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The Bible tells us that in
order to escape the wicked king Herod, Joseph fled from
Judea, taking Mary and Jesus with him to Egypt. An angel
appeared to Joseph while in Egypt and instructed him to
return again to the land of Israel, but the angel warned
Joseph against re-entering Judea: he was instead to
enter the northern region of Galilee and settle in the
city of Nazareth – this, even though the ancestral roots
of both Mary and Joseph were in Judea. Why Galilee? The
answer to this question is instructive in understanding
the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Before answering the question, Why the Galileans, it is
helpful to understand who the Galileans were. The
Galileans referred to in the New Testament were Jews by
race and religion. Because they dwelled in the most
northern province of Palestine, they were considered
different from the southern Jews of Judea. John, in his
gospel, distinguishes between these two groups. In John
7:2, 11:55 and 19:42 the term “Jews” is used by John to
refer to the Jews of Judea and their religious
practices. In referring to them separately from the Jews
of Galilee, John pointed to the fact that the Jews of
Judea, and especially Jerusalem, were not as exacting in
the practice of their religion as were their cousins to
the north.
Commentators on Judaism in Christ’s time are all in
agreement that it was difficult to define an organized
religion called Judaism. In Judea there were many
differing sects with many competing divisions within
them. Among the best-known sects were the Pharisees,
Scribes, Sadduccees, Zealots and Herodians – all
mentioned in the New Testament. Besides the religious
sects, and just like we see in Christianity today, most
Jews in the Judean province of Palestine were marginally
religious. They paid little attention to the wrangling
between these different groups. The annual feast days of
the Old Testament (see Leviticus 23) were still
practiced by some of the Jews during Christ’s day, but
in Judea they were treated by most as nothing more than
annual patriotic holidays: they were times for
celebration, family gatherings, marriage matchmaking and
eating good food. That does not mean there were not
religiously serious Judeans who were careful in how they
celebrated the annual Sabbaths, but even these
individuals did not agree on many aspects of how or when
these days should be celebrated.
The Jewish inhabitants of the Galilee, on the other
hand, tended to be much more serious about their
religious celebrations. This does not mean they were
more moral, but they tended to be more conservative and
nationalistic than their southern cousins. To the
Galileans, the religion of Moses was considered sacred
in much the same way American patriots revere the flag,
the Constitution, and the 4th of July.
Also, the province of Galilee was more rural than Judea
and not as heavily influenced by the Greek culture over
sweeping their southern cousins. Thus the ideas of
“modern Greek philosophy” did not leave its mark on
their culture. These differences between the Galileans
and the Judeans came about after the return of the Jews
from their captivity in Babylon, as written about in the
book of Jeremiah and elsewhere.
Upon their return from their captivity, the Jews settled
in three provinces of Palestine. These provinces were,
from south to north, Judea, Samaria and Galilee. As the
Bible makes clear, the middle province of Samaria was
hardly considered a Jewish province at all. The
population of this region was largely made up of the
descendents of people brought Into the province by
Nebuchadnezzar to replace the Jews taken into captivity
by him. Judea, on the other hand, remained ethnically
Jewish during the time of Christ, while the two northern
provinces had mixed populations. In Galilee the Jews had
actually become a minority, and were not considered as
sophisticated as the Jews of Judea.
Because of their ethnically mixed region and their
distance from Jerusalem, the dialect of the Galileans
differed markedly from that of the Judeans (see Acts
2:7). They also, in contrast to their southern cousins,
were known to be good soldiers. They tended to be
vigorous in fighting and equally vigorous in holding to
their convictions. In fact, as Roman rule developed in
Palestine, many Galileans became characterized as
Zealots and Patriots, and were extreme in the exercise
of their ideals. It was the rebellion by these two
extreme groups that eventually led to the Romans
destroying Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The passionate nature of
these northern Jews developed partly because they were
in the minority in Galilee and thus had to struggle to
maintain their culture and religious beliefs.
