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How the Feasts of Israel relate to Jesus

"Let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." Colossians 2:16-17
The Apostle Paul refers to the Jewish Feasts as a "mere shadow" of things to come, the substance of them being found in Jesus, the feasts were prophetic types, or symbols, which were fulfilled by Jesus
John the Baptist Born on Passover
First, we need to establish the date of the birth of John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus by six months. This is provided through the cycle of duties of the priests in the Temple and through knowing the "course" of service under which Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, served.

" So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (Luke 1:8-13)

"And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days (of his Temple service) his wife Elizabeth conceived (in June) ; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.

The Bible tells us clearly that Elizabeth, conceived immediately after Zacharias returned home from his priestly service. Luke 1:5 also states that Zacharias was a priest of the "course of Abijah." 1 Chronicles 24 divides the priestly families into 24 groups or "courses." 1Chronicles 24:10 designates the "eighth course" as that of Abijah. Zacharias finished his first period of duty about the middle of June (Sivan) at the season of Pentecost. Because of his unbelief, God struck him dumb. Nevertheless, he went home to his wife and she became pregnant. Count off 40 weeks, the usual period of gestation, and we get to the Feast of Passover the following year which begins on the 14th of April, and lasting for eight days. John the Baptist having been born at Passover coincides with the Jewish expectation that Elijah would come at Passover It has always been custom to put an extra cup of wine on the table at Passover in the hope that Elijah will come and drink it.

Jesus is Conceived on the Feast of Hanukkah

Now in the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) or December during the Feast of Hanukkah, which is celebrated for eight days. Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights, ( Jesus is the Light of the World.) the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:23-27) So in late December the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth and announced that she was to be the mother of Jesus the Messiah. From this annunciation we get the first part of the song, "Ave Maria" or "Hail Mary".

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favor with God..And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. ..He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David...And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:30-33

Mary accepts the word of the angel concerning the conception of Jesus the Messiah in her, and after her marriage to Joseph she journeys from Nazareth to Hebron the home of Elisabeth and Zachariah in the Judean mountains about a three days journey from Nazareth. Mary was probably going there to celebrate Hanukkah and to help Elisabeth with her pregnancy, as well as to tell Elisabeth about the angel's visitation. Upon Mary's greeting Elisabeth responds, calling her "the mother of my Lord". This demonstrates that Mary was already pregnant with Jesus. Thus, Jesus was conceived at Hanukkah,

Jesus is shown celebrating Hanukkah in John 10:22,23. It is at this celebration that He declares "I and My Father are One" [John 10:30], which testifies to His Divine origin in His conception. It also reinforces Hanukkah as the time of His conception. Historically, then, it is more accurate to celebrate Jesus entering the world through conception rather than to celebrate His birth at Christmas,.in that it falls approximately at the time of year when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.)

Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months, which was until the birth of John the Baptist.. Since a full pregnancy term is 41 weeks, and 27 weeks makes up the first six months (two trimesters), which is exactly the time from the priestly discourse of Abijah to Hanukkah, that leaves 14 weeks to accomplish the last trimester and bring the pregnancy to full term. There are exactly 14 weeks from Hanukkah to Passover. Therefore, John the Baptist was born at Passover. He was circumcised on the eighth day, which would be the last day of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread. John would "go forth" in the strength and power of Elijah [Luke 1:17]. Jewish teaching was that Elijah would come again at Passover (this is still a tradition of Judaism today). parts from David M. Hargis
Jesus is Born on the Feast of Tabernacles
April, when John was born, is the first month of the Hebrew year. Mary conceived six months after Elisabeth conceived, which means Jesus' birth would have to come six months after John's birth, during the seventh Hebrew month of Tishri. Since we know that John was born at Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, we learn the time of Yeshua's birth by counting six Hebrew months from Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on Nisan 15 and six months later the Feast of Tabernacles begins on Tishri 15. Therefore, Jesus was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles..

A decree of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus caused Mary and Joseph to make the difficult trip southeast to cross over the Jordan River and follow its western banks down to Jericho and across the Jordan again and climb up the steep winding path to Jerusalem, turning south to Bethlehem, the city of King David's birth. This massive annual visitation to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles was the logical time for Herod to impose his census and tax. It is important to note that the Hanukkah season, which coincides with the traditional December 25th birthdate for Jesus does not make such a demand for the sons of Israel to journey to Jerusalem, and would have been a very impractical time to collect a tax and to count the population. It is most likely the date of the Angel Gabriel's visit and the Conception of Mary.

