JESUS AND THE FEASTS

1
JESUS AND THE FEASTS INTRODUCTION

• Feasts, not Fasts
• Minor Feasts
• Major Feasts
• Pilgrimage Feasts
• Passover Pesah
• Pentecost Shavout
• Tabernacle Sukkot

2
JESUS AND THE FEASTS INTRODUCTION

• Order of the Feasts
• Circular Order
• Passover Pesah (Unleavened Bread)
• Pentecost Shavout
• Trumpets Rosh Ha Shanah
• Atonement Yom Kippur
• Tabernacles Sukkot
• Dedication Hanukkah
• Lots Purim

3
JESUS AND THE FEASTS INTRODUCTION

• Our Order
• Pentecost - Shavout
• Trumpets Rosh Ha Shanah
• Atonement Yom Kippur
• Lots Purim
• Passover Pesah (Unleavened Bread)
• Tabernacles Sukkot
• Dedication Hanukkah
• Format for our order
• Background
• Traditions
• Major Themes
• Jesus and the Feasts

4
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS or FIRST FRUITS
TwcwbX (AKA SHAVUOT )
LEVITICUS 239-22
5
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS

• Feast commemorating the giving of the Torah
  on Mt. Sinai
• Occurs 49 days (seven weeks) following the
  harvesting of the Omer (measure) the first of
  the new grain harvest therefore Pentecost marked
  the end of the grain harvest.
• During this period a farmer would bring the
  first fruits of the harvest to the Temple
• This is the experience with the Divine that
  is celebrated a belief that God cares about
  this world and expects us to strive to be good
  and just.
• The harvest is a result of the work done,
  the blessings of God are a result of obedience to
  the Law.

6
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS
SHAVUOT AS MARRIAGE

• God is the groom and Israel is the bride
• Pesah is the courtship, Shavuot is the marriage,
  and Sukkot is setting up house.
• The tablet of Moses was the Ketubah (marriage
  contract) with Israel
• Moses smashes the tablets rather than completing
  the marriage between the people and God
• Thus keeping the people from committing adultery,
  having worshipped the gold calf.

7
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS
TRADITIONS

• Decorating the home with trees and flowers (the
  Tree of Life is symbolized).
• Eating dairy products some eat with honey (for
  the Torah is like honey and milk Song of Songs
  411)
• Reading of the book of Ruth (the harvest motif
  and the Moabitess following the Law)
• Stay up all night the first night studying the
  Torah some believe that the Israelites at Sinai
  slept in the morning Moses returned so they stay
  up to atone for this sin. Others believe that
  this is the wedding day of God and therefore
  stay up to prepare the bride (Israel) for her
  Lord.

8
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS
MAJOR THEMES

• A completion of Passover. If we are liberated,
  we are liberated to what? Freedom does not lie
  in anarchy. By accepting the Covenant at Sinai
  we are set free from any other human authority
  and begin to serve God.
• A harvest is the result of works and grace. It
  takes work, plowing, sowing, working the fields)
  alongside Gods goodness to bring about a
  harvest. Likewise it takes the receiving as well
  as the giving of the Law to bring the harvest of
  blessings of the Covenant.
• No reenactment of the Sinai event (like Pesah or
  Sukkot) because the Revelation is a continuous
  event. Torah should be experienced every day.
  Our task is to hear anew each day.
• The Torah is given at Sinai but through human
  elements (i.e. Moses). This heightens the
  mystery of the Divine in the life of the human.

9
PENTECOST THE FEAST OF WEEKS
JESUS AND THE FEAST OF WEEKS

• Jesus celebrates Pentecost (John 5)
• Jesus gives life (vs. 21)
• The good will live, the evil will be condemned
  (vs.29)
• Study of the Scripture3 should lead to Jesus and
  Life (vss. 39-40)
• Connection with the Christian Pentecost (Acts
  21-4)
• The followers of Jesus receive the Spirit, the
  Presence of the Divine
• The harvest is ripe

10
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

• HNaH XEaR
• (AKA ROSH-HA-SHANA)

LEVITICUS 2323-25
11
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

• FOUR JEWISH NEW YEARS
• NISAN 1 The new year for Kings (date to
  determine years of rule). In the spring of the
  year. The secular new year. (Passover)
• ELUL 1 The new year for tithing of animals
• SHEVAT 15 The New Year for trees
• TISHRI 1 The new year for years and marks the
  anniversary of the creation of the world. In the
  fall of the year The religious new year.
  (Rosh-ha-shana)

12
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

• Rosh-ha-shana means head of the year - God
  created the world and continues to renew the
  creation

• Recognition that God created humanity time to
  reflect on New Life, the importance of Life, and
  how we treat one another.