Because of their regional differences, there was a
natural lack of mixing between the Jews of Galilee and
the Jews of Judea when they gathered in Jerusalem to
keep the pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Feast of
Weeks (Pentecost) and Feast of Tabernacles. Over time,
there had also developed differences among them as to
when and how these Festivals should be observed. The
Jews of Judea were much more influenced by the Greek and
Egyptian cultures carried to them by their occupiers.
This cultural mix created an international flavor in
Jerusalem. Their religious beliefs and practices evolved
from a mixture of Old Testament scriptures, oral
tradition, apocryphal writings, the Talmud, and Greek
Philosophy that were much different from their northern
cousins who focused their beliefs solely on the writings
of the Pentateuch and prophets. The political, economic,
and social/religious control over Palestine were the
concerns of Jerusalem, which was far removed from the
major concerns of the northern Galilee region. Also,
Galilee was distant enough from Jerusalem that it was
largely free from the influence of the competing
Pharisees and priestly Sadducees, the dominant religious
sects in and around Jerusalem.
There is much more that could be said about the society
God the Father dictated his son should live and be
brought to manhood in. The things that have been
mentioned thus far, however, give a basic understanding
of the temperament of the two regions during Christ’s
day, and will provide insight into the Ministry of Jesus
Christ.
As mentioned earlier, Galilee was a rural but prosperous
agricultural province populated by Jews who by and large
tenaciously held to the religious practices as spelled
out by Moses in the Pentateuch. The Jews of Judea, on
the other hand, were steeped in Greek and Egyptian
culture and philosophy and had lost much of the
instruction found in the early books of the Bible. Seen
in this light, Christ’s words, “had you believed Moses,
you would have believed me…but you believe not his
writings” (John 5: 46-47), become much more meaningful.
While the Jews of Judea still claimed the authority of
Moses, they did not adhere to the things he wrote.
Further, Jesus accused them of “teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men” (Mark7:7), referring to their
practice of placing oral tradition above scripture.
An overview of Christ’s ministry will demonstrate what
he meant by these remarks. The statement from Mark
mentioned above occurred when the Pharisees from
Jerusalem were both hounding and persecuting him. The
atmosphere in Jerusalem was rife with division,
competition, power mongering, and fear. Naturally, those
in positions of authority over the Jewish community both
resented and feared anyone who taught differently from
them, viewing such as seditious and dangerous. Their
concerns over maintaining the political balance in
Jerusalem in order to keep peace with their Roman
occupiers caused suspicion and anger to erupt whenever
anyone opposed them; and, no doubt, a perceived enemy
from without their circle could unite even the most
divided among them. Being from an area to the north that
was rife with zealots and patriots, the Jews of
Jerusalem had cause to suspicion Jesus Christ and his
“new” ideas. Thus, while Christ visited Jerusalem and
Judea, his ministry by and large took place in Galilee,
far distant from the religious boiling pot that was
Jerusalem.
It is not only the geographical location of Galilee that
was important to Christ’s ministry, however. The people
of Galilee played a central role in Christ’s ministry
and the beginning of the church. What follows is a short
list of scriptures with comments demonstrating the
prominence of Galilee in Christ’s ministry:
Mark 1:14: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus
came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom
of God, KJV
Comment: Christ began his ministry by introducing
the Gospel of the kingdom of God in Galilee.
Matthew 4:18-21: And Jesus, walking by the sea of
Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they
were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and
I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway
left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from
thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee
their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
KJV
Comment: Christ first called these fishermen of
Galilee to be numbered among the eleven Galileans called
to be his apostles.
Matthew 5:6-7: Blessed are they which do hunger and
thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
KJV
Comment: Christ delivered his most famous sermon,
the sermon on the Mount, from an area overlooking the
sea of Galilee.
Matthew 8 and 9 (see entirety of both chapters):
Comment: Christ moved throughout Galilee
performing many miracles.
