“You’re celebrating what?”
“Isn’t that old covenant stuff?”
“I’m confused. I thought those were ancient Israelite harvest festivals, and therefore bear no relevance to Christians today!”
Here’s the short answer! You’ll love it if you love Jesus.
Last year our family again revelled in the Christ-centred celebration of the “Feast of Tabernacles” with almost 1000 fellow Christians gathered in Florida, USA. The previous year, we were in Caloundra, QLD, with a 100 faithful believers. And, consecutively, for more than five decades, it began for me as a nine year old boy in 1969 worshipping during the feast in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Let me explain why I believe that this celebration particularly is relevant under the new covenant, and therefore powerfully resonant with all Christians.
But I digress first and confess a little of my journey.
In those early decades, our family kept the feast with a very much old covenant overlay. I recall frequent readings of:
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: (Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV)
This was a commanded assembly for males. But, my sisters, mother and grandmother were there as well! And as a boy, of course, I loved the travel, the motel accommodation, carrying my dad’s old camera, and visiting places of interest. I recall the protracted morning and afternoon church services. I also recall on occasion a fiery preacher eliciting our attention from the pulpit.
From today’s vantage and hindsight, all those formative years truly felt like old covenant edict. Many songs and songs related to ancient experiences in Egypt, Israel or Babylon!
I’m thankful, however, that it provided a foundation to fast track to today.
Rather than old covenant or ancient harvest anchorage, these biblical annual Sabbaths/festivals (as detailed in Leviticus chapter 23) are powerfully symbolic of salvation narrative that centres on Jesus Christ. From the Passover Lamb to the Great White Throne Judgment, it’s all about Jesus! As the weekly Sabbath foreshadows rest in Christ, so too the annual Sabbaths reflect a depth of Christo-centric meaning.
These festivals are all about Jesus Christ! Let me say that again. These festivals are all about Jesus!
But not all churches actually get it.
Many think they are old covenant history, with little relevance today. Others celebrate them by command, where sadly the grace and Lordship of Jesus is absent.
So, in exploring this together, let’s ask, when was Jesus born?
No, he wasn’t born at Xmas time.
Although orthodox Christianity celebrates the birth of Jesus in December (historically chosen to align with the pagan sun god Mithras’ birth on December 25), we know that Jesus was born in late September or early October – around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.
So, why not honour Jesus’ birth then? The particular festival is an ideal framework to turn our attention to the divine miracle of Jesus’ virgin birth and all that it means for everyone.
Of course, John’s testimony compels us further when he wrote:
And the Word became flesh and [tabernacled] among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV)
So Jesus “tented” or sojourned among us for some 33 years.
And, what’s more, He’s coming back again as “KING of Kings and LORD of Lords”, where “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!” Jesus then reigns for a 1000 years. And finally on the Last Great Day, we celebrate the great resurrection of humanity to a time of judgment.
Everything about the Feast of Tabernacles has to do with Jesus, the Son of God and our Advocate with our Father.
So let’s celebrate Christ, in the spirit of the new covenant, compelled by love for our Lord and Saviour.
This year’s festival theme in Western Australia is “Jesus, Saviour, Lord and King”.
We welcome you to join us at the Mary Davis Library and Community Centre in Baldivis, Western Australia, 3-10 October 2020.
Come for one day or come for eight – but do come!
Free registration is now open at https://www.message7.org/festival/
