June 20, 2023
A Walkway to All
“At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’” John 10:22-24 (NASB)
This week, I spoke to a friend who was sharing his faith with an employee. There were conversations with him, but sometimes the employee got a little hypercritical. He didn’t really want the answers as much as he wanted to argue. My friend was a little frustrated after weeks of trying to share his faith. I explained the act of those who come to Christ must first be drawn by the Holy Spirit. The supernatural act of salvation is only accomplished through a supernatural drawing. God is the One drawing the individual, not the Christian. Through obedience to Christ we share our faith and leave the results to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes though, we get frustrated when we don’t see immediate fruit. But God begins working behind the scenes. He has the ability to work on the person 24 hours a day, we can’t. The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces the sinner. We are just conduits of the gospel. We don’t beat around the bush. We share the truth and let God do the work of salvation. He saves. We share in obedience.
“At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.” This Feast of Dedication later became what we know now as Hanukkah. Jesus was walked in the portico, which is located on the eastern side of the temple. This covered walkway was supported by supported columns. This same area later became a gathering place for Christians after Christ’ death on the cross. In winter the portico might have provided some protection from the weather. Temperatures in winter ranged from nightly lows of 40 to 60 degrees in the daytime. Hughes says, “We can imagine our Lord framed by massive white colonnades rising forty-five feet to a beautifully detailed cedar ceiling, and looking eastward through those colonnades he enjoyed a magnificent view of the Mount of Olives. Our Lord was surrounded by well-wishers, detractors, and enemies. Scripture specifically tells us in verse 24 that the Jews had gathered around him and were saying to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ They wanted an answer immediately as to who he was.”[1] They sought clarification. They were tired of His illustrations. They wanted words affirming their plans to arrest Him, but Jesus knew better.
After all this time Jesus plainly showed evidence of His Messiahship, they still resisted. What more could they have wanted? This too is the case with unbelievers. They choose to remain doubtful, than to be founded on the Word of God. Every day there are people who willingly close their eyes to the gospel. Just like my friend’s employee. He is happy in his present condition. Anything that threatens it is to be attacked or rebuked. His thoughts are anti-God. Why? Because that’s what lost people do. It exposes the darkness in their life. John 3:20 says, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.” As Jesus exposed the darkness in the Jews hearts, they hated Him. As He shared the truths of God, they hated the Light, and were trying to set Him up to say something they could arrest Him. But Jesus knew the Master’s Plan, to save mankind…
[1] Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe (p. 272). Crossway Books.