Matthew 14:22-25: And straightway Jesus constrained his
disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto
the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up
into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was
come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the
midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was
contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus
went unto them, walking on the sea. KJV
Comment: Christ performed the astounding miracle
of walking on water on the Sea of Galilee.
Matthew 28:16: Then the eleven disciples went away into
Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
KJV
Comment: Christ told his disciples to meet him in
Galilee after the resurrection.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are,
by-and-large, accounts of Christ’s ministry in Galilee.
In contrast, the Gospel of John centers on the conflicts
among the Jewish authorities in Judea that led to
Christ’s death. As part of this contrast, John referred
to the Passover of the “Jews” (see John 2:15 and 11:55)
to set it apart from the Passover observance of the
Galileans, which Christ kept and confirmed by his
example. Christ’s ministry exposed the oral traditions
and false doctrines of the Judeans and typed them as
corrupting leaven – a metaphor for sin. The chief
priests and Pharisees could not believe a prophet could
come from Galilee, even though the Scriptures plainly
foretold Christ would come from that region:
Isaiah 9:1-2 …by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in
Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined. KJV
While the Galileans were not a deeply spiritual people,
they did have one aspect of their religious practice
that was very important to Christ. That is, they
remained true to the observance of the annual festivals
outlined in Leviticus, chapter 23. The following is a
listing of those holy days and a discussion of their
significance to Jesus Christ.
THE PASSOVER
Leviticus 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month
at even (or between the evenings or at twilight ) is the
LORD's passover. KJV
Comment: The Galileans observed this important
Feast at precisely the time mentioned in the scripture
above. Christ followed this tradition. The proper timing
of the observance of Passover was especially important
to him as it served to point to him as being the perfect
“Lamb of God”. The four gospel accounts tell us that
prior to being crucified, he ate the traditional
Passover meal with his disciples, then he established
new memorial rituals that included the drinking of wine
and eating unleavened bread. These new rituals, when
annually observed, were to remind his disciples of the
significance of his having lived the perfect, sinless
life, which when later offered as an offering for sin,
was found sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of
all repentant believers for all time. Having initiated
the new memorial rituals for observing the Passover,
Christ left the house where he had eaten the meal with
his disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane where
he was arrested, then unlawfully forced to undergo the
ordeal of being tried, beaten, tormented, and scourged,
then nailed to the stake where he died at the 9th hour
when the sin offering was traditionally slain in
Jerusalem.
Unlike the Galileans, the Jews of Judea had lost the
true Passover by combining it with a festival that
immediately followed it, the Feast of Unleavened Bread:
the Spring festivals, which normally covered an 8-day
period , were condensed by the Judeans into a 7-day
observance. Having lost the appropriate time to observe
the Passover, the wayward Jews of Judea were found
busily slaying their erroneous Passover lambs at the
very time Christ died on the stake, having already
pictured for them the previous evening what it meant to
be the perfect, sinless “lamb” of God – his life was the
fulfillment of the symbolic “spotless” lamb that was
consumed at the traditional Passover meal.
Christ’s death as a sacrifice for sin, which occurred at
the time the daily sin offering was slain in Jerusalem,
ended the need for any future ritualistic sin offerings
among the Jews. Unfortunately, the Jews of Judea were
blinded to the identity of their savior, and continued
making their ritualistic sacrifices.
THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
Leviticus 23:6-7: And on the fifteenth day of the same
month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD:
seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first
day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no
servile work therein. KJV
Comment: This festival is a separate festival
that immediately followed the Passover and was to
picture for observant Jews (and Christians today) the
need to put sin, pictured by leavened bread, out of
their homes and lives. After removing all leavening from
their homes, they were to eat unleavened bread -- which
represented righteousness -- throughout the seven days
of the festival. This festival pictures for modern-day
Christians the need to reject the way of sin and live a
life of overcoming their faults and all sinful
influences while putting on righteousness in an effort
to become perfect, as Christ was perfect. The idea of
overcoming sin was a central theme in the teachings of
Christ, and became possible because he paid the penalty
for sin in our stead, reconciling us to God.
