Jesus In Sukkot

There are two seasons in Israel. The summer months are called the “Dry Season” and winter is called the “Rainy Season.” Spring is very short-lived while Fall doesn’t really exist. And right on the very end of the dry season towards the beginning of the New Year and Rainy Season, you have Sukkot or the “Feast of Tabernacles/Booths.” Unlike the somber atmosphere of Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a time to celebrate and pray for God to provide a good rainy season. While many in America dread a rainy season, those in the Middle East pray earnestly for rain. Fresh water is much harder to come by in those regions. This is incredibly important moving forward as we find Jesus in Sukkot and fulfilling this festival.

Sukkot Then

What are the origins of Sukkot and what in the world is it? This is the third of the major Jewish Festivals in the Fall and it comes 5 days after Yom Kippur and lasts for 7 days and has two mandatory sabbaths at the beginning and end. Let’s look at Leviticus 23:33-44:

Sukkot is just one of the commandments that were given to the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. God, however, knew that they would eventually settle in the Promised Land and things would change. He knew that after generations had been living there, they would forget what He had done for them by releasing them from the bonds of Egypt. Every single festival was established by God to remember what the Lord has done for Israel. In Sukkot, there are multiple facets to remembering God. 

Sabbath

First, Sukkot gives the Israelites not just one but two sabbaths which are two extra days off. God was very intentional about making sure his people understood rest. Not only do they get the mandatory weekly Sabbaths but they also get two extra days out of this festival to rest and relax. In doing so, this should cause Israel to praise and worship God. 

Offerings 

Secondly, Sukkot was set up to give offerings to the Lord. As God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness He was also to be their provider in the Promised land. The offerings are a tangible way of remembering 1) that God is the provider and 2) that in obedience to God’s commandments they would be taken care of (Leviticus 26-27)

Sukkah

Sukkot is the Hebrew plural form of Sukkah. A sukkah is a tent that is made with different types of branches. Of course, over time, different traditions occurred that expounded on how to do observe and build the Sukkot. We aren’t going to dive into all those things here but want to briefly discuss the purpose. The Sukkot were to be built to remind the Israelites that they were once aliens in a foreign land and completely dependent on God for their provision. Not only did they exist in tents during that season of time but God also dwelt in a tent known as the Tabernacle. So we remember that God dwelt among the Israelites in a tent in the wilderness. Even today, these Sukkot are built and people usually eat most of their meals in them and some sleep in them. All of the kosher restaurants will put up Sukkahs so people can eat underneath them. It’s a really fun experience to be in Israel during Sukkot. 

Water Drawing

When the Israelites were in the Promised Land and had established themselves in Jerusalem, a secondary element of Sukkot emerged called Simchat Beit HaShoevah. This festival was a water-drawing festival that occurred and still occurs today and can be traced to Isaiah 12:3 “With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” In those days they would draw water each day of Sukkot from the Siloam Pool which is the main water source in Jerusalem. Like we mentioned above, Sukkot sits at the beginning of the Rainy Season and is essentially a ritual to God for a good season for the crops.

When you read through John you see Jesus take part in this festival: 

”On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:37-38

Jesus In Sukkot

The most important aspect that Jesus fulfills is the building of sukkot. We can see a clear analogy of sukkot linked to bodies. Jesus fulfills Sukkot by coming to earth in human form as fully God and fully human. God tabernacled among us through Jesus. Secondly, as Paul says, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Those who follow Christ are like the Israelites who are in a foreign land (John 18:36). Jesus was very intentional with His words at the Festival of Tabernacles in John 7. John commentates Jesus’ words and says, “By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” So Jesus fulfills Sukkot by being God in a human tabernacle and provides us with “living water (the Holy Spirit)” that will guide us through the wilderness of life until we go Home.

Sukkot will start at sundown on Monday, September 20 and end the Monday evening of September 27, 2021.