For centuries Christian churches had little appreciation for the biblical Feast of Tabernacles. They understood Passover was the foundation for.
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Because of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, according to what is said: The second great ceremony was the 'festival of the lights'. Huge golden lampstands were setup in the Temple Compound and each was lit at sundown. Chumney gives the following details concerning this: Four youths of priestly descent stood at the top of the ladders holding jars containing about 7. The priests and Levites used their own worn-out liturgical clothing for wicks.
The light emanating from the four candelabras was so bright that the Mishnah says in Sukkah 5: This light, according to the Jewish rabbis, was symbolic of the God's Shekinah glory that was promised to return to Israel with the coming of the Messiah.
So the two Jewish ceremonies associated with the feast of Tabernacles involve water and light. With this background and Jewish custom before us it is interesting to see what Jesus said during the feast of Tabernacles. John chapter 7 through to Now as a bit of further background you need to remember that God had commanded that all males were to go to Jerusalem on the feast of Tabernacles, along with Passover and Pentecost Deut So it is into this packed Jerusalem environment that Jesus begins to speak Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Jesus could not have been clearer! With the backdrop of the pouring out of water ceremony fresh in the minds of Jerusalem's masses, Jesus spoke of the true fulfillment that is found in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit whom He would give to those who were thirsty. This was the real life giving water, and not just a symbolic ceremony. Of course such talk then, like now, caused great debate and division amongst the people. Could He be the Messiah?
Jesus and the Feast of Tabernacles
What was this living water? No one had ever talked like this before. But Jesus wasn't finished yet for He again spoke out on this last day of the great feast.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Again, this makes more sense now does it not given the Jewish ceremony of the lights that took place during this time? Jesus was telling them that He is the fulfillment of this ceremony as well.
He is the light This also caused great controversy with the Pharisees and some Jews who decided that Jesus must be demon possessed! This becomes even sadder when you realise what song the Jews would sing during this time. In the feast of Tabernacles, especially as they poured out the water, they would sing from Isaiah The Hebrew for 'salvation' is 'Yeshua' - yes, that's right, the name of Jesus in Hebrew! With joy you will draw water from the wells of Yeshua'. As they sung this, no wonder the Lord Jesus would stand and declare 'if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
With joy they will draw water Spirit from the wells of Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah. As mentioned earlier, the Jewish Rabbis believed that the pouring out of the water was symbolic of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon Israel in the last days 3. But what about light?
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Light is symbolic of truth, knowledge and understanding of God's ways and character. Even more than that, it is symbolic of the shekinah glory - the outward manifestation of the goodness, radiance and glory that is our God! All of these things give us a further glimpse into what the coming Kingdom age will be like. The Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh Joel 2: The whole earth will be transformed in that day. Think again on the following scriptures that give us a glimpse of the good things to come when Jesus reigns:.
People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. It is interesting that this feast also makes mention of an '8th' day. This is slightly odd for a 7 day feast wouldn't you say? Here is the passage:. So why an 8th day in a 7 day feast? For the Jews this 8th day is celebrated as a separate festival called 'Shemini Atzeret' the eighth day of assembly.
Prophetically speaking we need to quickly look at the numbers used. It is His seal. The 7 day feast of Tabernacles, as discussed, will be fulfilled in the year reign of Jesus Christ which will fulfill the year plan of God. But there is an 8th day! Even after this wonderful time there is still a new start We don't have to speculate what this is for scripture clearly tells us.
It begins with a declaration of God:. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. So even after the Messianic Kingdom there is a new beginning There is a new heaven and a new earth created by our God:.
The Kingdom - Jesus in the feast of Tabernacles
Before we close, let me just add a few words on the personal significance of this feast for today. While there, He used the special ceremonies taking place around Him to point the people to Himself as the ultimate fulfillment. Therefore, water was precious. The pouring of the water symbolized the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and was followed by a great silence that descended on the sanctuary as the people reflected upon the Holy Spirit—the only true refreshment for their thirsty souls.
This ritual took place every day but on the seventh day it took on an intensity filled with excitement and anticipation.
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Another fascinating ceremony associated with the Feast of Tabernacles involved lights. Each afternoon four huge menorahs illuminated the court of the Temple and the pious men would dance before the lamps with burning torches in their hands. It is said that the light from these menorahs was so bright it penetrated every courtyard in Jerusalem. This festivity would last all night until dawn. They failed to comprehend the significance of the Master's movements.
His presence in Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles, even in opposition to the advice of his followers, sufficed forever to put an end to all whisperings about fear and cowardice. It was a fact that many of the members of the Sanhedrin either secretly believed in Jesus or else were decidedly averse to arresting him during the feast, when such large numbers of people were present in Jerusalem, many of whom either believed in him or were at least friendly to the spiritual movement which he sponsored.
This was one of the reasons why Jesus could publicly visit Jerusalem and live to go away.
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One or two months before this he would certainly have been put to death. Several times during this month the Sanhedrin made feeble attempts to place the Master under arrest, but nothing came of these efforts. His enemies were so taken aback by Jesus' unexpected public appearance in Jerusalem that they conjectured he must have been promised protection by the Roman authorities.