The first day of Tabernacles is a Sabbath rest, so it fits that Joseph and Mary planned their journey to Bethlehem so they would finish their journey before the festival Sabbath. They found lodging just in time. Evidently, God intended the entire Feast of Tabernacles to be set aside in order to celebrate Jesus's birth. God provided two holy feasts that lasted eight days, Passover/Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, was born and circumcised in the eight days of the first, then six month later Jesus, the Messiah, was born and circumcised the eight days of the second. John came in the first month of the year and Jesus came in the seventh month. In ministry, John introduced the way through Messiah and then Jesus perfected it, even as the first and seventh months signify.

Jesus was born about 4 or 5 B.C. in the Year of Rome 749 and the Year of the World 3970 at the season when other Passover Lambs were born ..... . Herod the Great (who gave the order to kill all children of Bethlehem two years old and under) died on the 13th of March 4 B.C. (about 18 months after the birth of Jesus.) .... The actual birth year of Jesus was 4 or 5 B.C. due to an error in the 6th century when the Roman monk and astronomer Dionysis Exeguus, reformed the calendar to pivot around he birth of Christ. He dated the Nativity 753 years from the founding of Rome calculated to the date King Herod died. But Dionysis miscalculated because Herod died 749 years after the founding of Rome in 4 BC. Christ was born a year or two before Herod died.

Bethlehem was prophecied by Micah [5:2] to be the birthplace of the Messiah. Justin Martyr A.D. 100- 167 first recorded that the site of the Nativity was a cave. The nearby Inn of Chimham [Jer.41:17] has been the starting point for caravans to Egypt from ancient times and there are numerous caves nearby that have been used as stables.
Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread" is 2700 feet above sea level and located five and one half miles southwest of Jerusalem . Salma,the son of Caleb was the "father of Bethlehem" [1Chr 2:51]. Ruth married Boaz, David's great grandfather in Bethlehem [Ruth 1:2] King David was born here.

The Hebrew calendar is kept updated to this modern day, and every year the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is absolutely set from Tishri 15 to Tishri 22. Because the Hebrew calendar is based on the course of the Moon (Lunar) and the modern calendar is based on the course of the Sun (Solar), the two move in relation to each other. This means the Feast of Tabernacles will always occur somewhere between mid-September and mid-October, but not on the exact same Gregorian calendar dates every year. For instance, in 1995 the Feast of Tabernacles was October 9-October 17, but in 1996 the Feast of Tabernacles was September 28-October 5. While this is initially confusing to the unlearned mind, a combination Gregorian/Hebraic calendar will easily clarify how the dates relate. Many local funeral homes provide free Hebrew calendars each year showing the modern dates for the holy Feast Days (ask for a Jewish calendar).

It may help you to understand the seeming movement of Jesus' birthday by looking at your own birthday. Even though your birthday might keep the same number year after year, the day of the week it falls on changes. In like manner, Jesus" birthday is on the same Hebraic calendar number each year, Tishri 15, but in relation to the Gregorian calendar it changes. However, you can plan for His birthday to always occur sometime between the latter part of September and the early part of October.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a most important comemoration. Zechariah 14:16,17 tells us that one day all nations will be required by law to honor this feast. For what greater reason, than it is the birthday of the King of Kings! It was the Feast of Tabernacles in October and the Temple Shepherds were watching their flocks of Passover Lambs born to be offered as a sacrifice for sin. It was at this time and in this very place that Jesus the Messiah was born.

Daniel's prophecy in Chapter 9 verse 25 establishes the birth date of Jesus as follows: 483 years (69 weeks of years) was the period from the Dedication of the Great Temple at Jerusalem By Ezra in October 458 B.C. until Jesus was anointed the Messiah at His baptism by John in October of A.D. 25. Then backing up thirty years ( according to Jewish Law and Custom, Jesus could not teach until age thirty ) we come to October again, the actual date of His birth.

