Rabbi Teaching of Another Festival

Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first, ... Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. ... His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" Luke 2:41-43, 46, 48-49 

Meditate. Consider the Jewish Feasts.

 

Going to the Passover Feast or Festival in Jerusalem was the greatest event so far in my life. I knew there were three festivals which as righteous Jews we must attend, so I was already looking forward to the next two visits to Jerusalem I would get to make with my family at Shavuot or Feast of Weeks (seven weeks after harvest begins), and at Sukkot or Feast of Booths in the fall. Depending on our route, it was nearly a hundred miles from Nazareth to Jerusalem, so it was quite a pilgrimage of three or four days journey.

Here at the Temple, as we sat on the steps in the Prayer Chamber, the Rabbis taught about these festivals. Sukkot, the most festive time, would be another seven-day celebration when people offered thanks to God for the provisions and good harvest that He provided. It ia a fall festival.

Each of the first six days the high priest would sprinkle water from the Pool of Siloam onto all sides of the altar. On the seventh day, the high priest walked around the altar seven times sprinkling water as he walked. The Rabbis debated that the water is living water that washes away the sins of those celebrating Sukkot. Could it be to wash away the sins of the world?

The four huge candle stands in the Prayer Chamber would be lit with oil so that they illuminated the whole city of Jerusalem, lighting up this part of the world. I was so eager to learn more about that festival. Why was it one of the festivals that God required the Jews to go to Jerusalem to celebrate? This would be so exciting to see. I look forward to attending the Sukkot festival here in Jerusalem every year of my life. For now, I would enjoy the Passover celebration and thrive with the lessons I was learning from the wonderful Rabbis here at the Temple. Oh, to live closer to Jerusalem--and my Father's House-- where there were so many learned teachers than we had in my hometown of Nazareth. Knowing these scriptures and traditions, someday I will teach others about living water and light.

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, it is wonderful to consider how You focused on learning and understanding the Scriptures. Give me wisdom to understand Your word and apply it to my life.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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