The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-03-02
Jesus at the Feast
of Tabernacles
Sunday School Lesson Tor Mar. S, 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

TIME.-October. A. D. y. at the Feast OF
Tabernacles. About six months after last
Sundays lesson. 1t was towards the close
OF Jesus third year Of ministry and about
six months before His crucihNion.
PLACE.--Jerusalem In the court Of the
temple.
NOTE. -Peyton, In his Memorabilia OF
Jesus. calls this chapter "A Drama,
Tragedy In Seven Acts. in which seven
characters play their parts Prof Dods
entities q Jesus Discussed in jerusalem
(also In seven parts). This was the FIRST
serious development of opposition record
ed by John.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Water
of Life: Pisa. 80; 42:1-3; 1854; lisa. 1888;
S5:i. Z: n:i7. Is; 44;S; 55:l-2 1913; Eek.
1915; E:l2; Matt. sc; John 4:io, "a; Rev.
22I. 2
The Holy Spirit, symboliSed by water;
Prov. AS; Eek $3.50 q; Joel -. =; Zech.
las; Luke ii:13; John asa; 1919; 1ll6. Il;
1913; Acts 2:l-4. l6-1S; lO;44. IS.
Helps on the Golden Text. lisa u:2;
6l1-s; Matt 7:2s; 1854; Luke 2:l5; Heb.
4.1Z
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Feast of Tabernaeles. This one
of the three annual religious festivals
of the Jews was celebrated for week
in the month of Tisri which corre-
spends with our September or october.
1t was TO commemorate the dwelling
of the Israelites in tents during the
wilderness wandering. and booths
made of branches Of trees were erected
everywhere in Jerusalem-Cn the
hOuse-tops, IL open courts and public
squares, In these all the people, save
those who were i'll or very aged. lived
during the festival season, enjoying all
the merriment of a prolonged picnic.
IL was a harvest home and thanksgiv-
ing celebration combined Many sacri-
fees were offered. On each of the
seven days the priests. accompanied by
a choir of LevItes with trumpets and
cymbals. went in the morning to draw
water in a golden pitcher from the
Pool of Sloan. Amid the blast Of
trumpets and the shouts and singing
of the multitude, this was carried to
the temple and poured out before the
altar into a silver basin. This COM
memorated the water flowing from the
rock lex II: 60. and typifed the prom
ised outpouring of the Holy Spirit On
the eigth day the booths were broken
up and the people prepared to return
home. This was, however, reckoned
as a part of the feast. and special sacri-
fees were offered.
v 81 Jesus stood" Probably
in Solomon's porch. overlooking the
temple courts. whence he witnessed
the great procession of pilgrims in
holiday attire, coming to the sacrfcial
service. And cried" At a pause in
the services his clear voice rang out in
the hearing of the great multitude
v 80. He that believeth." He then
goes on TO explain what Come unto
me" means. To come to Jesus is to
believe on Him; not merely to believe
what one has read or heard about
Him. but to entrust ones heart and
life TO Him; to accept His love and
give Him our love, thus coming into
sympathy with Him. and participating
in His life. which is eternal life. AS
the Scripture hath said. etc. No d.
rect quotation from Old Testament
writings Is given. but such passages as
lisa. 5S: IL: Joel ): IS Zech. IA: S.
are alluded to. "Out OF his belly"
Better IN Rev. Yer, from within
him. that is. from his heart and
| through his life. Rivers of living
water" Jesus alone is the source OF
living Oife-giving) waters; His disci-
Piles are channels through which this
flows 10 others
V. 80. This spake He" etc. John
now explains what Jesus meant. John
/ lived, and wrote, after the age of The
Holy Spirit had begun: had himself
been one of those who. upon that nota-
BILE Day of Pentacost. of which We read
in Acts .. had received the Holy
/ Spirit in abundant measure.
V. 40. This saying" This gracious
invitation which Jesus had given
This is the Prophet" The one prom
| Used in Deut rs: IS, 1S
V. A. This is the Cbrist" Argu-
ing. doubtless. as before (v 30. that
none could do more beneficial works.
or speak more gracious words, OF show
more clearly that he was a representa-
tive Of God. than did this Jesus Of
Nazareth.
v. "A. would nave taken Him ~
Wished to have Jesus arrested. As on
a previous occasion and later. Jesus
passed through the midst of crowds
who wanted TO stone or otherwise in
jure Him, yet none lifted hand against
Him luke 4: 20. 30; John s: 59). SC
now no one touched Him.
" 40. Never man spake like this
man" They could explain their
strange inability to seize Jesus only
by referring TO His words. whose pecu-
liar force they felt. All through His
life II had been noted of Jesus words
that they were authoritative. AID thus
differed from those of the recognized
teachers of the day; that they were
winning. gracious; evidently were the
words of God, and just such words as
human hearts were hungry for
Practical Points.
V. 3s. God blesses us. not for our
selves alone, but to make us blessings
to others Il will bless thee. and make
thy name great; and thou shalt be a