SUKKOT – JEWISH FEAST OF TABERNACLES – PART E
October 20, 2008
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In previous updates we covered its connection with the 1st and 2nd Advents of Christ, and some Scriptures He uttered during
its observance during the time of His earthly ministry.
The feast also connected to God’s spiritual light shinning out from the temple courtyard into the world. The events from John 7:1 to 9:41 occurred during the Feast of Tabernacles. In previous Blogs
I covered the picture presented at the feast by the water going out from the belly of Herod’s temple as representing the Word of the Spirit going out to a spiritually dead world.
In this Update, we will connect a light ceremony of the feast with the ministry
of Christ, as it represents the light of God going out into a world of spiritual darkness.
The event contained in the following Scriptures occurred during
the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
John 9:5-7 – As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Jesus sent the blind man to the same place the special priest in a previous Blog went to collect the water that eventually went out from the belly of the temple into a spiritually blind world. The water pictured the cleansing Word of the Holy Spirit who dwelt in the
Holy of Holies in the temple.
Titus 3:5-7 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
John 6:62,63 – What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 15:3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Ephesians 5:25-27 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The following Feast of Tabernacles information was taken from a book by Alfred Edersheim, D.D., Ph.D., titled “The Temple,” Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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“At the close of the first day of the feast the worshippers descended to the Court of the Women where great preparations had been made. Four huge golden candelabras were there, each with four golden bowls, and against them rested four ladders; and four youths of priestly descent each held a pitcher of oil, capable of holding one hundred and twenty log, from which they filled each bowl. The old, worn breeches and girdles of the priests served for wicks to these lamps. There was not a court in Jerusalem that was not lit up by the light of ‘the house of the water-pouring.’ The ‘Chasidim’ and ‘the men of Deed’ danced before the people with flaming torches in their hands, and sang before them hymns and songs of praise; and the Levites, with harps, and lutes, and cymbals, and trumpets, and instruments without number, stood upon the fifteen steps which led down from the Court of Israel (men of Israel) to that of the Court of the Women, according to the fifteen songs of Degrees in the Book of Psalms.
It seems clear that this illumination of the temple was regarded as forming part of, and having the same symbolic meaning, as ‘the pouring out of the water’ in a previous Blog. The light shining out of the temple into the darkness around it, and lighting up every court in Jerusalem, must have been intended as a symbol of the Shechinah light which once filled the temple, and of that ‘great light’ which ‘the people that walked in darkness’ were to see, and which was to shine ‘upon them dwell in the land of the shadow of death.’ At any rate, it seems most probable that Jesus had referred to this ceremony in the words spoken by Him in the temple at that very Feast of Tabernacles.”
John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have t
he light of life.
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The temple was the dwelling place of
the Spirit of God and, as such, the Jews were to carry the light of His Word to all those that dwelled on the earth. Jesus called out His first church, made of His disciples, and they followed Him for almost three and one-half years. He organized them, led them, and taught them during this period. He called them up to a mountain in the fifth chapter of Matthew, and began to teach them what we call “The Beatitudes.” He them informed them what was to go out from them as a local, visible, temple of God’s presence, and from all other churches of like faith and order down through the centuries until his coming.
Matthew 5:1,2,14-16 – And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
He continued to teach them throughout his ministry with the light of the truth, the Word of God, and then delivered this last teaching and commission to them just before his departure.
It is the same commission delivered to all of His true churches today.
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.