Feast of Tabernacles

In John's gospel chapter 7--its the Feast of Tabernacles going on!! Jesus is there(as always obeying the Father's will!!) just tabernacle-ing "among them!!" (Remember what God told Moses? Make me a booth that I may tabernacle among them!!) What God told Moses in symbol--has now become a reality in Jesus!!!

But if you look at the latter part of the chapter beginning in verse 37--the subject is "Living Water!!" What was all that about?? How does it speak of the reality of God through Jesus??

Well, during the Feast of Tabernacles--the Jews had a tradition not mentioned here in the text. Each day, beginning at Day 1 running through Day 7--early each morning of the Feast Days--the priest would wake up early those days--and would stand on the front steps of the temple with a water pitcher in his hands. The crowd gathers with the priest as he slowly walks down the steps and out toward a pool there in the city called Siloam. The crowd would follow behind the priest making his way to the pool with that pitcher. He arrives at the pool--dips the pitcher into the water--catches the water in it--then turns and proceeds back to the temple with that pitcher of water. He arrives back at the temple--up the steps to the altar--the people with a loud voice shout to the priest---"Raise your hands!! Raise your hands!!"--the priest with that pitcher of water raises his hands and begins to pour that water onto the top of the altar--the water trickles down from the top to the bottom and out of the "belly" of the altar and ---that water becomes Israel's "Living Water" and pictures the Messiah coming to present Himself spiritually and physically--as Israel's Living Water!!

Now, something happens here in verse 37--it says that it is the Last Day--the great Day of the Feast. This actually happens on Day number 8 which is actually a Brand New Week for Israel--Day #1 of the next Jewish week. Our Sunday!!! Daybreak on Sunday!!! After this "Great Day" they would start heading on home--the Feast was complete!!

On this Last Day--the Great Day--just like clockwork, the priest is there on the Temple steps with that pitcher in his hand. The crowd is there--the priest proceeds toward the Siloam pool of water. He arrives at the pool--and goes through the motions with that pitcher--this time on the Last Day--the pitcher remains empty. He doesn't fill it with any water but just goes through the motions--but the pitcher remains empty! Back to the temple with the empty pitcher and the crowd--up the steps to the altar. He turns and faces the altar--that empty pitcher in his hands. The people start their chant--"Raise your hands!! Raise your hands!!" The priest raises his hands with that pitcher--empty--he symbolically turns the empty pitcher over--signifiying the fact that Messiah "had not yet come to be their Living Water!!"---get the picture of the pitcher now!!

On that Last Day--when the Priest raises the empty pitcher and slowly turns it bottom side up--signifiying the fact that Messiah had not yet come--Jesus is there in verse 37!!!! Can you get the picture?? At the same time the Priest is raising the empty pitcher----Jesus stands and cries, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water."

Jesus is here in verse 37-38 offering Himself as Living Water--as the Messiah that was to come--to the whosoever will's!

Jesus is our and the believing Jews--Living Water on Day #8!! Their last day is our first day--Sunday--Resurrection Day--The Risen Lord's Day!! Living Water!! Oh!!!! Bless His Name!!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

Doctor Doctor Griffin! (don't you have a double one??)

You celebrated Sukkot?? Late?? Goodness, did you miss the Rapture??!! Besides, what in tarnation is sukkot?

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

TD!! You intercepted my pass to the Doctor Doctor!Thanks, buddy--or girl, whoever you are!!

Your friend,
Blackbird

PS--Would like to see more subjects along these lines--more sermon notes/outlines!! More from me later, too!