Jesus at Sukkot*

      Currently, we are in the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the appointed feasts of the LORD. Jesus kept the feasts of the LORD as we read in the Gospel accounts. From the beginning, the LORD appointed times and seasons: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (ot - signs, tokens, miracles, proof, evidence, omen, beacon), and for seasons (mo'ed - congregation, assembly convened for a definite purpose, feast, season, an appointed time or meeting or place, signal, tent of meeting [tabernacle], appointed beforehand), and for days, and years...And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day." (Gen. 1:14-19, excerpt). We each are the temple/tabernacle (see mo'ed above), the appointed place, of God. We need to celebrate the appointed feasts of the LORD.

     The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. His brothers, who did not believe in Him although they knew of the miraculous works which Jesus did, taunted Him to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles and show these works and Himself to the world. At this time, the Jews were already seeking to kill Jesus. Jesus told His brothers that He would not yet go to the feast: "for my time is not yet fully come." (Jn. 7:1-8, excerpt). The Law of Moses required the men of Israel to physically present themselves before the LORD three times in the year: at Passover/Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot, Pentecost) and at the Feast of Tabernacles. (see Deut. 16:12-17).

     After His brothers had gone to the feast in Jerusalem, Jesus then went also, but secretly. However, the Jews were asking, "Where is He?" They debated among themselves if Jesus was the Messiah(Christ) or not. They were afraid to discuss this openly because they feared the religious leaders. (v. 9-13). In the middle of the feast, which lasts seven days, Jesus went to the temple and taught. Those who heard Him teach marveled because He taught as an expert, when they knew that Jesus had not been formally trained. Jesus answered their thoughts: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his (God's) glory that sent him (Jesus), the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did Moses give you the law and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?...Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" (v. 14-26, excerpt). The inconsistent behavior of the religious leaders towards Jesus caused the people to question whether their rejection of Him was correct.

     Later, on the last day, the great day, of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and cried out: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (Jn. 7:37-39). The prophet Isaiah also wrote of the day of rejoicing in the LORD for the joy of drawing water from the wells of salvation, saying, "Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." (Isa. 12:1-6, excerpt, see also Ps. 118:14-15 and Ps. 46:4-5).

     We also know that each day during the Feast of Tabernacles, there is a ritual called Water of Libation, in which water is poured out with great rejoicing. Jesus said above that He was the living water. Also during the Feast of Tabernacles, it was the practice to light candles and raise them above the temple so that all of Jerusalem was lighted by the light of these candles. Jesus also spoke to those around Him saying: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12). We need to understand these appointed set times.

 

     Paul wrote of Jesus as spiritual food and spiritual water as he wrote of the miraculous experiences of the Israelites with God after they were delivered out of Egypt: "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:1-4, excerpt). On being spiritual bread, Jesus said: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world....I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not." (Jn. 6:29-37 excerpt).

     The Feast of Tabernacles is a feast of great rejoicing in the Bread of life, the water of libation and the light of life.

     The Book of Revelation describes the new Jerusalem as a city that comes down from heaven looking like a bride adorned for her husband. John then heard a voice say: "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God...the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega (Aleph-tav in Hebrew), the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Rev. 21:1-6, excerpt).

     The Feast of Tabernacles is not just for Israel. The LORD will require all nations to come to Jerusalem every year "to worship the King (the Messiah/Christ), the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles....whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain." Everything in Jerusalem shall become "holiness unto the LORD of hosts...". (Zech. 14:16-21). This is the One-thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth, which may begin very soon according to the signs of the times. As the time for that Millennial Reign of Christ arrives, the rain as a blessing associated with tabernacles (see above) is also associated with resurrection: "Come and let us return to the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days (2,000 years) will he revive us: in the third day (3,000 years) he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3). Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life...". We will be raised by the power of God in the same manner in which He raised up the Lord Jesus as we are members of Christ's body. (1 Cor. 6:14-15 and 2 Cor. 4:13-14).

     The set times are appointed to us by God out of His love. As believers in Christ, we must know that He will continue to fill all of the appointed feasts of the LORD. There will be a trumpet blast and the Bride, the believing Church which is the called assembly of God, will come into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Bride will enter into the marriage chamber and the door will be shut. Are you ready?

     God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and return to Him. He has made this easy for us to do: If we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. For the Lord is rich to all who call upon Him - both Jew and Gentile. (see Rom. 10:8-13). Let us rejoice for the tabernacle of God is with His people through Christ. Seek Him with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. Amen.

     

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 9/27/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.