• Time of introspection that ends with Yom Kippur
  the Day of Atonement. A period called the
  Days of Awe or High Holy Days
• September 19, 2009

13
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
FESTIVAL OF CREATION

• Communal study of Scripture
• Sarah a symbol of Rosh ha Shanah
• Jonah a study of repentance
• Communal Blessing
• Stand in circle- Hand to head
• Blessing yevarekhekha Numbers 624-26
• Communal Meal
• Honey and fruit Blessing for a new year,
  fruitful and sweet
• Challah Sabbath Bread made in a circle

14
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
THE SHOFAR (TRUMPET)
The shofar is blown Tekiah One long blast
Teruah Nine staccato blasts
(sobbing) Shevarim Three short
blasts (groaning) The formula Tekiah
teruah, tekiah, tekiah shevarim tekiah,
tekiah shevarim teruah tekiah
Shofar calls us to remember (commemorate) a
day of remembrance of sin and restitution, of
hope and remembrance Leviticus 2323
15
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
The Greeting
May you be inscribed and sealed for a new year.

• The inscription is your name written in the Book
  of Life.

• The inscription is sealed on Yom Kippur (Day of
  Atonement)

Therefore there are ten days in which to repent
and secure your place in the Book of Life,
16
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
MAJOR THEMES

• Gods Sovereignty Gods Control / Our lack of
  control (The Garden of Eden),
  Gods Image / Our responsibility

• Remembrance - God remembers Noah, God
  remembers Israel in Egypt, We must remember
  other amid the flood
• and reach out to save them

• Sound The shofar opens the way to
  new communication (broken at the Tower
  of Babel)

17
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Jesus and the Feast of Trumpets

• In Christ, the believer is a new creation (2
  Corinthians 517-19)
• Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the
  Life. (John 14)
• The sounding of the shofar is a sign of the
  coming Messiah (Isaiah 2713, 1Thessalonians
  413-18)
• The book of life (Rev. 2012)

18
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)
Rwpk mwy
LEVITICUS 16
19
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)

• ENTRANCE TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES
• The High Priest alone
• Blood of the bull for his sin
• Blood of the goat for the sin of the people

• THE RELEASING OF THE SCAPEGOAT
• The custom of Kapparot (atonements)
• Most Rabbis prefer the understanding that there
  are two forms of atonement (sacrifice at the
  temple or transference and therefore they call
  all to personal sacrifice)

20
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)

• A DAY OF ABSTINENCE
• Leviticus 2329-30
• Five Prohibitions
• No food - 25 hour fast
• No bathing
• No anointing of the body with oil
• No wearing of leather shoes - barefoot
• No sexual relations

• A DAY OF REPENTANCE (TESHUVAH)
• Having sought forgiveness of others during the
  days since Rosh-ha-shana
• Now seeking Gods forgiveness and turning to a
  new way
• Last chance before the sealing of the Book of Life

21
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)
TRADITIONS

• Day is spent in the synagogue seeking Gods
  forgiveness
• Five Services
• Starting with Kol Nidrei proclaims null and
  void vows and promises we may fail to fulfill in
  the coming year
• Ends with the closing of the Gates
• Scapegoat ritual
• Rooster twirled around the head asking that the
  chicken be killed in your stead, then given to
  the poor
• Today a handkerchief with money is twirled
• Abstinence is observed Five prohibitions
• Repent, Repent, Repent!! Last chance to be in
  the Book of Life

22
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)
MAJOR THEMES

• Sacrifice The Sacrifices made for atonement,
  seeking a restored relationship with God
  recognizing that we have sinned and our only hope
  is in the forgiveness of God.