"Jesus Ben Joseph"

"Jesus" is the English for of the Greek "Iesous", which in Hebrew is Jeshua (Joshua), meaning "Jehovah is Salvation".. Many young boys were named Joshua in Bible times. .... Christ is from the Greek word "Christos" meaning "The Anointed One." In Hebrew, Christ is translated "Messiah".

The full name of Jesus, "The Christ", was "Jesus Ben Joseph", (Jesus, son of Joseph.) As the people began to recognize him as the Messiah, they called him Jesus Ben David, (Jesus, son of David.) His brother's names were: Joses Ben Joseph, Simon Ben Joseph, Judah Ben Joseph and James Ben Joseph, (The author of the book of James). His sister's names are not given in the Bible. Forty days after His birth Mary was purified in a ritual bath. Mary made the offering of two pigeons (squab), the offering of a poor person ( Emeril Lagasse prepared squab recently on the Food Network.)

The purpose of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is that we might believe in the name of Jesus and receive eternal life. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and the believing ye might have life through his name." John 20:31

Mary's well is one of the most authentic sites in the Holy Land. It was and still is the city's only water supply. Jesus, with his mother, came here to draw water as the women of Nazareth have always done.
In spite of our traditions.....The visit of the Wise Men and Joseph's dream happened at their home in Nazareth (Luke 2:39). Jesus was a young child, a "pais" (a young Child) not a "brephos" (a baby). Jesus was more than 1 year old when Herod decreed that all the children two years old and under in or near Bethlehem should be slain (Matthew 2:16) .... The Wise Men scorned Herod's directions to go to Bethlehem and followed the star to the house of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. Joseph, Mary and the young child, Jesus, went to Egypt about 4 B.C. to flee the wrath of Herod. and were there for less than a year The wise men gave the family wealth in compact form which would sustain them in Egypt. They returned to Nazareth after Herod died on March 13, 4 B.C . This date in secular history is why Bible Scholars put Jesus' birth at 5 or 6 B.C.

So Joseph and Mary settled down to raise a family in Nazareth. Jesus and His brothers, Joses, James, Judah and Simon no doubt helped at the carpenter shop as Jewish boys are required to learn a trade. His sisters may have cleaned up the shavings. It must have been a little crowded in their home as there were at least nine people living there at one time. "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them" Luke 2:51A.... Daily Bible study was not optional. Mary and Joseph were commanded to see that their children studied the Bible at home and school, starting at the age of five...Deuteronomy 6:4-7....Jesus and his four brothers attended the Synagogue school at Nazareth.

Food of course was a major concern. Water was drawn from nearby wells. Goats milk and sweet grape juice were also served. Baking consisted of wheat and barley bread, cakes and pancakes mixed with figs, almonds, fruit and honey. Leaven or yeast was used except at Passover. Fish was the main staple. On occasion other meat was baked or roasted. The fat was removed from clean animals and the blood completely drained. This is the reason we have Rabbis approve kosher meat at slaughter houses. Olive oil was used for cooking and baking. Meat and fish were seasoned with onions, garlic, dill, cucumbers and mint. Fresh fruit and vegetables were eaten in season. The word "corn" actually refers to wheat in the Bible. Corn was first introduced to us by the Indians when the Pilgrims landed. There was a village Miller who ground the wheat and barley into flour, a village Baker who prepared bread and pastries, and a village Potter who made the clay stoves, bowls, lamps and plates. A village Fuller cleaned and bleached the clothes.

Jesus and His brothers and sisters played games much like our children play today. Instead of doctor and nurse and cops and robbers they played mock wedding dance and mock funeral procession, possibly having a service for a dead baby goat or a pet. Jesus referred to the use of the popular shepherds pipe or flute to create the proper mood. Children in that day also played ball games in teams where a ball was tossed in the air and players tried to catch it.

Woolen clothing was typically a tunic which can still be seen in the dress of modern Arab sheiks. The mantle was a large cloak similar to our overcoat which doubled as a sleeping blanket. Sandals were made or wood or leather soles bound with leather thongs. Modesty was a virtue among women and only pagan women wore skin-tight,skimpy or see-through clothing. Women wore head covering. Prostitutes had their heads uncovered.

