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The Kingdom Light of Sukkot |
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When Jesus ministered on earth there
were many unusual ceremonies that took place in the first century
Jerusalem Temple during the Feast of Sukkot (Booths/Tabernacles). One
special ceremony revolved around gigantic
“Golden Candlesticks”.
On the first day of Sukkot, three 75 feet
high candlesticks were erected in the Court of the Women where the
treasury was located. Remember the treasury, where the widow put her
“mite”? The Court of the Women was a place that gave access to all who
desired to enter and experience the joy of Sukkot.
In fact, it is noted in the Talmud (Sukkot 51a-b), “that one has
never experienced joy unless they were at this ceremony.” The light from
those huge candles was reported to “light all the courtyards of
Jerusalem!” The wicks were made from the priests' old garments. Young
men would climb up several ladders to light the wicks of the candles. At
the base of the candles, “Men of piety and good deeds would dance before
them with lighted torches in their hands, singing songs and praises. Levites without number with harps, lyres, cymbals trumpets
and other musical instruments were there upon the fifteen steps leading
down from the Court of the Gentiles to the Court of the Women.” These
celebrations would continue for the full seven days; then the lights were
extinguished on the eighth day for a holy and solemn assembly (Leviticus
23:36).
Since Sukkot is a harvest festival (Lev.
23:39), the question might arise, “Why did they light these great
Candles in the Temple and dance and rejoice around them?” For the first
century Jewish worshipper Sukkot represented the King and the Kingdom. The
prophet Zechariah forever identified this feast with the kingdom reign of
the Lord. Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations
that went against Jerusalem (at Armageddon) will go up from year to year
to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of
Booths (Zech. 14:16). We don't know everything we'll be doing in the
Kingdom when Messiah reigns, but we do know that we will be celebrating
the Feast of Sukkot. As Sukkot was a harvest celebration, so Zechariah
teaches us that it points to the future when Messiah will reign and the
nations will be His great harvest. During the Golden Candlestick ceremony
the Temple leadership was picturing the kingdom reign of the Lord.
The Temple leaders believed the candles
symbolized the kingdom light that Isaiah and Zechariah predicted, "No
longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the
moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory. "Your sun will no longer set, Nor will
your moon wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And
the days of your mourning will be over (Isa. 60:19-20). In that day there
will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day
which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about
that at evening time there will be light (Zech. 14:6-7).
Revelation 21:23 and 22:5 make mention of
this prophecy of Isaiah looking to the eternal period when the Lord is our
everlasting light. In traditional Judaism the future is simply referred to
as “the world to come” and “the days of Messiah”. Those Temple
candles pictured the hope that in that day there will be no other light
but the Lord's. Messiah will be the only light for Israel eternally.
The kingdom that Sukkot pointed to was to be a time when we would
no longer walk in the darkness of sin and spiritual corruption. Rather we
would walk in the gladness, salvation and freedom of the Lord's light.
This was the understanding of the Rabbis as well, “Though I sit in
darkness, … yet, the Lord is a light unto me, in the days of Messiah”
(Deut Rabbah 11:10). It was
also prophesied in Isaiah that the Messiah of Israel was to be the light
to the nations of the world! “It is too small a thing that You should be
My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved
ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My
salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).
In light of this, the rabbis saw Messiah as the true light of God.
There are many rabbinical quotes, but I've included just a few for
our understanding. “In thy light we see light” What
is this light which the congregation of Israel looks for? That is the
light of Messiah, as it is said, 'God saw the light and it was good.' -Peskita
Rabbati, 161a- 161b, 162a-162b, (650-900 AD) Ex Rabbah 31:10, God replied: 'No,
only until the sun appears' (ib), that is, till the coming of the Messiah;
for it says, But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness
arise with healing in its wings (Mal.3: 20). Therefore it was at Sukkot that Yeshua
went up to the Temple and declared Himself to be the life giving
fulfillment of the Feast (John 7:3,37-39). Remember, the pilgrims who
attended Sukkot from around the world had been celebrating joyously for
seven days and now had come to the 8th day: the solemn assembly.
With the lights from the candles now extinguished, how dim it must
have appeared after such a brilliant and joyous celebration.
Perhaps they had hoped that it would be different this year: yet
the great lights were extinguished, a reminder of their dimmed hopes as
well.
It was then and there that Messiah spoke to
them. John is careful to note
the location, “These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the
temple” (John 8:20). There at the treasury in the court of the women,
perhaps right at the great, but extinguished candles, he declared, “I am
the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). Messiah tells us He is the Person of
Light. We need to appreciate the light: 1.
He is the Personal Light of God, for He said, “I am” Messiah is
to be the light of God's glory revealed! He is and no one else!
2.
He is the Perpetual Light of God, for He said, “I am” Yeshua
professed to be the only inexhaustible source of spiritual nourishment.
The candlesticks were to be extinguished after the feast, but His light
would remain. 3.
He is the Perfect Light of God, for He said, “the light” by
which eternal direction could be established for our lives. He is the one
and only light God has for
us. 4.
He is the Pure Light of God, for He said “the Light” He is the
clarification of God and truth. He
is the genuine light by which truth and falsehood can be distinguished. 5.
He is the Powerful Light of God, for He said, “of the world”. He is able to make the difference in every man. Regardless of
culture and race, all people need light. He is the light for all people.
Messiah also tells us we need to possess and
appropriate the Light, then we shall have the light of life.
Many times we think that if we ever really need Him, when
catastrophe, illness or death comes, then we can go get what we need.
However, its better to have the resource 5 years too soon, than 5
minutes too late. Marriages
need spiritual insight, child rearing needs moral discernment, business
needs enlightened standards, and in this world of temptations one needs
spiritual guidance. Do you
possess Him?
Finally, Messiah told us we need to pursue
the light, he who follows Me, that is, apply the light and use it in our
lives. You can have light and not use it.
It is said of the blind musician, Ray Charles, that he lives in his
home without ever turning on the lights.
Only when sighted friends come over does he ever use the lights.
You see, one can tell the blind from the sighted not by those who
have lights, but by those who actually use them!
Many homes have Bibles, but who actually reads them?
Many have heard of Messiah, but who actually follows Him?
He is the only light worth following.
So, if you have the light, turn it on! Appreciate the light- He alone is the light of the world. Appropriate the light- have the light in your soul by trusting in Yeshua! And finally, apply the light- by following Yeshua daily you will never walk in darkness, but have the ‘Light of Life’. Happy Sukkot!
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