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The Living Water

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In the book by Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, the author records the following details regarding the feast of Sukkot as it was celebrated during Jesus’ Earthly Ministry: The festivities of the Week of Tabernacles were drawing to a close. ‘It was the last day, that great day of the feast.’ It obtained this name, although it was not one of ‘holy convocation,’ partly because it closed the feast, and partly from the circumstances which procured it in Rabbinical writings the designations of ‘Day of the Great Hosannah,’ on account of the sevenfold circuit of the altar with ‘Hosannah’; and ‘Day of Willows,’ and ‘Day of Beating the Branches,’ because all the leaves were shaken off the willow boughs, and the palm branches beaten in pieces by the side of the altar. It was on that day, after the priest had returned from Siloam with his golden pitcher, and for the last time poured its contents to the base of the altar; after the ‘Hallel’ had been sung to the sound of the flute, the people responding and worshipping as the priests three times drew the threefold blasts from their silver trumpets—just when the interest of the people had been raised to its highest pitch, that, from amidst the mass of worshippers, who were waving towards the altar quite a forest of leafy branches as the last words of Psalm 118 were chanted—a voice was raised which resounded through the temple, startled the multitude….It was Jesus, who ‘stood and cried, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ (Jn. 7:37) 

Yesterday we observed that John 8 contained a reference to Sukkot when Jesus announced He was the Light of the World. What has caught the attention of many scholars and Bible enthusiasts has been John 8:6-8 But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.7 However, when they persisted with their question, He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.8 Then He bent down and went on writing on the ground with His finger. AMPC

What many fail to notice is how this event is connected to John 7:37-39 Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.39 But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor). AMPC

How are these two connected? Jeremiah 17:1,13 The sin of Judah is written with a pen or stylus of iron and with the point of a diamond; it is engraved on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars,…O Lord, the Hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be put to shame. They who depart from You and me [Your prophet] shall [disappear like] writing upon the ground, because they have forsaken the Lord, the Fountain of living waters. AMPC

Most likely Jesus was referencing this verse as He wrote in the dust. The prophet Jeremiah notes further: Jeremiah 2:13 For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water. AMPC

Sukkot is a reminder to forsake our empty cisterns that cannot hold the Living Water of Jesus and the Spirit. But are we thirsty for more of Him? Are we thirsty for more of the Spirit? C.S. Lewis wrote: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Empty cisterns are created from half-hearted children making mud pies in the slum. We fail to realize He has offered us a holiday by the sea. We are far too easily pleased. Leonard Ravenhill exhorts us: If the Holy Spirit is power, we need to learn how to operate the throttle. And if the Holy Spirit is a Person (and He is), then we really need to learn how to let Him operate us. 

Let There Be Light!

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A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays records: The Feast of Tabernacles is by far the most festive and joyous occasions. History records that four huge candelabra were constructed, lighted, and attended by young men ascending ladders periodically with pitchers of oil to keep them burning. The light from these lamps illuminated the whole city, and around them danced distinguished men with torches in their hands, singing hymns and songs of praise. The dancing as well as the music continued until daybreak. It was an extravaganza.

Some scholars believe Jesus was referring to Sukkot when the following happened in John 8:1-12 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”11 She said, “No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” NKJV

Sukkot is a reminder that Jesus has come to shine His Light into the works of the devils darkness: Ephesians 5:8-14 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. AMPC

Sukkot is a reminder to awake spiritually allowing the Light of Christ to shine into your darkness and the dark works of the evil one. We accomplish this through allowing the Light of His Word to be absorbed into every aspect of our life. This requires the Light of His Word to become more than a Sunday thing and more of a lifestyle thing. Faith, obedience and submission become the keys to unlock the padlock securing the chains of our demonic strongholds. Where His Light shines in us – His Light shines through us – to those who are bound by works of darkness. It is through His Light we are called to destroy the works of darkness. In a sense, we become liberators of captives who have been enslaved to the works of darkness. Sukkot reminds that our liberation is a call to liberate others.

Romans 13:12 exhorts: The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. AMPC

Branching Out

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Thursday, October 17, 2019 

How are we to branch out in the things of the Spirit? Does the Bible include details for how we are to be lights to the world? What significance is there between Jesus being called a Nazarene and Old Testament Prophecies regarding the Messianic Branch?

Matthew 2:23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He shall be called a Nazarene [Branch, Separated One]. 

In the Amplified Classic Translation Nazarene is translated as the Branch, or Separated One. There are several Old Testament prophecies referring to the Messiah as being the Branch: Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and lovely to those of Israel who have escaped.

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.

In Hebrew, the golden menorah that lit the inner court of Moses’ Priestly Tabernacle, and Solomon’s Temple, had seven lamps. The middle lamp was referred to as the “Shemash.” The “Shemash” was known as the “Servant Branch” or simply “The Branch.” The reason being that the menorah in some respects resembled a tree with seven branches. Even the “cups” of the lamps were modeled after almond blossoms from an almond tree. Each of the “branches” of the menorah received their oil from this middle branch. The Isaiah 11 passage referred to above has another interesting twist to it when it describes this Messianic Branch: And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord— And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, neither decide by the hearing of His ears;

The attributes of the Messiah, on Whom the Spirit rested, would be that He would have wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. If you count the attributes you would discover only six. Why is that significant? Because Jesus is the Middle Branch, from Whom the Oil of the Spirit flows. This is what the book of Revelation was referring to when it mentions the Heavenly Menorah: Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold Holy Spirit]; Revelation 4:5

How does all of this apply to us? We are called to become a menorah for the Lord.
John 15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Jesus is the Branch but we are His branches. Jesus also stated that He was the Light of the World, and then calls us lights to the world. Another way of saying this is to say: I Am the Menorah of the world and you are menorahs to the world. We become these menorahs when we receive the anointing of the Spirit for wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. As we seek to surrender daily to a life of being intoxicated with the Spirit His Fires will burn brightly in us; we will walk with Him in the Inner Court.

One last detail to mention is that many Jews believed the menorah to be reminiscent of the Tree of Life. Revelation 22:1-2 states: Then he showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 Through the middle of the broadway of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve varieties of fruit, yielding each month its fresh crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and the restoration of the nations. We must never forget that we are lights to the world through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus we have been made to be trees (See Psalm 1) to bring healing to the nations. We receive His Spirit’s infilling to be His witnesses, evangelists, missionaries and ministers. The Lord distinguishes us as one of His Servants by manifesting through us what only He can do.