Yahshua at the Feast (John: 7)
The months September/October are very important to the Jews. Even for us today, they are important as these are the times when we are supposed to celebrate the last great festival according to the Bible (Lev: 23). These festivals have been ordained by our Lord himself. Even while he was on this earth in his flesh, Yahshua Messiah observed these feasts. John chapter 7 deals with the account of Yahshua as he went up to Jerusalem for the Feast.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the third major feast in the Old Testament. At the feast of tabernacles, in the end of the common year and the seventh month of the religious year, there was a feast of ingathering (Ex.23:16) when all the fruits of the field had been gathered in. The reason for the feast day was to celebrate the end of harvesting. The first day and the last day were Sabbaths, no work was permitted.
We can see from the scriptures that Yahshua Messiah observed the Sabbaths and the feasts. There is no mention of him disobeying the law.
He spoke with authority (Jn.7:15) He was as well learned as the Jews, he did not study under one of their Rabbis. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit himself will teach you what to speak. (Matt.10:19-20). His words were so gracious, and there was such truth and evidence in them, and they were delivered with such power and authority, that the people were astonished at them.
On the last, the great day of the feast - on this day there was the greatest assembly of people, and they would fetch water from the fountain of Siloam, which the priests poured out on the great altar, singing one to another, ‘with joy shall ye draw water from the wells of salvation’. On this day they offered up solemn prayers for seasonal rains which gave them good harvest. They would also pray for good rains in the coming year. On this day likewise they commemorated Elohim’s miraculously giving water out of the rock (Ex.17:6). On this day Messiah cried out to the people, saying,’ if any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink’.
The thirst here is the spiritual thirst which separation from Elohim brings. It is this thirst that Yahshua Messiah came to quench. This thirst means strong desires after spiritual blessings, which nothing else can satisfy. Yahshua here was referring to the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit. The comfort flows plentifully and constantly as a river; strong as a stream to bear down the opposition of doubts and fears. There is a fullness of grace in Messiah. The Spirit dwells and works in believers like a fountain of living, running water. We can expect the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit when we have these rivers of living water flow from us. These streams have flowed from our glorified Redeemer (Rev.22:1) even to the remote corners of the earth.
By this water our Lord means also his doctrine, explaining and promising the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, which proceed from Messiah dwelling in a believer’s heart. There is no eternal life without the Spirit; no Spirit without Messiah; and no Messiah to give the Spirit, without Messiah dwelling in the believers heart. This is what his whole doctrine proclaims.
Yahshua Messiah commanded his disciples to go to the feast (Jn.7:8) He is telling us even today to go and observe the Feast. The Feast of Tabernacles points to the first coming of Yahshua, his birth, as well as to the Second Coming of the Lord. If you read Luke chapters 1 and2, you will realize that Yahshua Messiah was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and not on Dec 25th as is popularly believed. Every Bible scholar admits this but they are afraid to proclaim this truth because, the god of this world has blinded everyone. (2 Cor. 4:4).
The Feast of Tabernacles shows us that we are travellers in this world and our permanent dwelling is with the Lord. The feast shows us how insecure we are and that we should depend on the Almighty for all our needs. (2 Cor.12:9)
The feast of Tabernacles represents the 1000 year rule of Messiah and the resurrected saints on the earth when salvation will be offered to all mankind. . After the second coming of the Lord, man will be at peace with his neighbor, there will not be any wars, no disease, the deserts will be green with vegetation.
It is a feast of unity. (Lev.23:40,42). All Israelites were to keep the feast. We must learn to minister and function as members of one body and not of different sects.
It is a feast of joy. (Deut.16:14) You shall rejoice in your feast. Yahshua is in our midst to impart the joy of the Holy Spirit.
It is a feast of glory. (I Ki.8). It was during these feast days that the Ark of the Covenant was restored to the temple that Solomon built and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
It is a feast of restoration (Ezra.3).During this period Ezra rebuilt the temple in the face of strong opposition. In today’s churches we find many people obstructing the building the true temple. There are very few genuine shepherds who really want to see the true church established.
It is a Sabbath feast, the seventh feast occurring in the seventh month, lasting for seven days.(Lev.23:39).
It is the feast of his appearing. (John.7:10).Yahshua went in secret to the feast. Contrary to what many believe (I Thes.4:16) he may not come visibly.
During the millennium, people will be required to go to Jerusalem to keep the Feast. (Zech.14:16-19). There is a blessing to be obtained in keeping this feast. Those who do not keep this feast will be cut off from the Lord.
Let us keep the feast with sincerity and truth. |