John 7:1-2 Bible Study & Exploration
What Is the Feast of Tabernacles?
There was not a nation or people that was more prepared than Israel and the Jews to receive the Messiah. They were God’s chosen people living in His chosen land. They were not chosen because they were a special people or better than any other people. Rather, they were chosen because of the promises that God had made to Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites.
They not only understood and had memorized the Old Testament, but they had read about the coming of the Messiah. They were so blessed that oracles from God were given to them so that we might be blessed with God’s Word through the Bible.
Everything God did, He did for them. You could fill pages upon pages of their accomplishments through generations that have benefited mankind. Their very existence today living among their enemies is a miracle of God. Based on per capita, there is no nation on this planet that can equate to them. They are truly a blessed people. And through them, it was God’s intention to bless the rest of the nations.
“I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)
They were so prepared for their Messiah. But His own people rejected Him. They made plans to trap Him in His own words. In conspiring, they attempted to kill him. He was arrested, tortured and mocked. They unjustly sentenced Him to death. They hung Him on a cross to be mocked and scoffed at.
As you read through this gospel of John, you’re probably as amazed as I am. It’s almost shocking to see the blindness of His own people. With all Jesus had done before their eyes, they rejected Him. Even though they knew Him through the teachings of the Torah, they did not know Him in the flesh. And they didn’t understand the role of the Spirit of which He attempted to teach them.
But it was all by design. Designed by the Father through the perfect son. For the purpose of being reunited one day with His children (believers).
What Is the Feast of Tabernacles?
(Verses 1-2) The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the seven feasts that God gave to the Israelites as He instructed them in Leviticus 23. It is the last feast on the Hebrew calendar. It was to be celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month. This is the month of Tishri. This would fall somewhere within late September to early October.
The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the longest and happiest celebrations of the seven feasts. Unlike the Day of Atonement which was a much shorter and sorrowful time.
Since it fell after the fall harvest, it was a time of celebrating God’s provisions from the recent harvest of crops from the fields. It was also a time of remembering and celebrating God’s provisions to the Israelites over the forty years of wandering in the desert.
The Feast of Tabernacles was also called Feast of Booths and Sukkot.
It was a bustling time in Jerusalem with the city nearly filled to capacity as Jews and Gentiles alike would come and tabernacle in the city. They would build temporary shelters or booths to live in for the week of celebration. They would do this as a remembrance of the temporary shelters or booths their ancestors lived in while in the desert and cut off from the Promised Land for forty years.
Why Is the Feast of Tabernacles Important?
It was a long and happy feast to partake in. It was also unique in that it included both Jews and Gentiles participating in this celebratory festival.
These feasts were given by God to the Israelites as a shadow of the real substance that would take place as a fulfillment of these festivals. The substance would be Jesus Christ. As He came to perfectly fulfill the law, He also will fulfill all the requirements of the seven feasts.
Four of these feasts have been fulfilled by Christ. The Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and the Festival of Weeks have all been fulfilled by Christ.
Many believe the Festival of Trumpets is being fulfilled in our time today by what Jesus spoke of on the Mount of Olives in His Olivet Discourse. It’s being fulfilled on an on-going manner as all things that He spoke of that would occur in the last days. We can see all of these things converging before our eyes.
That leaves the two remaining festivals to be fulfilled. The Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Uniqueness of the Feast of Tabernacles
There are several reasons that make the Feast of Tabernacles very unique among the seven. It’s one of the most mentioned in the scriptures.
It’s the only festival of all seven that will continue to be celebrated annually even after the end of this age and into the next. This is spoken of by the prophet Zechariah.
“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16)
Zechariah speaks of a time during the age of the Millennium when all the nations will come against Jerusalem and the King of Kings. It will not end well for them but it will be quick. Those that remain will travel every year to Jerusalem to celebrate in the presence of Jesus, the Feast of Tabernacles.
More Uniqueness on the Feast of Tabernacles
Additionally, many scholars believe that Jesus was born likely during the Feast of Tabernacles. A strong probability of Jesus being born during this festival would come from the opening words of this gospel of John.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Just as the people journeyed to Jerusalem annually to tabernacle or dwell near the Temple of God to thank Him for His provisions, so did Jesus come in the flesh to dwell among mankind.
During His short three year ministry, Jesus lived as those did who came to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles each year, in a booth or temporary shelter. Even though Jesus may have fulfilled the substance of this feast, we understand through Zechariah the prophet that it will continue being celebrated into the next age.
Finally, we can derive that the Feast of Tabernacles was important for another reason. Several important events in Bible history took place during this special celebratory time.
Many of the Israelites returned from their Babylonian exile to help rebuild the temple under the leadership of Joshua and Zerubbabel at the time of this festival. It was during this feast that Ezra read the Word of God to the Israelites to restore their hearts during the temple rebuilding. This resulted in a great revival.
As we see here in chapter 7, Jesus taught about the living waters during the Feast of Tabernacles.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39)
Just as God is celebrated in this festival for His mighty provisions and sustaining His chosen people. We can also count on God to provide and sustain for us in all situations and seasons of our lives. While the world appears to be falling apart, God is controlling all the pieces and they’re all falling perfectly into place. As Christians, we can fully count on God to sustain us and rescue us until our redemption comes when Christ returns for His church.
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4)