Light of the World

"Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter"- John 10:22 (NIV). 

It was winter. Also called the Festival of Lights, the Festival of Dedication was a ceremony marking the restoration, cleansing, and re-dedication of Jerusalem's Temple once the Greco-Syrian oppressors were driven out by the Maccabees. Jews call it Hanukkah. It was a miraculous deliverance provided by God. The symbol of God's presence in the Temple was the eternal flame, but there was only enough purified oil to keep the flame lite for one day. Miraculously, God's Holy presence allowed the flame to burn for eight days, until the supply of sacred oil was replenished. John 10:23 says Jesus was in the Temple courts, walking in Solomon's Colonnade during the Festival of Lights. What better place for the Light of the world to be walking (John 8:12). He is the Eternal Flame, the Miraculous Deliverance provided by God. One other note: Matthew 25:31-46 tells of Jesus sitting on His throne judging the world. Solomon's Colonnade is also called the Porch of Judgment. Jesus takes our scarlet sins and washes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). The timing of snow is one more symbolic message in today's Scripture: "It was winter."