Daily Devotions
John
The Feast of Tabernacles
Text: John 7 : 1-10
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
God had given a number of religious festivals to Israel so that the nation would always be able to remember how He had blessed it. The Passover commemorated the event when God passed over all Egypt and slew all the firstborn. However, He passed over the land of Goshen where the children of Israel lived. This feast was celebrated annually so that God’s mighty power and justice may be remembered.
Another major Festival was that called “The Feast of Tabernacles”. Let us turn to an Old Testament text so that we could understand the significance of the celebration of this Feast.
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying:
“The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be
the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.” ‘ “
Leviticus 23:33-34
The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three major feasts where all males were asked to go to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). This Feast commemorated the time when Israel lived in tents in the wilderness, on the way to the Promised Land of Canaan. Many homes in Palestine had flat roofs. The common practice during this Festival was for the whole family to actually camp out in Tents or Booths for a week.
THE UNBELIEVING SIBLINGS OF JESUS
At this point of time, the brothers of Jesus did not believe that their own Brother was the Messiah. They were quite rude to Jesus at this point of time. John recorded their unkind remarks made to Jesus.
“Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
His brothers therefore said to Him,
‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples
also may see the works that You are doing.
For no one does anything in secret while he himself
seeks to be known openly.
If you do these things, show Yourself to the world.’
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”
John 7:2-5
How do we understand this astonishing remark made by Jesus’ brothers? John had picked up the sentiment of the brothers. They had not believed in Jesus! They were virtually taunting Him at this point of time. They were sneering at His so-called miracles. Perhaps Jesus had shared with them what He did, as we may expect. However, His words did not impress His brothers-in-the-flesh at all.
They challenged Jesus to go into Judea. They were critical of His mode of operation. On the one hand, He seemed to desire to do things “in secret”. In other words, He did not want publicity. On the other hand, He seemed to seek to be known as One sent by God. He certainly taught openly in the synagogues and even in the open fields. The brothers could not understand or reconcile His actions.
If Jesus really could perform miracles, which they doubted, why would He not show Himself to the world? Why would He not go to Judea and through powerful signs and wonders convince people that He was indeed the Messiah. Why did He hide Himself in Galilee, for example? This region was not known for anything special. Judea was where it was at. Jerusalem the capital was there. The Temple was there. The major religious festivals were all held in Jerusalem, and not in Galilee. Why did Jesus stay in this region for months on end?
Jesus did not take advantage of the fact that He was the Messiah and therefore members of His family had special privileges. The brothers were privileged in that they grew up with Jesus, but they had not appreciated this fact very much! They too had to go through the normal process of finding faith in Jesus as the Messiah-Saviour. They were in as much danger of rejecting Jesus as anybody else. They were in need of being born again as Nicodemus was. If they did not believe in Him of their own accord, through faith, then they would perish in their sins. Their parents had believed in Jesus, not because they saw Him through the eyes of doting parents, but they vividly recalled how an angel of the Lord had told them that Jesus would be conceived through the special ministry of the Holy Spirit. These words may well have been disbelieved as well.
JESUS’ REFUSAL TO RISE TO THE BAIT
Jesus refused to be baited. He did not want to enter into a heated quarrel with His own brothers. Graciously and gently, He replied.
“My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, for My time has not yet fully come.’
When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.”
John 7:6-9
How much did His brothers understand of this statement? At least this much they understood, He was not going to the Feast of Tabernacles with them. Having said what He did, He remained in Galilee for the time being. He was planning to go to Jerusalem, but not with His unbelieving brothers!
Once again, Jesus made reference to “His time”. What did He actually mean when He employed this term in this particular context? The brothers of Jesus must have shaken their heads in puzzlement if not despair. When would they ever understand their Eldest Brother? They just could not fathom Him at all! Perhaps it was best they left without Him! Who knows if He might decide to make the trip to Jerusalem on His own later on.