Single lesson
Jesus at the Festival of Dedication
John 10:22–42
At the Festival of Dedication, people pressed Jesus to speak plainly about who he is. In this passage, Jesus points to his works, describes his sheep, and explains his relationship with the Father.
Before you teach
This passage takes place in Jerusalem during the Feast of the Dedication. Jesus is walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch, when a group asks whether he is the Christ. The conversation then turns to belief, Jesus’ works, his sheep, and the Father. After further conflict, Jesus leaves and many believe in him elsewhere.
Explain the central teaching of Jesus at the Festival of Dedication, using two details from the reading. John 10:22–42 shows that Jesus’ words and works belong together, and that believing or refusing him is central to this conversation.
Welcome: Jesus at the Festival of Dedication
5 minIntroduce “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication” and locate John 10:22–42. John 10:22–42 shows that Jesus’ words and works belong together, and that believing or refusing him is central to this conversation. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
John 10:22, John 10:32, John 10:42
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe setting matters because this is a public exchange in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Dedication, during winter, in the temple area called Solomon’s porch. The people ask Jesus to tell them plainly if he is the Christ. Their question opens the whole discussion about belief and evidence.
Jesus says no one can snatch his sheep from his hand, and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand because the Father is greater than all. Then he says, “I and the Father are one.” In this passage, that statement leads straight into a strong and hostile reaction.
When people take up stones, Jesus asks which good work from the Father is the reason. They answer that their charge is blasphemy. Jesus replies by referring to what is written in their law and again directs attention to his works, so that they may know the Father is in him and he in the Father. Later, beyond the Jordan, many say John’s witness about Jesus was true, and many believe in him there.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
John 10:22, John 10:23, John 10:24, John 10:28, John 10:29, John 10:30, John 10:31, John 10:32, John 10:33, John 10:34, John 10:35, John 10:36, John 10:37, John 10:38, John 10:39, John 10:40, John 10:41, John 10:42
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “According to Jesus, what testifies about him in this conversation?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. John 10:22–42 shows that Jesus’ words and works belong together, and that believing or refusing him is central to this conversation. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
John 10:25, John 10:27, John 10:28, John 10:29, John 10:31, John 10:39, John 10:41, John 10:42
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
12 minWork on “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
John 10:22, John 10:32, John 10:42
Closing: return to Jesus at the Festival of Dedication
3 minRevisit John 10:22–42. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Jesus at the Festival of Dedication and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
John 10:22, John 10:32, John 10:42
Questions to explore
According to Jesus, what testifies about him in this conversation?
Look for the evidence Jesus names when he answers their demand for a plain statement, and notice whose name those works are done in.
John 10:25
How does Jesus describe his sheep?
List the actions and promises in the verses about hearing, knowing, following, eternal life, and safety in his and the Father’s hand.
John 10:27, John 10:28, John 10:29
How do the responses to Jesus differ in Jerusalem and beyond the Jordan?
Compare the attempt to stone or seize Jesus with the later words about John’s witness and the belief of many people.
John 10:31, John 10:39, John 10:41, John 10:42
Make, think or respond
Jesus at the Festival of Dedication: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read John 10:22–42. Use “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Jesus at the Festival of Dedication connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Jesus at the Festival of Dedication” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of John 10:22–42. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read John 10:22–42. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 10
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),
36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
42 Many believed in him there.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.