On the front door of their house was the Mezuzah, a small Bible scroll container just a few inches high that can be found on the door post of any Orthodox Jewish home today. When Jesus and His siblings reached the age of 3, their mother began to teach them Scriptures from the Old Testament. At age 5 the children went to Synagogue school. The boys were expected to memorize the entire Old Testament Scriptures and in particular the 613 commandments in the first 5 books by the age of 13. At age 12 on a pilgrimage to the Temple with His family Jesus tested His skills with the Bible professors in Jerusalem.

Near the top of the righthand doorpost of the house Jesus lived in was fastened a Mezuzah. A small case containing the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. The first passage is known as the Shema (Hear, from the first word of the passage). In that passage, God commands us to keep His words constantly in our minds and in our hearts, by (among other things) writing them on the doorposts of our house., the Hebrew letter "Shin" is written on the outside of the case). The Bible verses are arranged so that the word "Shaddai" (almighty) appears through a small hole near the top.

Devout Jews to this day display the Mezuzah on their doorpost; whenever entering or leaving the home they touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for God and his commandments. and recite Psalm 121:8 "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

The Mezuzah is a sign to the community that this is a home where the Laws of God reign supreme and that the family studies the Bible and instructs their children in the Law of God.

The case and scroll are then nailed or affixed to the right side doorpost on an angle, with a small ceremony called Chanukkat Ha-Bayit (dedication of the house ). It is proper to remove a mezuzah when you move. If you leave it in place, the subsequent owner may treat it with disrespect.

When in Nazareth visit the Nazareth Village - The Nazareth Jesus knew - click above to view

Jesus is named on the Feast of Simchat Torah
Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day, Simhat Torah - the "great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles. The circumcision would have occurred on Simhat Torah as life is counted as beginning when a male child survives to the day of circumcision eight days after his birth, at which time he formally receives his name. The Feast, known as Simchat Torah, commonly thought of as part of Tabernacles, occurs on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles. (It was celebrated Friday October 5 2007 ) The Festival of Tabernacles begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur. It is a drastic transition, from one of the most solemn holidays in the year to one that is so joyful that it is commonly referred to as the Season of our Rejoicing.
Tabernacles is the last of the three required pilgrimage festivals. Like Passover and Pentecost, Tabernacles has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Historically, Tabernacles commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Tabernacles is also a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Ingathering.

Tabernacles lasts for seven days. The two Feasts following the festival are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. These festivals are "compacted" into a single eighth day. called The Last Day - the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles. These holidays but are commonly thought of as part of Tabernacles. Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah or the Law of the Lord" The holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. Each week in synagogue a few chapters from the Torah are read starting with Genesis 1 and working around to Deuteronomy 34. On Simchat Torah, the last Torah portion is read, then proceeds immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, symbolizing that the Torah is a circle, and never ends. The idea that Torah study is cyclical finds expression in the joyous ritual of dancing around and around the Torah, known as hakkafot. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torah scrolls and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing with the Torahs. Traditional Foods are Tasty Challah, Caribbean Fish, Spinach Salad, Roast In Apricot Sauce, Jerusalem Kugel and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - RECIPES

Jesus is the Living Word, written upon our hearts so that we can truly dance and embrace the Truth given from God. Indeed, Jesus did not come to destroy the Torah but to fulfill it in our lives (Matthew 5:17-20).

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law (Torah) in their inward parts, and write it (the Torah) in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

This Old Testament idea is clearly re-affirmed in the New Testament. As Christians, then, we have the greater reason to celebrate Torah, Jesus is the Central Message of the Torah -- its inner meaning and incarnation. He is the Torah or Word made flesh (John 1:14), the faithful Mediator of the New and Better Covenant and He does what Moses and the Sinatic covenant could never do, namely, write the Torah within our inward parts and upon our hearts so that we might truly be the people of God By means of His sacrificial death, the righteous demands of Torah are fully satisfied, and the LORD is glorified as both just and merciful (i.e., the justifier of those who put their trust in Him). By means of His sacrificial suffering, we are now enabled to truly dance!

The Torah or Law is holy, just and good, but those seeking righteousness based on itís demands will discover the fact that it is powerless to impart righteousness and life. It is sin within the human heart that condemns people - The crucifixion of Jesus condemned sin in the flesh. Now the righteousness of God is imputed to those who embrace Jesus by faith. Enabled by the Holy Spirit, with the Law now written upon our hearts, we are empowered to fulfill the requirements of the law based on a new covenant relationship with God . We obtain righteousness by receiving the free gift of Jesus righteousness imputed to us through Faith

The water pouring ceremony of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

"If any man is thirsty let him come unto me and drink!"

