John 7:1–9 (ESV)
Jesus at the Feast of Booths
7 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples
also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come,
but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained
in Galilee.
What is the Feast of Booths?
One of the three great festivals of Israel, celebrating
the completion of the agricultural year. The Jews built booths or tabernacles (temporary shelters) to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt by the hand of God (Lv 23:33–43). [Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible]
Many Jews today still celebrate this feast by building a booth in their back yard or maybe even on their balcony. The booth or sukkah, is a small hastily built hut (booth) in which meals are eaten throughout the festival. It is used to remember
the huts Israel lived in during their 40 year sojourn in the desert after the exodus from Egypt.
Back to today’s reading, we see two things: 1) His Omniscient Power-knowing the Jews were out to kill him
and we see 2) The Jews willing to break the 5th Commandment (Thou Shall Not Murder).
I pray: O Lord, I’m sorry that the Jews are out to kill you, yet at the same time, I give thanks for
your plan of Salvation. I know you had a plan to save me and all those who believe. Thank you for giving me faith and forgiveness. Amen.