Thursday, May 8, 2025  

Today's Scripture
John 10:22–30

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (NRSV)

Reflection

This story takes place during Hannukah, so it stands as the single gospel story set during the time of year the Christians now celebrate as Jesus’ birthday. The setting is significant for another reason, though. Hannukah (or the Feast of Dedication) commemorated events that were about as recent to Jesus and his contemporaries as the American Revolution is to us, the Maccabean revolt, which removed the “desolating sacrilege” that Antiochus IV had set up in the temple in Jerusalem and rededicated the temple to the worship of God.  

The savior in that story is Judas, a man who led a successful military revolt against an oppressive imperial power. So perhaps it’s only natural on this day, standing in the courtyard of this temple, for Judas Maccabeus’ heirs to press Jesus to reveal if he’s got Maccabean designs on the current oppressive imperial power (the Romans). Is he a messiah or what? 

What they get for an answer goes to their own belief more than to any objective statement they might make about Jesus. Do they believe what he’s already said? Are they among his “sheep?” 

The reference to sheep is striking. Just before our passage Jesus compares himself to a “good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep” and who “knows his own,” just as his own (sheep) know him. For their part, the sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice.  

I hear Jesus answering the people’s question with a question: What’s more important? What you can say about me or how you relate to me? Jesus says to them (and to us) that faith is defined primarily by our relationship with Jesus, the one whose truth-telling voice we hear and whose justice-seeking way we follow, more than it is by any declaration we might make about Jesus, now or in the future.  

Prayer
O Lord, our Shepherd, we will not fear. For you make us to lie down in green pastures and you lead us beside still waters. You restore our soul. Help us to hear your voice and to follow, so that we might be led in right paths for the sake of all who depend on us, friend, stranger, and enemy alike. Amen.

Written by Rocky Supinger, Senior Associate Pastor

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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