New Life Church El Paso
Jesus and the Feast of Tabernacles
Sunday Sermon
Locations & Times
New Life Church El Paso
5505 Will Ruth Ave, El Paso, TX 79924, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
Introduction: Antagonism had grown against our Lord.
Reservation and hesitation became opposition and controversy.
This in turn intensified to the point were many of His disciples abandoned Him (John 6:66).
Finally the animosity escalated into official opposition by the religious authorities and the beginning of the plotting of His death.
Reservation and hesitation became opposition and controversy.
This in turn intensified to the point were many of His disciples abandoned Him (John 6:66).
Finally the animosity escalated into official opposition by the religious authorities and the beginning of the plotting of His death.
A 7 month gap most likely took place between chapters 6 and 7.
Chapter 6 occurred around Passover (April).
Chapter 7 takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles (October).
John writes nothing about those 7 months because his purpose was not chronological but it was to present Jesus as Messiah and Son of God/God the Son.
Chapter 6 occurred around Passover (April).
Chapter 7 takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles (October).
John writes nothing about those 7 months because his purpose was not chronological but it was to present Jesus as Messiah and Son of God/God the Son.
1. What is the Feast of TABERNACLES?
An OT Feast or Celebration instituted by God that was observed annually (Lev. 23)
Also know as Feast of Shelters, called Sukkot in the Hebrew, and also known as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Ingathering.
This feast was also designated one of the 3 pilgrim feasts, along with the feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), in which all men of the Covenant must appear before Yahweh at His holy Sanctuary.
It means "Dwelling."
The Feast of Shelters/Tabernacles, the most joyous and the longest of the festivals, was also considered to be the greatest of the feasts.
2. They CELEBRATED God' dwelling place
The Feast of Shelters/Tabernacles memorialized God's holy Dwelling place, the desert Tabernacle, the design of which was given to Moses by God Himself and which was later replaced by the Temple built by Solomon in the 10th century BC on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem.
The feast also recalled the booths or shelters the people lived in during the time they received the 10 Commandments at Sinai and during the rest of the Exodus experience.
3. They LIVED in shelters
Therefore, as a reminder of the time they were homeless when God delivered them from their enemies and protected them, the people were commanded to leave their homes and dwell in shelters.
4. It was also a HARVEST festival
In addition to the connection to the Exodus experience, this feast was also a harvest festival, occurring at the time of the fruit harvest of the grapes and olives.
An OT Feast or Celebration instituted by God that was observed annually (Lev. 23)
Also know as Feast of Shelters, called Sukkot in the Hebrew, and also known as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Ingathering.
This feast was also designated one of the 3 pilgrim feasts, along with the feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), in which all men of the Covenant must appear before Yahweh at His holy Sanctuary.
It means "Dwelling."
The Feast of Shelters/Tabernacles, the most joyous and the longest of the festivals, was also considered to be the greatest of the feasts.
2. They CELEBRATED God' dwelling place
The Feast of Shelters/Tabernacles memorialized God's holy Dwelling place, the desert Tabernacle, the design of which was given to Moses by God Himself and which was later replaced by the Temple built by Solomon in the 10th century BC on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem.
The feast also recalled the booths or shelters the people lived in during the time they received the 10 Commandments at Sinai and during the rest of the Exodus experience.
3. They LIVED in shelters
Therefore, as a reminder of the time they were homeless when God delivered them from their enemies and protected them, the people were commanded to leave their homes and dwell in shelters.
4. It was also a HARVEST festival
In addition to the connection to the Exodus experience, this feast was also a harvest festival, occurring at the time of the fruit harvest of the grapes and olives.
5. Two important symbols were LIGHT and WATER
"Light" recalled the light of the Glory Cloud as Yahweh led Israel through the wilderness, "the Pillar of Fire."
It was the light of the presence of God, the Shekinah in Hebrew, which made the cloud shine with light.
"Light" was a symbol of His presence in the Temple.
In the Tabernacle Yahweh commanded that the light of the golden Menorah (Lamp-stand) be kept burning continuously as a sign of His presence [Leviticus 24:1-4].
Water was also a symbol of this feast in memory of the water miracles that manifested God's protection and care in the wilderness:
the parting of the Red Sea
the life-giving water that came from the Rock [Exodus 17, Numbers 20] in the desert wilderness journey.
The miraculous water from the "Rock" saved the people and their flocks of animals for 40 years.
It was part of the oral tradition of the Israelites that the "Rock" followed them on their journey to salvation in the Promised Land
"Light" recalled the light of the Glory Cloud as Yahweh led Israel through the wilderness, "the Pillar of Fire."
It was the light of the presence of God, the Shekinah in Hebrew, which made the cloud shine with light.
"Light" was a symbol of His presence in the Temple.
In the Tabernacle Yahweh commanded that the light of the golden Menorah (Lamp-stand) be kept burning continuously as a sign of His presence [Leviticus 24:1-4].
Water was also a symbol of this feast in memory of the water miracles that manifested God's protection and care in the wilderness:
the parting of the Red Sea
the life-giving water that came from the Rock [Exodus 17, Numbers 20] in the desert wilderness journey.
The miraculous water from the "Rock" saved the people and their flocks of animals for 40 years.