• Repentance (Teshuvah) Recognizing who we are
  and returning back to God, going back to the way
  we were to go forward in our relationship to God
  and others, examining all our relationships.
  (The story of Jonah)

• Social Justice iniquity involves the
  deliberate wronging of others, especially the
  weak and defenseless (Mal. 3), the Al Khet is
  recited as a confession of communal sins.

23
YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)
JESUS AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

• Jesus, our High Priest has entered the Holy of
  Holies to make atonement for us (Hebrews
  911-1425-28).

• Jesus is greater than Jonah and yet many still
  refuse to repent and turn to Him (Luke 1130-32).

• Jesus points to the connection between our
  relationship with Him and with others (Matthew
  2531ff).

24
PURIM The Feast of Lots
myrwp
THE BOOK OF ESTHER
25
PURIM The Feast of Lots

• Celebrates the victory of Mordecai and
  Esther over Haman
• Purim means lots and refers to the lots
  that Haman used to determine the date to kill the
  Jews
• Rejoicing is not limited by any sense of
  sacredness
• Every time the name of the villain is
  mentioned noise is made to drown out the name.
• The work of God is done through humanity
  and behind the scenes

26
PURIM The Feast of Lots
TRADITIONS

• Taanit Esther the Fast of Esther a three day
  fast before Purim to remember the three days the
  Jews fasted and prayed for Esther
• The reading of the scroll of Esther often
  interrupted by jeers against the antagonist,
  parodies and songs.
• Mishloah manot sending gifts of food to friends
  (Esther 922)
• Mattanot le-euyonim giving gifts to the poor
  (Esther 922). Gifts shared with at least two
  poor people beyond regular charity giving
• Sharing the half shekel the Temple tax is used
  in a symbolic way to help raise money for the
  poor
• Seudah a late afternoon meal with family and
  friends
• Purim Torah making fun of the traditions to
  remind them that they should not be self righteous

27
PURIM The Feast of Lots
MAJOR THEMES

• Celebration is an important part of religious
  life. Purim is a time to let loose and truly
  CELEBRATE. The Talmud has a dictum that states
  that you should consume enough alcohol that you
  can not distinguish between cursed be Haman and
  Blessed be Mordecai
• Purim shows how easy it is to change from
  Mordecai into Haman, from a crusader for justice
  into simply a crusader. By questioning the
  Torah, we avoid a self righteousness.
• The mystical work of God through humanity. That
  God should decide to use humans to fulfill Gods
  will.

28
PURIM The Feast of Lots
JESUS AND THE FEAST OF PURIM

• Jesus enjoyed the celebrations of life. (John
  21-11)
• Jesus warns of self righteousness, constantly
  warning of those who try to look good on the
  outside but are rotten on the inside. (Matthew
  2327, Luke 1810-14)
• Jesus is the ultimate work of God in humanity.
  (Isaiah 714)

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PASSOVER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
HSP (AKA PESAH)
LEVITICUS 234-8
30
PASSOVER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

• A Seven day feast to commemorate the Exodus
  from Egypt and a celebration of spring
• A Seder (lit. order) meal is observed on
  the first evening of the Feast
• The name Passover comes from the death
  angel passing over the houses of the Israelites
  while killing the first born of those houses with
  out the blood of the Lamb on the door posts.
• The name unleavened bread comes from the
  bread that the Israelite took with them from
  Egypt. They left in haste and did not have time
  to allow the bread to rise. This bread (matzah)
  is a reminder of the liberation from Egypt

31
PASSOVER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
TRADITIONS

• The Seder meal to tell the story of liberation
• The removal of the Hametz (leaven) a symbol of
  the removal of sin from our lives. This begins
  with a spring cleaning and the selling of the
  leaven. A search is made for any leaven left on
  the eve of Passover and is then destroyed by
  fire.
• Fast of the Firstborn on the eve of Pesah to
  commemorate having been spared by the blood of
  the Lamb.
• Matzot the eating of unleavened bread is
  continued throughout the Feast.

32
PASSOVER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
MAJOR THEMES

• Liberation from oppression. This is not just the
  story of the ancient Jews but it is the story
  throughout history of Gods setting people free.
  The removal of the Hametz reveals our personal
  liberation from our evil inclination and pride
• Passover marks the beginning of Gods covenant
  with a people. Before God made covenant with
  individuals (i.e. Abram), now God makes covenant
  with a group of people (Ex. 67).
• Passover looks forward to the future redemption
  of Gods people. God was faithful to Gods
  promise to those in bondage in Egypt, so God will
  be faithful to the promise of redemption yet to
  come.
• Passover is a reenactment of the slavery and
  redemption that occurs each day in our lives.

