WALK WITH ME!  

Week Seven (Feb 12-18) 

Luke 10:1-13:21; John 7:32-9:41

John 7:2 “Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.”

Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (aka Feast of Booths) (John 7:32-53)

Jesus was identifying His ministry was representing God the Father.  This was not well received so the Jewish leaders send their soldiers to arrest Him – they found the same thing we do - “The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” 7:46. Despite their great disappointment – they we assured that no leader had believed (Nicodemus) and they were assured that no Prophet had ever come from Galilee (Jonah) so Jesus was still a small threat (little did they know!)

Jesus the Light of the World (John 8:12-20)

“I am the light of the world”  Light was an important symbol in the Feast of Tabernacles. During the feast, many symbols and ceremonies remembered the pillar of fire that gave light to Israel during the Exodus. Now, Jesus took this important symbol and simply applied it to Himself: I am the light of the world.  This has been hope for every generation and each generation laments the darkness around them as ‘the worst it has ever been’ – maybe but we must admit that it seems pretty dark around us now!  The important thing is that through all the dark times of men the answer is the same!  Jesus is the Light of the World!

Disciples and the Blind Man (John 9)

Jesus heals the man born blind and does not accuse him or his parents of direct sin with consequence but rather focuses on the solution to sin – Redemption!  He is the Redeemer and can forgive sin – to prove that Jesus spits on the ground - applies mud and the man’s sight is restored!  This account consumes the entire chapter as men debate the remarkable power of God seen in Jesus.  Later the leaders get the point when they confront Jesus asking if they are also blind? – spiritually.  Jesus’ answer is of course brilliant – if they were blind they would not see their sin – but they do so they are not blind.  The lesson is that they see their sin so they need a Savior!  That is not the conclusion they intended to understand – Jesus is the Answer!  It is in this miracle that we have the famous line: “I was blind, now I see.”  That is us!

Jesus was often confronted, but never confounded. “One of the things worthy to be noticed in our Lord’s character is his wonderful quiet of spirit, especially his marvelous calmness in the presence of those who misjudged, and insulted, and slandered him.” (Spurgeon)

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

This is not a long story and as so many times with Jesus – it begins with a question.  Jesus answers with Scriptue (a pattern we should use) and the man tries to dispute the verses from Dueteronomy 6.  Just a thought – don’t debate the Author and never debate God!  Anyway the Scribe of the Law asks so Jesus answers with one of the best known stories in all the Bible – The Good Samaritan.  The unworthy ignored – the unlikely helped – the undeserving was loved.  This is truly an example for the ages!  

The priest said ‘what is mine is mine’ – you can’t have it!  His righteousness.

The Levite said ‘what is yours is yours’ – you deserve it! His legalistic view of the Law

The Samaritan said ‘what is mine is thine’ – you can share it!  His mercy triumphed the day

Jesus concluded the lesson with the message -  “Go and do likewise.”  So do I – go show mercy!

Thanks for reading – hope you found some motivation – keep it up – we are half way!

Pastor Mike

Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot

We find God’s instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23, given at a point in history right after God had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt. The feast was to be celebrated each year on “the fifteenth day of this seventh month” and was to run for seven days (Leviticus 23:34). Like all feasts, it begins with a “holy convocation” or Sabbath day when the Israelites were to stop working to set aside the day for worshiping God. On each day of the feast they were to offer an “offering made by fire to the Lord” and then after seven days of feasting, again the eighth day was to be “a holy convocation” when they were to cease from work and offer another sacrifice to God (Leviticus 23). Lasting eight days, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees (Leviticus 23:40–42).

The Feast of Booths and Sukkot, is the seventh and last feast that the Lord commanded Israel to observe and one of the three feasts that Jews were to observe each year by going to “appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). The importance of the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen in how many places it is mentioned in Scripture. In the Bible we see many important events that took place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. For one thing, it was at this time that Solomon’s Temple was dedicated to the Lord (1 Kings 8:2).

Here’s booklet from Jews for Jesus – it is free but you will be on their mailing list – be warned!  https://jewsforjesus.org/feasts-of-israel-study-guide