Four Feasts, Part 3: Tabernacles & Dedication

The Healing of the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41)

Four Feasts (John 5-10) 5:1, AD 28 [or 31], Feast (Passover or Tabernacles) 6:4, AD 29 [or 32], Passover 7:2, AD 29 [or 32], Tabernacles/Booths 10:22, AD 29 [or 32], Dedication (Hanukkah)

Context: ● The final Sabbath of the Feast of Tabernacles or later? Did this happen as Jesus was going out of the temple (8:59)? Either way, it is a continuation of the theme of light/darkness connected by the phrase, “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12 & 9:5). ● Division (σχίσμα) over the identity of Jesus continues (John 7:43, 9:16, 10:19). ● This is the 6th sign! ● Compare this story to the lame man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. – Both had an extended ailment—the lame man had been in that condition for 38-years (Jn 5:5). – Both were healed on the Sabbath. – Both are interrogated by the Jewish leaders. – The response from the blind man here is portrayed more positive and perhaps reflects progression in John’s sign stories (Köstenberger, Moore, Et al.).

The Question: “Rabbi, who sinned…? ● Does sin bring ailments? Yes ● Are all ailments the result of personal sin? No ● Can God’s power be displayed in all ailments/weaknesses? Yes

The Sign: ● Spit & Mud − remedial/magical value in some circles during this period. − The imagery here seems to echo creation (made out of the dust). ● Pool of Siloam (at the end of Hezekiah’s tunnel) − This was the pool from which water was drawn during the Feast of Tabernacles.

− He is sent to the pool called “sent” to wash and to see (various scholars suggest Johannine symbolism and contend that John sees a picture of our discipleship journey in this sign).

The Trial: ● The Man Born Blind Who Sees: − Notice the progression: The man (8:11), Prophet (Jn 9:17), Lord = believed/worshiped (Jn 9:38) ● The Neighbors (9:8-13): − They try to come up with other explanations but fail − They ask him where Jesus went (remember, he still couldn’t see!) − They take him to the Pharisees. Why? ● The Pharisees (The 3-stages of legal questioning reveal their own blindness): − Questioning the Blind Man (9:13-17) − Questioning His Parents (9:18-23; cf. Jn 12:42) − Questioning the Blind Man (9:24-34) The Verdict(s): ● Excommunication/Association – Association with Jesus may lead to disassociation with others. – Like a good shepherd (Jn 10), Jesus goes and finds him (Jn 9:35). ● Sight/Blindness − Like all “signs” in John, this miracle points to a greater truth. Blindness in John is symbolic of walking in darkness (Jn 9:39-41; 12:40; cf. Isaiah 6:10; 1 Jn 2:11).

Good and Bad Shepherds (John 10:1-21)

Seven “I am” statements ● Bread of Life, 6:35 ● Light of the World, 8:12 ● The Gate for Sheep, 10:7 ● The Good Shepherd, 10:11 ● The Resurrection & The Life, 11:25 ● The Way, the Truth and the Life, 14:6 ● The Vine, 15:5

Background: ● Shepherds (approximately 100x in the Bible) ● Sheep (approximately 400x in the Bible) ● Ancient flocks numbered as many as 10,000-100,000 and it was one of the major industries (Laniak, Shepherds ). ● OT Shepherds: Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, twelve sons, Moses, David, Amos.

● God as Shepherd in the OT (Ps 70:13; 74:1; 77:20; 78:52; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Jer 23:3; 31:10; 50:19; Ezek 34:22; Amos 3:12; Mic 2:12-13; etc.). ● Ancient Metaphor (Kings/Rulers)

The Good/Chief Shepherd (Divine & Messianic Imagery): ● Psalm 23:1-6; 79:13; 95:7 ● Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24 ● Jeremiah 3:15; 23:4 ● Amos 3:12 ● Micah 2:12; 5:7-8 ● Matthew 2:6; 9:36 (cf. 25:32; 26:31; and parallels) ● Luke 2:8-20 ● John 10 ● Hebrews 13:20 ● 1 Peter 2:25 ● Revelation 2:27; 7:17; 12:5; 19:15 (“rule” literally = shepherd)

Healthy Shepherds in the Church ● John 21:16 ● Acts 20:28 ● Ephesians 4:11 ● 1 Timothy 3 & 5 ● 1 Peter 5:2-4

OT Warnings of Unhealthy Shepherds (cf. John 9) ● Ezekiel 34:1-31 ● Jeremiah 10:21; 23:1-6; 50:6 ● Zechariah 10-13 ● Jude 12 ● Jesus’ indictments of the Pharisees & Priestly leaders (Matthew 23) ● Paul’s indictments of the False Teachers in Ephesus (1 Timothy; Acts 20)

My Sheep Know My Voice (This theme continues into 10:22-39)

Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-42)

Background: The Feast of Dedication ● Hanukkah = “Feast of Lights”.

● Eight-day celebration of light near winter equinox (darkest/shortest days). John adds the phrase, “It was winter” (Jn 10:22)—a comment that might have symbolic undertones – it’s dark (cf. Köstenberger). ● Celebrated the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes IV in 164 BC (1 Macc 4:36-59; 2 Macc 10:1-8). Under this dynasty, the region experienced autonomy until Roman occupation in 63 B.C.

Courtroom (Witnesses & Verdict) ● Are you claiming to be the Messiah? ● You claim to be God! (Jn 10:33; cf. 5:18; 8:58-59). ● The allusion to the law is from Psalm 82:6 – the imagery depicting a heavenly court in which earthly/heavenly leader-judges are called to render justice—but instead they are unjust and wicked (it is an indirect indictment of the leaders whom Jesus is addressing like the allusion to selfish shepherds). ● This is an example of rabbinical legal argument using the imagery of Psalm 82 (if the lesser is true…then how much more the greater).

Supplemental Material

Solomon’s Colonnade ● Eastern side of the Temple ● Nearly 200 yards long ● Built by Herod the Great (not Solomon as the name might infer) ● Köstenberger suggests that this location was in part due to the colder weather common for that time of year. Notice the use of this space in Acts as well (cf. Acts 3:11; 5:12).