Sometimes I miss the small messages inside the big ones….
So Jesus is in Jerusalem, to observe one of the Jewish Holy Days. I think the disciples might not have been with him there because otherwise John would have mentioned which observance it was, and it is literally a sentence in a chapter with 45 verses. Like it is just a small note to explain location.
Maybe this was a verse designed for hunters. Hidden in plain sight, full on bible camouflage!
John 5:1
“Then Jesus returned to Jerusalem to observe one of the Jewish holy days…”
Jesus never really paid much attention to the laws of the pharisees, in fact, in only few paragraphs, he instructs a paralytic to break one of those laws. But Jesus seems to frequently observe the feasts and holy days. Which made me wonder why?
A pastor I know often speaks of the shadows in the bible. He believes that every thing teachable from the bible has a shadow. If you read something in the New Testament you will find a similar thing being done or spoken of or prophesied in the Old Testament, and if you find something in the Old Testament, you will see it again in the New.
The reason, I think, Jesus didn’t miss the feasts and festivals, was because they were important, not because they were “required” – the feasts were celebrations of things God has done. (In chapter 7, we find Jesus even attending a festival in secret, as to not draw attention… I don’t think it was about drawing attention to Him, but rather AWAY from the celebration…)
In the Old Testament, when the festivals and feasts were established, God often spoke and said the words “Remember Me by…” or “Celebrate Me…” or “Remember what God has done here…” – bigger versions of the altars piled up. These were times and places where parents could remember. Where they could teach their children, give thanks, and celebrate God. And Jesus was not going to tear down something that celebrates God, His Father.
So I sat here this morning, thinking over a cup of coffee… what are we doing these days to celebrate God with our friends & families? My brain obviously kicks in and starts a discussion about the New Testament, new covenants, not needing to observe the old “rituals” which are all true…
But I am pretty sure Jesus didn’t go because it was required, He didn’t celebrate because it was an observance. He went because it had meaning.
