IMAGINE THE BUZZ permeating the air, which hung heavy over the bustling town of Jerusalem, as Israelites from every corner of the Palestinian countryside gathered for the "Fall Festival." Listen: “Where is that man?” Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.*
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES or as it is sometimes referred to, Feast of Booths, serves as one of Israel’s seven annual sacred seasons. In addition to furnishing the framework of worship for the people of Israel, these celebrations contain a symbolic or typical significance for the church today and find their fulfillment in the person of Christ.
IN CHRIST’S DAY pilgrims erected their booths, resembling modern day pup tents, on the flat roofs of Jerusalem homes or scattered throughout the fields. The booths served as a reminder of their forefathers’ days of wandering in the wilderness. Approaching Jerusalem the Israelites would find the town blanketed with the warm glow of burning candles and torches. A pair of imposing candlesticks was kept ablaze in the temple courtyard. Every detail of the festival had been prescribed by God and all were pregnant with meaning.
THE LIGHTS SHIMMERING in the dusky evening shadows represented the pillar of fire which guided the Israelites of long ago as they made their exodus from slavery in Egypt. A passage from the Book of Exodus makes clear the imperative of this pillar. “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”** The pillar of fire furnished the people with a visible symbol of God’s presence among them and his divine guidance.
AS MORNING DAWNED and the week of celebration became history, those who gathered for the fall festival disassembled their booths and packed up for the long journey home. It was only then that the light of candles and torches, which had been kept burning throughout the festival, was snuffed out. A new day was upon them and one by one the lights flickered and died. And, with the dimming of the fires -
JESUS STOOD in the temple court and proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!”***
CHRIST WAS THE FULFILLMENT of the light symbolically portrayed in the pillar of fire. He, himself, is God present among his people. He not only provides our salvation; he is for us the very light of life. He lightens the path for us so that we know how to live – he guides us on our way so that we can travel wisely by day or night!
*John 7:11-13
**Exodus 13:21
***John 8:12
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