THE FEAST OF WEEKS OR PENTECOST
Leviticus 23:9-17, 21: And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say
unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give
unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye
shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest
unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before
the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after
the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall
offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without
blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the
LORD. 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two
tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering
made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the
drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part
of an hin. 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor
parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day
that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall
be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all
your dwellings. 15 And ye shall count unto you from the
morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought
the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be
complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh
sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a
new meat offering unto the LORD….21 And ye shall
proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy
convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work
therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your
dwellings throughout your generations. KJV
Comment: The error of most who read the Bible is
to assume that the Pharisees and other Jews in Judea
were practicing the religion of Moses. That is a false
assumption. As stated earlier, there were many stripes
to Judaism, which incorporated many errors and
traditions of men that had no foundation in scripture.
However, the Galileans, who were Christ’s fellow
travelers, did keep all of the festivals of God in their
right order and time. The majority of the Jews of Judea,
unfortunately, only kept five of the annual festivals on
the right days. As a result, they had lost critical
details concerning the symbolism of God’s festivals.
As discussed already, the Judean Pharisees had the
erroneous tradition of observing the Passover on the
wrong day -- at the beginning of the 15th of Nisan --
but when Christ said to his fellow Galileans that they
should prepare the Passover meal at the start of the
14th, one day ahead of most Judean Jews, his disciples
did not question him because it was their tradition to
follow Leviticus 23:5 exactly. By his example, Christ
ended all argument, for all time, as to when the
Passover was to be observed.
But the confusion that existed among the wayward and
confused Jews of Judea did not end there.
Earlier, it was stated that the Jews of Judea kept only
five of the annual festivals on the right day, and at
the right time. Besides the Passover, they also failed
to adhere to the instructions given by Moses concerning
the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16:10) or Pentecost
(Acts 2:1).
During the Feast of Unleavened Bread there was a
ceremony called the waive sheaf offering. This ceremony
consisted of the priest waving the first sheaf of the
spring barley harvest in the air on the Sunday following
the weekly Sabbath that fell during the days of
unleavened bread. This ceremony, unbeknownst to the Jews
of his day, foreshadowed the event and marked the exact
day Christ was to ascend to his father. Beginning with
that Sunday, the Israelites were to count 50 days (seven
full weeks – thus the name Feast of Weeks – plus one
day), and celebrate the Feast of Weeks on the 50th day.
The Feast of Weeks is referred to as Pentecost in the
New Testament. During Christ’s time there was a
controversy as to how the counting for this festival
should occur. Instead of following the Scriptures and
counting fifty, the Pharisees decided to set the time of
the festival on the sixth day of the third month each
year. This particular day was to memorialize the day
when the old covenant between Israel and God was
established, as spoken of in Exodus 19, and forward.
Setting the date as they did made it convenient to
celebrate the start of the Israelite nation at Mount
Sinai on the same calendar day every year – much as
Independence day is celebrate on July 4th in the United
States – without regard to the particular day of the
week on which the event actually occurred. This
celebration became known as Shavout on the Jewish
calendar.
Because Shavout occurs on the 6th day of the Jewish
month of Sivan, it no longer correlates with the waive
sheaf offering. But that is not what God commanded. God
had more important reasons for establishing the annual
holy day of Pentecost (which means count fifty) than to
celebrate the birth of a nation. His intent was to use
the day to foreshadow and later memorialize the exact
date the New Testament church was to begin. In order to
be in the right place at the right time for celebrating
this particular festival, the Scripture directing the
counting of 50 had to be followed exactly. Once again,
who was there at the right place on the right day? The
Galileans. Christ’s disciples knew when to keep this
Feast.