The Feast of Tabernacles (Harvest) includes a Water Pouring Ceremony called the Feast of the Rejoicing of the House of the Water-Pouring (Simcha Bet Ha-sho-evah). on the last day (Hoshanah Rabah, the day of the Great Hosanna) was a ceremony of messianic significance in which water drawn from the pool of Siloam was poured out from a golden vessel in the Temple at the time of the morning sacrifice.. A Priest would take a water pitcher from the pool of Siloam and would bring it back to the Temple. Crowds of people would follow him dancing and singing the Hellel, (Psalms 113-118) The highlight of this ceremony was when the Priest would pour this water at the altar of the Temple. It became known as "Simcha Bet-Ha-sho-evah" (The rejoicing of the House of Drawing Water)
Prayers were also made for good rainfall during the coming season. This Water Pouring Ceremony commemorated two things: 1. The water smitten from the rock at Sinai, Exodus 17:1-7 and 2. The coming Millennial Reign of the Messiah and the Millennial River of Living Water that flows from His throne.

"Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, withersoever the rivers shall come shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh" Ezekiel 47:1,9

The Nicanor Gate in the Court of Women
The Levites accompanied the Festival of the drawing of water with song and music. They stood on the steps leading to the gates of Nicanor to accompany the dancers. There were a dozen singers, playing nine lyres and two harps. The choir conductor held the cymbals and two trumpeters stood on either side. The children of the the singers stood at the foot of the dias. The public sometimes sang with the choir, such as Psalm 118, when the congregation chanted responsively "His mercy endures forever" The water-pouring ceremony involved three divisions of priests. The first division would slay and prepare the sacrifices. The second division went out of the Temple through the East Gate to the valley, where they dumped the ashes from the sacrifice after each Shabbot service. There, they cut down willows measuring 25 feet in length. The priests then would line up shoulder to shoulder in rows 30 feet apart holding their willows. The road back to the Temple would be filled with pilgrims waving palm branches and chanting the Hallel (Psalms 113-118). The closing words of Psalm 118 are "Ana Adonai Hoshiana'' ("Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord...Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord...''). This day was known as the "Great Hosanna'', a day of prayer and great rejoicing for speedy salvation through the Messiah.

The priests would then start their return journey. When they stepped to the left, the willows would be moved to the left; when they stepped to the right, the willows would be moved to the right. Meanwhile, the third group (led by the High Priest ) exited out the Water Gate to the pool known as the Pool of Siloam (Shiloach - Pool of Gently Flowing Waters). There the High Priest drew the water known as "Living Water'' into a golden vase. His assistant carried a silver vase containing wine. As the priests with the willows marched, the High Priest and his group made their way from the pool back to their respective gates.

As they walked, the willows would make a swishing sound, like the wind. It must have sounded like a rushing wind (Spirit) approaching the city (a picture of Pentecost). A Shofar (horn) was blown as they reached their respective gates, and then a man stood up and played the flute and led the pilgrims up to Jerusalem to worship as the call went out, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.'' and then sounded the call for the Ruach (Wind) and the Living Water to enter the Temple.

The priests with the willows entered the Temple and circled the Altar seven times, swishing the willows back and forth. The priests began laying their willows against the Altar, making a Succah (tabernacle). The other group of priests, those who slew the sacrifices, then ascended to the top of the Altar and laid the sacrifices on the Altar. The people gathered in the courts and the area around the Temple. The High Priest took his vase and poured it on one corner of the Altar where the horns were. There were two bowls built into the corner of the Altar, each with a hole in it. The highlight of the ceremony came when the priest dramatically poured the Living Water over the Altar of the Temple from the gold vase. The wine from the silver base was also poured out over the Altar.

After attending the ceremony for seventeen years, Jesus was now anointed as the Messiah and so it was difficult for Jesus to just sit there! At the conclusion Jesus leaped to his feet and cried out!

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, '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.' (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therfore, when they heard this saying, said, 'Of a truth this is The Prophet.'" John 7:37-40 ... The Lord used the water-pouring to picture the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon, and the outflowing from, the believer. This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.

