This week concluded the eight-day Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot celebrations. Seldom recognized in the Christian community is the celebration of the Lord's feasts, which is unfortunate, because they contain so much meaning for us. In fact, generally when I mention them to fellow Christians, they ask, "You mean the Jewish feasts?" However, they are not 'Jewish' feasts, although Jewish people observe them. In Leviticus 23:2 they are referred to as 'the feasts of the LORD' and 'My feasts'.
John's Gospel tells us, in chapter 7:37-38: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Why would He say this on 'the last day of the feast'? During this feast, the priests brought water from the pool of Siloam in a golden pitcher, which was symbolic of the water that came out of the rock in Exodus 17. The people would follow joyfully in procession, reciting Isaiah 12:3: Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Jesus' Hebrew name is Yahshua, which means "God saves". In more recent times His name has been shortened to 'Yeshua'. Consequently Jesus was giving the people and the priests a great hint of Who He was, for He is our salvation.
The Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Covenant celebrated the peoples' learning period of wandering in the desert for forty years, when they lived in 'sukkas' or tents or booths. Several years ago as I was doing a study on these words, both in Hebrew and Greek, I experienced an 'aha' moment, when God spoke to my heart the words, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." From that moment I have believed that it was during this Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus was born. I already knew that He wasn't born on December 25th, for years prior I had discovered the paganism that had been brought into the Church through the Emperor Constantine. Many others, both Messianic Jews and Gentiles, also believe that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles.
It is a great celebration, lasting eight days. People in Israel and warmer climates build a sukkah or booth in their yard or on their patio, often sleeping and having their meals in it. In cooler climates they often just have their meals in it. It is a time of rejoicing!
Today in Messianic congregations it is a great time of celebrating what Yeshua has done for us - taking our sins upon Himself (at Passover) when He shed His blood for us - 'and without shedding of blood there is no remisson' (Hebrews 9:22) of sin. It also speaks to us of Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus was referring to earlier when He said, "Come to Me and drink", for after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven, He sent Holy Spirit to earth on Pentecost.
If you have an opportunity to join in with a Messianic congregation, which consist of Jews who believe that Jesus is their Messiah, as well as Christians who want to connect to the Jewish roots of the bible, in the celebration of their feasts, I encourage you to do so!
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