It was time for the next of the annual Jewish feasts. From the Sea of Galilee Jesus and his disciples headed south, to Jerusalem. At first he determined not to go to the feast, and was even taunted by his brothers about his fame and miracles. But, he went.
It was the autumn of the year. The work of harvest was done and the crops were gathered in. Buying, selling, and trading were slowing down. The countryside turned brown. The Jordan River flowed slowly, sluggish and shallow.
But the roads to Jerusalem were filled with pilgrims, from both near and far. Jesus joined them, moving from north to south. Quietly, unobtrusively…in John’s account I get the feeling of caution from Jesus. Jerusalem has become dangerous for him as the ruling Jews and a growing group of others of like mind were actively planning to kill him.
In a way, you can’t blame them. He was audacious. He broke Sabbath law. He taught that he was God. He healed constantly and people were believing and following him. The ruling Jews had too much to protect to allow him to continue.
I think the story of Jesus at the feast is one of the best in the gospels, so I’m going to take my time with it.
It was time for the Feast of Tabernacles, the third of the great pilgrimage feasts…Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Tabernacles began 5 days after the most reflective of the Jewish holy days, the Day of Atonement, today called Yom Kippur, a day on which the sin of Israel was ceremonially removed by sacrifice, and its covenant relation to God restored.
The Day of Atonement was solemn and serious. Tabernacles was fun. The feast lasted 7 days. Its purpose was two-fold: To give thanks for the harvest ingathering (much like our Thanksgiving) and, by living in temporary shelters (or tabernacles), to remember God’s care and protection of Israel on the sojourn from Egypt to the Promised Land. Each family made a booth, like a heavy lean-to, made from fresh branches of fruit, palm and willow trees. They sprang up everywhere; by the thousands in courtyards, streets, public squares, on house roofs, in fields, and in gardens. For the days of celebration the family was to live, eat, and sleep in their booth. It was like a camping vacation in Jerusalem.
Jesus entered the city. He was calm, quiet. He did not immediately call attention to his presence. He participated in the activities of the feast.
The temple was the focus of religious celebration. Early each morning, after the sun had crested the Mount of Olives and the city lay in golden light, the priests and people would gather in the temple in the court holding the large altar of sacrifice. A great procession would form, headed by a priest, accompanied by harps, flutes, cymbals and drums, and the joyous crowd would flow out of the south temple exit. You can imagine the narrow streets, crowded bodies, smell of people, spices, and smoke. The crowd continued south, past the hippodrome, and stopped at the pool of Siloam. They surrounded the pool, singing. The priest then went down to the pool, drawing water into a golden pitcher…pure gold. Loudly and joyfully the procession would then retrace its steps, back into the temple, back before the altar.
At the same time a similar procession went out the eastern gate of the temple and down into the Valley of Kidron at the foot of the temple mount to gather large amounts of willow branches. Each of the processions was timed so that the water procession and the willow procession and the priests bringing the morning sacrifice arrived at the altar at the same time. Each of the processions was announced by 3 trumpet blasts. The willow branches were arched over the altar to form a canopy above it, (like God’s own tabernacle) the sacrifice was made, and the water was carried up the altar steps and poured into a basin to signify life, refreshment, and renewal. Then the temple choir sang, the instruments played, and the smoke of sacrifice rose, as sacrifice after sacrifice was offered in thanksgiving.
Where was Jesus? He was there, about to do something outrageous. To find out what, you’ll have to read tomorrow’s blog. For today, remember the words of King David: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. The sacrifices of God are of a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” And the word of God through the prophet Hosea: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” For today, examine your heart and put away any barrier that makes your devotion less than pure, and your obedience less than wholehearted.