John 7: 1-52
1-9 Jesus is in Galilee and the time is coming for the annual celebration of the Festival of Shelters in Jerusalem; sometimes known as the Feast of Tabernacles
Jesus unbelieving brothers urged Him to go to Jerusalem, but Jesus was hesitant because the Jewish Religious Leaders there wanted to kill Him John 5: 18
The Festival of Shelters was celebrated every year in Jerusalem, in the Autumn (this year: 13th-20th October), and lasted for 7 days
The Festival celebrated 2 things:
1/ God SAVING His people from 430 years of slavery in Egypt
2/ God PROVIDING for His people during their 40-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land
So, the 2 great themes of the Festival of Shelters were SALVATION and PROVIDENCE
Exodus 17: 1-7
3 saved from Egypt
6 provided with water
Please note: 7 ‘the people…tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”’
10-13 Later, Jesus does go to Jerusalem and the J.R.L look for Him so that they can arrest Him
14 Mid-way through the week, Jesus went to the temple to teach God’s Word to the people
Graphic: Herod’s temple courtyard
15-24, 28-30 Jesus teaches the people that His authority comes from God and accuses the people of trying to kill Him (19) ‘you are trying to kill Me’
25-27, 31, 40-43, but, some of the people suspected that Jesus could be the Messiah
The word – ‘Messiah’, is a Hebrew word, and means the same as the Greek word ‘Christ’
The 2 words have the same meaning = the One who is anointed/appointed by God to SAVE and PROVIDE for His people John 1: 41, Matthew 1: 21
Jesus had already declared that He WAS the Messiah John 4: 26
32-36, 44-52 the J.R.L try to arrest Jesus
Now, let’s look a little closer: During the Festival of Shelters the J.R.L would re-enact God SAVING and PROVIDING for His people by taking large pots filled with water and pouring the water out, down the Altar that was situated in the temple courtyard
This was a direct reference to God SAVING His people from Egypt and PROVIDING for them during their wilderness journey
Relating directly to this; the great Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel, had a vision of God’s SALVATION and PROVISION for His people pouring out of the Temple in Heaven like water
Ezekiel 47: 12
So now, on the last day of the Festival of Shelters, ‘Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds’ that He was the One sent from God to SAVE and PROVIDE for His people
37-39
Let’s go back to the question that the people of God asked Moses, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”’
Exodus 17: 7
Jesus answered that question in Jerusalem that day! Jesus WAS saying, I am the Messiah, I am God’s SALVATION and PROVISION for His people
Jesus answers that same question today!
Dear friends, as we witness to our friends about Jesus, tell them that Jesus IS God’s SALVATION and PROVIDENCE for them
Some will not believe that, but some will believe it; and they WILL be saved and experience everything that Jesus promised us
37-39
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