The religious leaders, however were alarmed over this disturbance in their rituals and asked the Temple police why they did not arrest Jesus. They replied, "Never a man spoke like this Man." At the close of the 7 days another Sabbath was added...the 8th day (Numbers 29:35-40).

The Ceremony of Lights

In the courtyard of the Temple stood 4 towering golden lamp towers 75 feet high. The golden bowls at the top held over 10 gallons of oil each. Each lamp had 4 ladders leading up to the lamps. Young priests would climb the up the ladders with the wicks, carrying large pitchers of olive oil to refill the lamps, something like the Olympic torch. This lamp lighting ceremony was repeated every night from the second night until the final night of the Feast of Tabernacles.... Josephus records that when the lamps were lit at sundown the light was so bright that every home in Jerusalem could see the light.

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and bondage there was a pillar of fire each night to guide them and protect them ...Exodus 13:20.

Israel National News Thursday, December 23, 2004 / 11 Tevet 5765 ...

New excavations in Jerusalem's City of David, now the Arab neighborhood of Silwan, have revealed the location of the most joyous of all Temple services. A large paved assembly area and water channel, used for the festive Simhat Beit HaShoeva in the times of the Holy Temple, has been uncovered in recent days at an excavation in the City of David, next to Jerusalem's Old City.

The water channel and assembly area were integral parts of what Jewish tradition calls "the most joyous celebrations of the year." Water accumulated by the newly discovered channel was conducted to the Shiloah Pool, from which water libations brought to the Holy Temple's altar in the Holy Temple on the final day of the Sukkot Festival. The excavation was led by Eli Shukrun of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Dr. Roni Reich of the Hebrew University. The waters of the Shiloach Spring, where the High Priest would immerse himself in Temple times, were collected in the Shiloach Pool and used in purification ceremonies. .... The new discoveries add to other finds which together make it possible to see more clearly how the site looked at the time of the Second Temple. In the period immediately before the modern State of Israel, British archaeologists uncovered parts of a stepped street descending the length of the City of David from the Temple Mount to the north. The street surely led to the section of pool that has now been excavated.

In the Millennium, when the saints occupy the Earth the breathtaking bliss of the Great Day of our Rejoicing will begin to be appreciated as each anniversary - through the endless ages of eternity - brings unspeakable joy to the ransomed host. The Great Day will have begun - never to end! ...A special invitation to this great spiritual banquet of an endless life of bliss is given to you by the Master Himself in John 7:37-39. "On the last day, the Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 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. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" .... The next day, (Sunday) was the day when the pilgrims would leave Jerusalem for their journey back home.
The Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread
Passover - Pointed to the Messiah as our passover lamb whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, at the same time that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening.
Unleavened Bread begins the day after Passover - Points to the Messiah's sinless life, making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life.

Many of the religious people who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover actually participated in the trial, crucifixion and the death of Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God.

Jesus became our Passover on Good Friday, Passover Day, at 3:00 PM when the Temple lambs were being slain for the evening sacrifice.

The Feast of First Fruits
Jesus lay in the tomb Friday evening and Saturday and arose from the dead on Sunday, the day of First Fruits of the Harvest. Firstfruits marked the beginning of the cereal grain harvests in Israel. Barley was the first grain to ripen of those sown in the winter months. For Firstfruits, a sheaf of barley was harvested and brought to the Temple as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord for the harvest. Firstfruits was an early spring feast. Scripture specifies the day as Sunday "on the day after the Sabbath."
Paul, in his first letter to the Believers in Corinth, shows a vital link between First Fruits and the ministry of Jesus:

I Cor. 15:20-24 - But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with Jesus all will be made alive. But each in his own order; Jesus is the firstfruits; then those who belong to Jesus at the time of his coming; then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom of God to the father after having put an end to every rulership, yes to every authority and power.

Paul is actually making a technical reference to the holy day of Sfirat Haomer (First Fruits). It is not just that Jesus was the first to rise bodily from the grave, but that by so doing, He is the direct fulfillment of the feast of First Fruits. because "first" implies a second, third, fourth, and so on,. We are not only celebrating the resurrection of Jesus of First Fruits, we are celebrating the resurrection of the entire body of Believers, His Church! We shall all be resurrected and go to heaven, just as the Lord did, "Every man in his own order" as Paul wrote: