Celebration Week

John 7

After feeding the 5000, some of Jesus’ friends and followers want Him to head to Jerusalem.  The reason for this move is because of an upcoming celebration.  The Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, is a week-long festival that celebrates and remembers God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness. (7:3)

As those around Him encourage Jesus to go, Jesus’ response is “my time has not yet come”.  This is the same phrase He used in chapter 2 at the wedding in Cana. (7:6)  Again, this is a reference to Jesus’ upcoming death.  As He makes His way to the festival, the crowd around Jesus is growing restless and bothered by Him. (7:13)  The religious leaders are plotting to have Him arrested for stirring up the crowd. (7:33)

Jesus continues to “rock the boat” and challenge everything the religious leaders and Jewish people held sacred.  The leaders cannot understand why Jesus is so authoritative (7:15).  The Jewish people cannot understand how the Messiah (the Savior of the world) could possibly come from Nazareth. (7:27,41,52)  But who could do all the things Jesus has done? (7:31)  Everyone has one huge, looming question - “Who is Jesus?”

On the last day of the celebration, the High Priest would leave the temple with a giant, golden water container.  He would parade through the city, making his way to the Pool of Siloam.  As the parade marched on, people would sing from Psalms 113-118.  The priest would fill the water container and then return to the temple.  This was a representation of God’s gift of water in the desert while the Jewish people were wandering and lost.

At the end of the parade, the priest would pour out the water and some wine as an offering to God. (Leviticus 23:27)  It is at this point in the celebration when Jesus stands up and interrupts the celebration.  This is the stage Jesus uses to announce, “If anyone thirsts, let them come to me and drink.  Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way.” (7:37-39)

When we allow Jesus to flood our lives, fill us to overflowing, things change dramatically.  Love and compassion pour from us.  We begin to see firsthand the faithfulness of God.  And others see the love of Christ in us!