Tabernacles

March 5 Tabernacles John 7:1-13

“Christ now says that He is hated because He has testified to the world that its works are evil… We learn from it that so great is man’s natural pride, that he flatters and applauds himself in his vices. For men would not flare up at reproof were they not blinded by too much self-love, and so flatter themselves in their own sins.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 4:182

It is impossible to be neutral about Jesus Christ. Every person forms an opinion about Him, by default if not intentionally. We judge ourselves by our judgment on Jesus. Sadly, many people dismiss Him on the basis of superficial knowledge of His claims and His deeds. Others, like some among those who heard Him speak in the synagogue, reject Him because of His claims.

The feast of Tabernacles fell six months after Passover. It was a celebration of the grape and olive harvests, normally falling in September. At the time of Jesus, it was the most popular of the three obligatory festivals. Jews came from across the ancient world to share the feast in Jerusalem. Of these, many would erect temporary booths or shelters in which they would live during the festival, in order to commemorate their ancestors travelling in the wilderness.

Jesus’ half-brothers advised Jesus to go to the Feast of Tabernacles. It would give His ministry greater prominence; the publicity would be good for the movement. It is hard to know whether they were being serious or whether they were chiding their brother. Were their words sarcastic? It’s impossible to know. We know that two of them, James and Jude, later became believers; two New Testament epistles bear their names. But they were probably not convinced at this time. They may have been insincere in suggesting that Jesus should go to Jerusalem, or their words may have been self-serving. Either way, John is clear – Jesus’ brothers did not believe.

Jesus would not go to the Feast because it was not the right time for Him to go to Jerusalem. He always wanted to act in accordance with His Father’s will; He had had no word of direction. He would not go with them. Later, Jesus would speak about His hour not having come, meaning that the hour of His death had not yet arrived. It was, though, simply the wrong time for Him to go. Jesus must have known that there were those in Jerusalem who wished to harm Him. His “Bread of Life” address had been clear about His claims. The authorities would not have left His words unchallenged. In all probability a public entry into the city would have led to His arrest.

Nevertheless, in order to fulfill His responsibilities under the Law, Jesus did go, but secretly. He found the city buzzing with expectation centered around Him. Jews from across the Roman Empire spoke of Him through the night. Was He for real, they asked one another, or just another pretender to the throne? Was He God’s anointed One, or just a trouble maker? What would they have done, had they known that Jesus was in their midst?

Humanly speaking, the underlying emotion was fear. The authorities were afraid that Jesus would stir up trouble. The people were afraid that they would get implicated in a witch hunt, so they refrained from saying anything about Jesus in public. But Jesus was not afraid. He knew that His times were in His Father’s hands. He did not want to be seen in Jerusalem too early; but when the day dawned when He needed to be there, that was where He would be. There is, after all, no better place to be standing than in the center of the Father’s will.

For further reading: Psalm 74