Are You Going to the Festival?

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!" For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, "Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I'm not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come." After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. John 7:1-9 

Meditate. Consider Jewish Festivals and God’s guidance for His Feast Days.

 

You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world! His brothers didn’t believe in him. But did His brothers want Him to do great things and become famous? Would His fame have brought them recognition? They didn’t believe in Him…but had they seen Him do miracles other than turning water into wine? By this time, probably the third year of His ministry, they had likely seen or at least heard of the healings and miracles He had done.

Grain Harvest in Israel.

Jewish Festivals were specified by God to the Israelites through Moses.

Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering. Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest (Pentecost), when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest (Feast of Shelters) at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields. At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the LORD.  Exodus 23:14-17

These are the only Feasts for which the men of Israel were to appear before the Lord God at the Temple when it was still in existence. There were other festivals, convocations, or statutes that God indicated that have been called by a “feast” name, including: Passover; Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah; Day of Atonement, called Yom Kippur; and the Feast (convocation) of Sacred Assembly, which occurs after the Feast of Tabernacles or Shelters.

            This Jewish Festival of Shelters that Jesus and His brothers were talking about had specific rituals that were to be followed. It was to commemorate their harvest, a time of wandering in the wilderness when they were rescued from slavery, and perhaps it foretold of a time of the Messiah living with, tabernacling with His people.

Remember that this seven-day festival to the LORD—the Festival of Shelters—begins on the fifteenth day of the appointed month, after you have harvested all the produce of the land. The first day and the eighth day of the festival will be days of complete rest. On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees—palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the LORD your God for seven days. You must observe this festival to the LORD for seven days every year. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed in the appointed month from generation to generation. For seven days you must live outside in little shelters. All native-born Israelites must live in shelters. This will remind each new generation of Israelites that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I rescued them from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 23:39-43

Jesus wanted to remain in Galilee and not observe this festival. Would you have gone to Jerusalem or stayed in Galilee? There were possibly lots of families in Jerusalem that would want Jesus to come visit them in their home “Sukkot” shelters. It is supposed to be a joyous time! 

Are these Feasts or Festivals only for Jews? No. They are part of the Christian heritage and were celebrated by Jesus as noted in the Gospels and then by the disciples in the book of Acts. How each person chooses to commemorate these Festivals is up to them. Have you ever felt like you were wandering in the wilderness like the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt? A longing for the homeland…that you just don’t know where it is…but you want to go there? Celebrate Sukkot!

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Your brothers didn’t believe in You…at this time—but later, especially James lived to honor You. Personally, I do believe in You. I am so glad You came to “tabernacle” and live here on earth, 100% human. You experienced what we all experience—even not wanting to do something that You knew You had to do, like going to Jerusalem…and eventually to the cross. Thank You for Your obedience.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" Psalm 40:16

 

© 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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