The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE, following its desecration by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This event is recorded in the books of the Maccabees, which are part of the Apocrypha. The festival lasts for eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which typically falls in December.

The Feast of Dedication is not one of the original feasts prescribed in the Torah, but it holds significant historical and religious importance for the Jewish people. It celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid forces and the miracle of the oil, where a small amount of consecrated oil, enough for one day, miraculously burned for eight days in the Temple's menorah.

In the New Testament, the Feast of Dedication is mentioned in the Gospel of John. Jesus attended this festival, as recorded in John 10:22-23: "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade." This passage highlights Jesus' participation in Jewish customs and His presence in the Temple during this significant celebration.

Jesus' Claim of Unity with the Father

During the Feast of Dedication, Jesus made a profound declaration of His divine nature and unity with God the Father. In John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are one." This assertion is a cornerstone of Christian theology, affirming the doctrine of the Trinity and the belief in Jesus as both fully God and fully man.

The context of this claim is crucial. Jesus had been teaching in the Temple and responding to questions about His identity and mission. The Jewish leaders, who were present, understood the gravity of His statement and perceived it as blasphemy, as seen in John 10:31-33: "At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. But Jesus responded, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?' 'We are not stoning You for any good work,' said the Jews, 'but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.'"

Jesus' claim of unity with the Father was not merely a statement of agreement or purpose but an assertion of His divine essence and authority. This declaration is consistent with other passages in the Gospel of John, where Jesus speaks of His unique relationship with the Father, such as John 14:9-10: "Jesus replied, 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.'"

The reaction of the Jewish leaders underscores the radical nature of Jesus' claim. Their attempt to stone Him reflects their understanding that Jesus was equating Himself with God, a claim that, if untrue, would indeed be blasphemous. However, for believers, this statement is a profound revelation of Jesus' divine identity and His integral role in the Godhead.