33
PASSOVER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
JESUS AND THE PASSOVER

• Jesus removes the hametz from our lives
• Jesus is the Matzah pierced and stripped
• Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin
  of the world.
• Jesus is the Afikomen hidden and then revealed,
  crucified, buried and risen. (The middle matzah
  of the Unity the symbol of God, with Jesus the
  2nd person of the Godhead).
• Jesus took the bread (Afikomen) and said, This
  is my body.
• Jesus took the third cup the cup of Redemption
  and said, This is the new covenant in my blood.

34
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
Twkws (AKA SUKKOT)
LEVITICUS 2333-36, 39-43
35
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

• A commemoration of the wandering of the Jews
  in the desert
• A celebration of the ingathering of the
  harvest
• Sukkot are built to remember living in
  temporary dwellings in the desert
• Seven day celebration with a special
  celebration on the eighth day
• Guests are invited to share in a meal at the
  sukkot
• Four spices are shook to praise God for the
  bountiful harvest
• Hoshana Rabbah (the Great Hosanna)
  celebrated on the last day of the feast brings a
  sevenfold praise to God.

36
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
THE SUKKOT

• A temporary shelter built between Yom Kippur and
  Pentecost
• It is to be treated as ones home during the
  feast
• The roof is to be made of organic material and
  must be enough to provide shade but limited to
  allow one to see the moon and stars at night.
• The sukkot are not to inhibit the celebration of
  joy during the feast

37
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
THE USHIZIN

• Symbolic guests invited to the sukkah each day of
  the feast
• The guest may vary from group to group
• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and
  David
• Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Leah, Miriam, Abigail,
  and Esther

• The wandering and homelessness is to be
  represented by the ushizin (i.e. Abraham left his
  fathers house to go to Israel, the patriarchs
  wandered in Canaan, Jacob fled to Laban, Joseph
  was sold by his brothers, Moses fled Egypt, with
  Aaron led the people in the wilderness, David
  fled from Saul)

38
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
THE FOUR SPICES

• From Leviticus 2340
• The product of goodly trees an etrog (citron)
• Branches of palm trees
• boughs of leafy trees (myrtle)
• willows of the brook
• Symbolic of the rejoicing in the bountiful
  harvest
• A procession is made around the synagogue with
  the leader reciting the days hymn that begins
  with hosha na (save us). Repeated seven time on
  the last day of the feast.

39
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
MAJOR THEMES

• The Sukkot speak of the provision of God. For in
  the wilderness God provided everything for the
  people of Israel. We give thanks to God for
  though we are rebellious, God not only forgives
  but continues to provide for us.
• The Sukkot also remind us that what we have is
  passing. The houses we dwell in we create to
  provide some form of security (in the end a false
  security). Everything we have could be gone
  tomorrow, we need to trust in the God we can see
  through the roof of our Sukkot.
• Coming to the end of the agricultural year brings
  images of the end of our sojourn and of the
  coming Messiah.
• We are called to sing Hosha-na together. Our
  praise should be communal for God is going to
  provide a place for Gods children

40
SUKKOT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
JESUS AND THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

• Jesus provides permanent shelter for us.
  (2 Corinthians 4, John 141-3)
• Jesus is the living water that quenches our
  thirst for God. Jesus proclaims this on the
  greatest day of the Feast, the eighth day water
  is poured on the altar seven times. Isaiah 123
  is recited referring to the wells of salvation.
  (John 737)
• Illustration of the Mercy of God during the
  Feast. Jesus offers mercy to the woman caught in
  Adultery. Though we walk away from God, Jesus
  offers us Mercy.
• (John 8)

41
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION
HKwNH
(AKA FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS)
NO SCRIPTURAL BASIS
42
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION
Talmud asks, What is Hanaukah?