It was part of the oral tradition of the Israelites that the "Rock" followed them on their journey to salvation in the Promised Land
6. There was a great PARADE
A procession of the people led by the High Priest carried palm branches and the other fragrant branches, singing the Hallel Psalms 113-118, from the Temple through the Water Gate to the pool of Siloam.
At the pool of Siloam the High Priest filled a golden pitcher with the water from the pool then the procession returned to the Temple.
The shofar, ram's horn trumpet, announced their arrival.
21 (3 x 7) trumpet blasts on the shofar were given in a liturgical service.
A procession of the people led by the High Priest carried palm branches and the other fragrant branches, singing the Hallel Psalms 113-118, from the Temple through the Water Gate to the pool of Siloam.
At the pool of Siloam the High Priest filled a golden pitcher with the water from the pool then the procession returned to the Temple.
The shofar, ram's horn trumpet, announced their arrival.
21 (3 x 7) trumpet blasts on the shofar were given in a liturgical service.
The return to the Temple was carefully timed so that the morning sacrifice of the lamb was being burned on the great sacrificial altar.
It was required at the burning of the daily sacrifice that a libation of wine is poured out on the altar [Exodus 29:39-41], but during the Feast of Tabernacles there was also the libation of water.
The High priest slowly proceeded to the great stone altar in the Inner Court of the Temple and ascended to the right side of the ramp.
At the top of the ramp the High Priest turned to the left where there were two basins of silver which drain to the base of the great altar of sacrifice. The basin toward the east was reserved for the libations of wine and the other basin toward the west was used only for the "Celebration of Water Libation" during this feast.
The people chanted as the High Priest poured out the water libation before Yahweh, while another priest simultaneously poured the drink offering of wine into the other silver basin. Three blasts of the trumpets immediately followed the "Celebration of Water Libation".
The trumpets would signal the start of the Temple music as the Levitical choruses sang the great Hallel [Psalms 113-118]: Hallelujah! Praise, servants of Yahweh, praise the name of Yahweh. Blessed by the name of Yahweh, now and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of Yahweh! [Psalms 113:1].
Now the crowds would wave their palm branches and join in the singing: Hosanna! Save us, I pray, O Yahweh; Yahweh, I pray, send now prosperity [Psalms 118:25].
It was required at the burning of the daily sacrifice that a libation of wine is poured out on the altar [Exodus 29:39-41], but during the Feast of Tabernacles there was also the libation of water.
The High priest slowly proceeded to the great stone altar in the Inner Court of the Temple and ascended to the right side of the ramp.
At the top of the ramp the High Priest turned to the left where there were two basins of silver which drain to the base of the great altar of sacrifice. The basin toward the east was reserved for the libations of wine and the other basin toward the west was used only for the "Celebration of Water Libation" during this feast.
The people chanted as the High Priest poured out the water libation before Yahweh, while another priest simultaneously poured the drink offering of wine into the other silver basin. Three blasts of the trumpets immediately followed the "Celebration of Water Libation".
The trumpets would signal the start of the Temple music as the Levitical choruses sang the great Hallel [Psalms 113-118]: Hallelujah! Praise, servants of Yahweh, praise the name of Yahweh. Blessed by the name of Yahweh, now and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of Yahweh! [Psalms 113:1].
Now the crowds would wave their palm branches and join in the singing: Hosanna! Save us, I pray, O Yahweh; Yahweh, I pray, send now prosperity [Psalms 118:25].
In the evening everyone returned to the Temple for the most interesting and joyous part of the festival, the fire ceremony and the torch dance!
This ceremony took place in the Court of the Women. The crowd assembled in the great court.
In the center of the court there were four great golden menorahs which were set on bases that were fifty feet high and which blazed with such brilliance that it is said that all Jerusalem was lit up by them.
As flutes begin to play young men gathered in the center of the court, each bearing torches in their hands and as they danced they threw the torches high into the air and caught them again in their hands.
While they danced the Levitical musicians played harps, cymbals, trumpets and other instruments along with the flutes as the Levitical choirs sang the Psalms of Ascents [Psalms 122].
Anyone who has not seen the rejoicing of bet hashshoebah [fire ceremony] in his life has never seen rejoicing. At dawn the silver trumpets blew the signal that marked the end of the ceremony.
This ceremony took place in the Court of the Women. The crowd assembled in the great court.
In the center of the court there were four great golden menorahs which were set on bases that were fifty feet high and which blazed with such brilliance that it is said that all Jerusalem was lit up by them.
As flutes begin to play young men gathered in the center of the court, each bearing torches in their hands and as they danced they threw the torches high into the air and caught them again in their hands.
While they danced the Levitical musicians played harps, cymbals, trumpets and other instruments along with the flutes as the Levitical choirs sang the Psalms of Ascents [Psalms 122].
Anyone who has not seen the rejoicing of bet hashshoebah [fire ceremony] in his life has never seen rejoicing. At dawn the silver trumpets blew the signal that marked the end of the ceremony.
Not only does Jesus go to the Feast but He teaches at the Feast.
Not only is Jesus present at the Feast but Jesus is the Feast of Tabernacles Himself.
Not only is Jesus present at the Feast but Jesus is the Feast of Tabernacles Himself.