29. JOHN 10 v 19-30: With Jesus there can be no sitting on the fence. As John records here, some thought Him mad or demon-possessed, whilst others thought He was not like any ordinary man and wanted to know more. If you are reading this then you clearly think He is someone special, but how can we be assured that Jesus is the Son of God? Well, everyone demonstrates who they are by word and action and what Jesus said has been regularly cited by believer and non-believer alike as the greatest words of wisdom ever uttered. Many might say the right thing, but their actions betray them; however, Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the sorrowing; He spent His life serving others and didn't concentrate His energies on promoting Himself. This is your God!

John tells us that we are back in Jerusalem and celebrating another of the great Jewish festivals, Hannakah or the Festival of the Dedication. This Festival falls very close to our Christmas and is also known as the Festival of Lights. It was founded to commemorate the taking back of the Temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 164 BC from a King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, who tried to exterminate the Jewish faith and offered pigs for sacrifice on the great altar in the Temple.

Eight lights were lit in every Jewish home to celebrate this Festival and to remember the great victory God had wrought in the face of a seemingly unbeatable enemy.

As Jesus walked in Solomon's porch, He was questioned as to whether He was the Messiah. We may wonder why they continued to ask this question as we can read that Jesus had already declared Himself to be such in earlier chapters. Interestingly, His clear declarations had been made in private. He had revealed Himself to the woman of Samaria- John 4 v 26- and to the man born blind-John 9 v 37-but it may have been possible for the average member of the crowd which continued to follow Him that they had not heard Him declare that He was the Messiah. There would have been those, too, who asked Him this question so as to catch Him in blasphemy. This passage demonstrates that most people did not believe in Jesus despite all He had said and done! To those who had committed to worshipping Him as God with their lives, He promised abundant life, eternal life and a secure life.

So many people struggle with anxiety today. If you are one of them, I urge you to look to Him, find your peace and trust in Him. He is the only and ultimate security, the Rock which nothing can destroy, the only sure foundation! God bless you abundantly, David