• Eight day celebration of the Maccabean
  revolt
• A festival of the dedication of the Temple
• A celebration of the miracle of lights

• AN EIGHT DAY CELEBRATION OF THE MACCABEAN REVOLT
• Antiochus Epiphanes orders the Hellenization of
  his realm
• Including idol worship and eating pork
• Forbids possessing the Torah and circumcision
• Refusal of Jews to comply leads to siege of
  Jerusalem and Temple
• Mattathias Maccabee, rural priest kills a Jew
  about to compromise and worship an idol, this
  begins a revolt against Greece
• Priest of Modiin a small village
• Runs to the mountains with five sons to begin
  guerrilla warfare
• Judah the Maccabee rescues Jerusalem, rededicates
  the temple, and reinstates the feast of
  Tabernacles
• The smaller army
• Superior in strategy and bravery

43
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION

• A FESTIVAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
• A cleansing of the Temple took place upon the
  successful reclaiming of Jerusalem by Judah the
  Maccabee.
• The return of hope in the coming Messiah (see
  Daniel) and the beginning of the Hasmonean Dynasty

• A CELEBRATION OF THE MIRACLE OF LIGHTS
• Dedication of the furniture in the Holy Place
• Ark of Covenant, Table of Shewbread, Lampstand
• Menorah of seven lamps
• Consecrated oil enough for one day
• Eight days required to consecrate more oil
• They decided to light the menorah in faith
• The Miracles of Miracles
• There was enough oil for eight days
• Hanukah is the festival of Lights

44
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION
TRADITIONS

• LIGHTING THE MENORAH
• One candle for each day the lamps remained lit
• Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the
  universe, who has sanctified our lives through
  His commandments, commanding us to kindle the
  Hanukkah lights. Praised are you, Lord our God,
  Ruler of the universe, for giving us life, for
  sustaining us, and for helping us to reach this
  moment.
• Placed in a public place (by the door or in a
  window)
• Lit from left to right starting with the new
  candle

45
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION

• Gift giving
• The Hanukkah gelt (money)
• Expanded by American Jews to help children with
  the Christmas gift giving

• PLAYING GAMES
• A way to pass the long winter nights
• Dreidel a four sided top
• Nun Neither win or lose
• Gimel take the whole pot
• Heh take half the pot
• Shin put one coin in the pot

46
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION

• Women and Hanukkah
• Women are not to work through Hanukkah (or when
  the lamps are lit)
• Two stories
• Syrian governor insisted that the brides be given
  to him first on their wedding night. One woman
  ripped off her clothes following the wedding
  ceremony. Her brothers were ready to stone her
  when she noted they were more upset about her
  nakedness than what the Syrian governor would do
  to her. They then went and killed the governor.
  Thus the revolt started
• Syrians were beseiging a Jewish city. A woman
  named Judith went to the Syrian camp, prepared a
  feast for the general, got him drunk and beheaded
  him. When the Syrians saw their general dead and
  the Jewish army carrying it toward them they fled.

47
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION
MAJOR THEMES

• THE MIRACLE OF LIGHT
• The miracle of deep faith on the first day
• Faith that the light would shine despite the lack
  of oil, that they would prevail in battle despite
  unlikely odds, that the light will grow despite
  the darkness of winter
• Faith in God, not by might, not by power, but by
  My Spirit says the Lord

• DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
• A time of dedication and renewal
• Our menorah has replaced the one in the Temple
• We are the Levites and Priests, the generals and
  leaders in the battle

48
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION

• WHY HANUKKAH?
• The light in our souls that burns for eternity
• The light from the One that is all brightness
  reflects in us
• Lighting the candles we are ready for the
  dedication of the temple/Gods dwelling place
• This is Hanukkah

49
HANUKKAH FEAST OF DEDICATION
Jesus and the Feast of Dedication

• Jesus precedes the Feast with the healing of the
  blind man (John 935-41). Followed by the
  confrontation at the Feast with those wanting Him
  to tell them plainly if He is the Christ (John
  1024). Jesus argues that He has shown them yet
  they try to stone Him.

• Jesus is the Light of the World (John 95). He
  heals the blind man and dispels the darkness.

• We can have light in our lives (John 812). If
  we walk in Jesus we will have the light of life
  (eternity).

• We are the light of the world (Matthew 514).
  We should let our light shine before men that
  they may see your good works and praise your
  Father in heaven. (vs. 16)