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Jesus Keeps the Feast of Tabernacles
October 3, 2015

This Sabbath day is in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles and we will depart momentarily from our study of the Book of Amos, most recently of chapter two. This week we will see how in the middle of persecusion, Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles, and though many Christians assert this was done because of his birth, first-century apostolic Christians assert that the Feast of Tabernacles is also a Christian festival, and one that points to the ultimate fulfilment of God's promises to mankind.

John 7:1-13
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Even though Jesus knew there was a plot to take his life, he intended to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Needing to enter Jerusalem unnoticed, Jesus was able to avoid conflict with the Jews. Some thought Jesus was a good person; others thought he only tried to deceive the people.

John 7:14-27
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

Despite the threat against his life, Jesus taught in the temple in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus used this opportunity to confront those who sought him harm over what they perceived to be a liberal interpretation of the Sabbath Day. Jesus pointed out that though they wer fine with physical circumcision on the Sabbath Day, that they somehow objected to spiritual circumcision on the Sabbath Day. Jesus confronted their thinking and made the crowd begin to wonder.

John 7:28-36
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?

Jesus concluded his teaching by claiming to be sent by God and for this many sought to kill him, but did not take him because it was not yet his time to die. The crowd was left to wonder what Jesus meant when he said, "Where I am, thither ye cannot come."

All verses are from the King James Version.
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