Many interesting peculiarities of this feast are detailed in Edersheim's 'Life of Jesus,' 2:228, etc. One feature was the increase night by night of the number of lights which commemorated the restoration of the temple. All fasting and public mourning were prohibited (see 'Moed. K.,' John 3:9 ). The high enthusiasm of the people made them long for deliverance from the Roman yoke. The Jews would probably have eagerly accepted Jesus as Messiah if he had been ready to take up the role of a political leader. Doubtless he was the Christ of the Hebrew prophecies, and in his own human consciousness his high position swelled his loftiest thought; but he was not the Christ of their Jewish expectation.