Feast of Tabernacles

Feast of Tabernacles

Describe briefly the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the symbolism underlying the Feast of Tabernacles? What role does water play in this feast? What is the potential Old Testament background to Jesus' interaction with the Jews at this Feast? 
 

This was a week-long feast in celebration of the harvest at the end of the Jewish year to begin on the 15^th day of the 7^th month.[1] This was first given as command by God to observe in Leviticus 23:33-44 and Numbers 29. This was not just about their harvest, but it was to commemorate the time that God provided for them during the 40 years that they were in the wilderness.[2] The booths were to act as a reminder of the temporary shelters that were also provided to them during their 40-year stay in the wilderness. The Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote that this Feast was the most popular of the other feasts and many people came to Jerusalem during this time.[3] This feast was celebrated shortly after the Day of Atonement.

The Feast was known for its water-drawing rite as well as a lamp-lighting rite.[4] The water was symbolic of how God provided water for the Children of Israel while they were in the wilderness from the rock at Meribah, representing Jesus who is the Living water, and the water that would once again flow out from the temple in the kingdom of God. The water also represented the Holy Spirit who was to be poured out after Jesus had returned to Heaven.[5]

Halfway through the festival, Jesus went to the temple and began to teach.[6] The Jews were amazed that he was able to teach without having any formal education, but Jesus let them know that He was not speaking on his own accord but of his Father.[7] They, however, did not receive him and were still holding anger that he had healed a lame man on the Sabbath. Nevertheless, Jesus fulfills the symbolism of the Feast of Tabernacles through the water ceremonies because He is the Living Water and represents God’s blessings during harvest and is our provider as He provided for the Children of Israel in the wilderness.[8]

Jesus is the provision that God provided for the salvation of His people. Kostenberger writes that Jesus is the Messiah who was sent to restore Israel, has an eternal origin, provided signs of his identity, was born in David’s line and in Bethlehem, and would live forever after he was crucified.[9] Therefore, Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament text as the source of Living Water through His Spirit and was their provision of shelter as he interacted with them during this time.[10]

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[1] Donald Arthur Carson, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015), 305.

[2] Andreas J Köstenberger, Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Academic, 2013), 91.

[3] Carson, The Gospel, 305.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Köstenberger, Encountering John, 92.

[6] Ibid., 91.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Köstenberger, Encountering John, 92-93.

[9] Ibid., 96.

[10] Ibid., 92-93.