The Festival Of Booths (John 7:2)

 


Tuesday, July 22, 2025


Psalm 51

2 Samuel 4:1-5:5

John 7:1-13


Observance: Mary Magdalene


The Festival Of Booths (John 7:2)


Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand.


I love a good Harvest Festival. One particular fond memory was at a church whose minister had a background in poultry farming. Giving thanks to the Lord for all the good things of creation meant we had a sanctuary filled with fruit, vegetables – and a ton of eggs.


Today, Jesus is talking with his unbelieving brothers about the Festival of Booths, which had another name: the Festival of Ingathering, at the first fruits of the wheat harvest (Exodus 34:22). It also got more flavour when it was related to the Exodus from Egypt, so that the generations would know that God made the Israelites live in booths when he brought them out of the land of Egypt (Leviticus 23:42-43).


It is not yet Jesus’ time – that is, it is not the final Passover Feast, when he would be offered as the Lamb of God – and so he tells his brothers to go without him. But he enters Jerusalem secretly.


Was Jesus looking for what souls were ripe for the harvest of his salvation? Was he still sheltering under the protection of his Father during his time in the wilderness of his incarnation?


The festival of the harvest comes before the festival of the Passover. Jesus is looking for people ready to enter into the love of their Master’s joy. And he celebrates the festival of God’s protection while he searches.


Why do you think the Law of Moses proscribes a double festival for the gathering of the harvest and God’s protection in the wilderness? What does it mean that Jesus, during his incarnation, celebrated it?


Lord of bounty and protection: teach us to celebrate your generosity to us in this life, and keep us under your protection, that we may pass through to the eternal home you have prepared for us.

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