~~~ Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 ~~~
Even though the officials were trying to kill Jesus
he kept his Jewish feast of Tabernacles...
also known as the Feast of Booths.
...(Jesus) himself also went up, not openly
but as it were in secret.
During this time the Jews remembered
all of the ways God had provided for them in the desert.
It was a time to look forward to the coming of the Messiah.
This time is unique in that all were invited
to the celebration even the Gentiles.
Traditionally the Jewish people came to Jerusalem.
They built small temporary shelters
as a reminder of their time in the wilderness.
Jesus came in secret so as not to disrupt
the spirit of the eight day feast.
The authorities did not apprehend him;
his time had not yet come.
The whispers of the presence of Jesus spread quickly
among those gathered together.
Just the other day I saw someone across
the parking lot that I used to work with,
but I was not sure it was her.
I called out her name to which she responded.
This could have happened to Jesus
during his time at the celebration.
Jesus does not try to hide who he is or where he came from.
The people believed that when the Christ
came no one would know him.
But we hear in the book of Wisdom today
that God's ways are not like ours.
...his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
The Feast of Tabernacles
represents our passing world
as we wait for the return of the Lord...
His Resurrection from the dead.
Jesus did not come to abolish the law.
Jesus came to fulfill the law.
Jesus came...he is the Messiah...
he restored our relationship with God.
He came to rescue us from the depths of condemnation.
We must seek first the Kingdom of God
all else will fall into its proper place in our lives.
Blessed by a God who rescues us
every time we are near danger...
more times than we could imagine.
Jesus is there in the 'near misses'
the ones we see and those we never see.
~~~Peace~~~
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