THE FATHER’S SON IN SOLOMON’S COLONNADE

JOHN 10:22–30

John’s Gospel also records what occurred when Jesus was in Solomon’s Colonnade during the Feast of Dedication. We will see why Jesus chose that location and that time to repeatedly declare himself to be the Father’s Son.

Although the name of King Solomon became associated with this open porch, it was part of a later renovation to the Temple complex made by Herod the Great.18 He improved the site by creating a platform around the Temple that could hold more people. Herod then surrounded this platform with covered porches, each consisting of a roof held up by rows of marble columns.19 The porch in which Jesus was walking during this exchange with the Jewish leaders was on the east side of the Temple and was called Solomon’s Colonnade.

This was at the time of the celebration of the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22),20 which is a Jewish festival that originated about 167 BC. Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) was a Greek king who had come to control the Promised Land and who attempted to destroy Judaism by incorporating Greek culture into Jewish society. Because the Temple played such an important role in maintaining the distinctiveness of the Jews, he set about defiling its altar and sanctuary (1 Macc. 1:36–61). A Jewish resistance was organized against this foreign intrusion and sought not just political freedom but religious restoration as well. When Judas Maccabaeus regained control of Jerusalem, he directed a complete and thorough cleansing of the sanctuary and restoration of Temple services (1 Macc. 4:36–58; 2 Macc. 10:1–8). In 164 BC on Chislev 25, smoke from sacrifices began to rise once again from this restored sanctuary. In commemoration of this rededication, the Jews commenced an annual eight-day celebration called the Feast of Dedication.

Looking west from the Mount of Olives toward the outer eastern wall of the Temple Mount (i.e., the outer wall of Solomon’s Portico).

Architectural seam on the southern section of the Temple Mount’s eastern wall. In Gospel times, it was believed that the stones on the right side were from the time of Solomon, thus the name Solomon’s Portico. However, the stones actually date back only to the second century BC.

Thus there was a festive note in the air with people recalling the great restoration of the Temple during the days of the Maccabees. But by the time of the Gospels, the Temple had again been corrupted. Some of those in charge could not see the Messiah, even though he stood right before their eyes and proclaimed his identity as the Good Shepherd, with the power to give eternal life to his sheep (John 10:28). Here, as David and Isaiah had accurately prophesied, was the Son of God who was born to restore the flock to true worship in a way that Judas Maccabaeus could not (Pss. 16:8–11; 110:1; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:20–23; Acts 2:25–35).21

During the feast, as Jesus walked in Solomon’s Colonnade, located along the eastern wall of the Temple Mount, the religious leaders insisted, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24). Of course Jesus had already done so many times in many ways. Nevertheless, he responded once again, boldly declaring in John 10:25–38 his association with the Father: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and “Believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38). In doing so, Jesus demonstrated that it was not his failure to speak plainly about his identity but rather their unbelief that was the issue.

Jerusalem model—the inside of Solomon’s portico.
© Dr. James C. Martin. Reproduction of the City of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple. (See full credit on page 4.)

Remnants of early architecture inside the eastern wall of the Temple Mount in the area of Solomon’s Portico.
© Garo Nalbandian.