“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. 3 So His brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; 4 for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret.
If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even His brothers believed in Him.) 6 Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going up to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ 9 After saying this, He remained in Galilee.
10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then He also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, “Where is He?” 12 And there was considerable complaining about Him among the crowds. While some were saying, “He is a good man,” others were saying, “No, He is deceiving the crowd.” 13 Yet no one would speak openly about Him for fear of the Jews. John 7:1-13.
The Jewish feast of Booths, also known as Tabernacles, is the feast of Sukkot in Hebrew. It commemorates the temporary shelters of the Israelites built during their 40 years journeying in the wilderness after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. The feast of Booths is the longest of Israel's biblical observances, lasting eight (8) days and occurring in the months of September/ October. Sukkot literally means huts, and building a hut, or a make-shift, temporary shelter outside your home is the most obvious way in which Jews celebrate the festival. They eat their meals outside during this 8-day feast to remember YHWH’s presence during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. They also pray for rain in the winter months to help their crops grow. The Sukkot was also lighted by torches or lights.
At the time of Jesus Jews from outside Jerusalem went to the Holy City to celebrate Sukkot. Danger awaited Jesus so it raised the question of whether or not He would go. He went incognito. His brothers, or male relatives, show no faith in Jesus, yet they wanted Jesus to go to Judea to perform miracles so people could see Him and believe. But Jesus is not interested in such shallow praise or attention, because His time has not yet come — the time of His glorified action by return to His Father. When Jesus said, “I am not going up to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come” John 7:8, His “going up” is up on the Cross, which is His glory in Jerusalem, the path through which He returns to His Father. Don’t miss the the difference between the ignorance of the crowd who want Jesus “to go up” to Judea to perform miraculous signs, and Jesus’ use of the phrase “to go up” — which refers to His death on the Cross.
Some years ago a Rabbi who was a friend of mine invited me to his family Sukkot. He built his Sukkot on his deck in the back yard, intentionally a cruel hut, where he and his family ate all their meals together during the feast. His family spoke of God’s blessings and support doing their sojourn of 40 years, and prayed for YHWH’s continued blessings on their family, their crops, and continued rains.
To remember is one of the most important concepts in Judaism. Remembering was important to Jesus at Passover when He celebrated the Eucharist, saying the words: “Do this in memory of me.” Memory is much more than simply not forgetting, but it is a need to remember — by the way you live your life — that God love you and is always with you. Take time today in prayer and remember some of the important times when you were made aware of God’s mercy and love and presence in your life. And give God thanks.
Oh dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Too many times have I failed to remember who You are and all that You have done for me. Today I pray for Your mercy and I pray for Your steadfast love that endures forever. And when You call me home, Lord, please remember me in Paradise. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
From the Bible:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free” Psalm 118:1-29.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
“Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” Deuteronomy 6:12.
“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” Isaiah 46:9.
“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you” 1 Corinthians 11:2.
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