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Study Section 10: The Feast of Tabernacles

10.1 Connect.

Have you ever had the courage to do something even though you knew it would cost you
greatly? It is important that we stand up for righteousness. In many areas of our world, faithful
believers are witnessing for Jesus where it is illegal, and some are paying the price in prison.
Others smuggle in Bibles into countries, where to do so, means great persecution or death. In
some countries, it is against the law to convert to Christianity. If you are caught doing so, you
may receive the death penalty. These people pay the price for their courage.

Jesus traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. About halfway through the
celebration, He went to the Temple where thousands of people were. He stood up and began declaring
Himself as Messiah. In doing so, He knew He was signing His death warrant. He knew the spiritual
leaders would gather together to destroy Him, yet He had the courage to declare the truth to the
people. Today we are going to look at that event… and more.

10.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to describe Jesus’ sharing with the people at the Feast of
Tabernacles.

2. The student should be able to discuss that in order for Him not be arrested, Jesus had to leave
Jerusalem and minister in surrounding cities in Judea.

3. The student should be able to describe Christ’s open encounter with the Jewish leadership and His
willingness to confront them about their wickedness, even though He knew they would seek to kill Him.

10.3 In Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:11-13; John 7:14-36; John 7:37-44;
John 7:45-52; John 7:53; John 8:12-59; John 9; John 10:1-21)

The religious leaders were watching for Jesus to come to the Feast of Tabernacles. Their
jealousy and resentment of how He had belittled their personal religious practices had made
Jesus forefront on their radar and resentment. Their plans were to somehow accuse Him of
wrong-doing and kill Him.

About two or three days into the Feast, Jesus arrived and went up to the temple to teach the
people. It was at this point that many of the people concluded that Jesus was the Messiah, but others
had fully rejected Him as demonic. The people of Jerusalem all knew that the religious leaders were
seeking Jesus’ death and were surprised that Jesus was actually presenting Himself in public.

Jesus was in control of the events. His “time” was not governed by the world’s calendar, but by His
Father. Jesus refused to be manipulated by His brothers into revealing Himself before this divinely

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