Feast of Tabernacles

October 11-13, 2013 - Feast of Tabernacles – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 7:2 “Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.”

I was thrilled to discover how important researches are to share with you so please bear with me. Note from the Full Life Study Bible: The “feast of tabernacles” commemorated the post-exodus journeys of Israel and the time when they wandered in the wilderness, living in tabernacles (or tents) under God’s care (Lev. 23:34-43).

Jesus was at the Feast of Tabernacles, but Jesus did not go into the Feast right away. His brothers challenged Him to reveal Himself if He was truly the Messiah. They didn’t believe Him because He was “too human.” Jesus said that it wasn’t His time yet. He told His brothers to go to this Feast and that He will go later (John 7:3-9).

Jesus could not come to the beginning of the Feast because the Jews sought to kill him (Jn.7:1). The Jews were asking where He was (Jn.7:11-13). He went in the middle of the Feast and He sat down at the temple and taught (Jn.7:14-19). Then there were debates and questions among the people and the religious leaders (Jn.7:20-36).

So Jesus was there for few days until the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out … “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Does anyone believe in me? Then, just as Scripture says, streams of living water will flow from inside him.” When he said this, he meant the Holy Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit later. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given. This was because Jesus had not yet received glory (Jn.14:37-39).

The priest with the pitcher poured the water over the palm branches that covered over the altar. The people were watching and at the same time, Christ introduced Himself as the Water of Life. The people discovered that the clue of the Feast was the Messiah. They said, “This is the Prophet. This is the Christ” (Jn.7:40- 41).

Still there were arguments among the people whether or not if Jesus was really the Christ. But at the end, they decided that Jesus was the wrong “Messiah” because they based that He was from Galilee and that no prophet ever come from Galilee. What they didn’t know that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem. So everyone went home and that ended the questions about Jesus (Jn.7:40-53).

I also, learned that the Feast was about giving thanks to God for the blessings of the rains, the water that brings fruits of the ground. God commanded that the people come to this Feast every year to give thanks to God for the rains and the fruits and that He would continue to bless them when they shouted “send now prosperity” (Psalm 118:25). More to come!

Chorus: The Healing Waters

Where the heal - ing waters flow,

Where the joy – celestial glow,

Oh, there’s peace and rest and love,

Where the heal – ing waters flow!

(H. H. Heimar, Sing His Praise)