on of the sacred structure after its profane
desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, the pagan king of Syria.[1011] While
the festival was in progress, Jesus went to the temple and was seen
walking in the part of the enclosure known as Solomon's Porch.[1012] His
presence soon became known to the Jews, who came crowding about Him in
unfriendly spirit, ostensibly to ask questions. Their inquiry was: "How
long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly," The mere asking of such a question evidences the deep and
disturbing impression which the ministry of Christ had produced among
the official classes and the people generally; in their estimation, the
works he had wrought appeared as worthy of the Messiah.

The Lord's reply was indirect in form, though in substance and effect
incisive and unmistakable. He referred them to His former utterances and
to His continued works. "I told you," He said, "and ye believed not: the
works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye
believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I
and my Father are one." The reference to what had been before told was a
reminder of His teachings on the occasion of an earlier sojourn among
them, when He had proclaimed Himself as the I AM, who was older and
greater than Abraham, and of His other proclamation of Himself as the
Good Shepherd.[1013]

He could not well answer their inquiry by a simple unqualified
affirmation, for by such He would have been understood as meaning that
He claimed to be the Messiah according to their conception, the earthly
king and conqueror for whom they professed to be looking. He was no such
Christ as they had in mind; yet was He verily Shepherd and King to all
who would hear His words and do His works; and to such He renewed the
promise of eternal life and the assurance that no man could pluck them
out of His own or the Father's hand. To this doctrine, both exalted and
profound in scope, the casuistical Jews could offer no refutation, nor
could they find therein the much desired excuse for open accusation; our
Lord's concluding sentence, however, stirred the hostile throng to
frenzy. "I and m