In Acts chapter 2 we find the account of the coming of
God’s Holy Spirit to begin the New Testament church. It
defines the start of the Christian era:
Acts 2:1-7: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues
like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when
this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and
were confounded, because that every man heard them speak
in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and
marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all
these which speak Galilaeans? KJV
Once again the natives of Galilee were used by God to
bring his message of salvation to mankind. If they had
been counting the days as their southern cousins, they
would not have observed Pentecost on the right day. But
following Christ’s instructions, they were found
observing the holy days in accordance with the
Scriptures given to Moses. Had they not, they would not
have been in the right place at the right time to
receive the holy spirit.
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Leviticus 23:23-25: And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the
seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye
have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an
holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work
therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire
unto the LORD. KJV
Comment: Christ began his ministry in the region
of Galilee, and his message was the gospel of the coming
Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14). Throughout his ministry he
continued to preach about the kingdom, offering many
parables to describe various aspects of it. Christ later
revealed himself to be the one who would bring the
kingdom (see Revelation 19:10-16). The Feast of Trumpets
is the festival that points to the day of Christ’s
return and the establishment of the kingdom of God on
the earth. Both Galileans and Judeans alike celebrated
this festival at the correct time, but without proper
understanding; for even though the Galileans observed
the festivals in their proper time and sequence, they
did not understand their meaning unless Christ revealed
it to them, and neither did the Judeans. Much of
Christianity suffers from a similar lack of
understanding today.
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Leviticus 23:26-32: 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month
there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy
convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls,
and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And
ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of
atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD
your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be
afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from
among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that
doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I
destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner
of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your
generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto
you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls:
in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto
even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. KJV
Comment: This day marks a future day of victory
for Jesus Christ. One of the great moments described in
the New Testament is the day Christ overcame Satan after
his 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Satan had come to tempt Christ to sin, but Christ did
not yield to Satan’s temptation, though he was in
extreme duress following his long fast. Thus Christ
qualified to replace Satan as ruler (see John 14:30)
over the earth. The Day of Atonement points to a future
time when Christ will return to this earth to take the
reigns of government from Satan, and banish him to a
place called in the Bible, the bottomless pit
(Revelation 20:1). While he will not be destroyed, he
will be restrained from troubling the earth. Just as
Christ fasted to gain the spiritual strength needed to
overcome Satan, Christians today who observe the Day of
Atonement also fast. As they fast, they humble
themselves before God (something Satan would never do)
and acknowledge Christ’s victory over Satan. They
celebrate Satan’s future banishment from the affairs of
mankind. Both Galileans and Jews celebrated this
festival at the correct time, yet without true
understanding of its meaning.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
Leviticus 23:33-43: And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying,
The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the
feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On
the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do
no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day
shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall
offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a
solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work
therein. 37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye
shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering,
and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings,
every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the
LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows,
and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give
unto the LORD. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the
seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the
land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on
the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day
shall be a sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the
first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm
trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the
brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God
seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the
LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for
ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the
seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days;
all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43
That your generations may know that I made the children
of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of
the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. KJV
Comment: Both Judeans and Galileans celebrated
this very popular feast. While they did not understand
its future application, those who could gathered in
Jerusalem to keep this 7-day festival. For them it was a
national celebration during which much wining and dining
occurred. Marriages were arranged and contracts were
signed as part of this happy occasion. The festival
celebrants rented houses or constructed booths from
materials they carried with them. To the feast-goers
this festival pictured the time of Israel’s wandering in
the wilderness before they entered the promise land.
Christ appeared at this festival in Jerusalem as a
child, and later during his ministry.
For Christians today, the Feast of Tabernacles points to
the future when the Kingdom of God is ruling over the
earth. Christ, the future king, taught much about the
kingdom; and later, in the book of Revelation, he
revealed that this period would last a thousand years.
He also revealed that during his millennial reign Satan
is to be restrained, and the knowledge of God’s way of
life is to overspread the world (Review Revelation 19
and 20). All nations will come under his rulership. Some
modern-day Christians continue to celebrate this feast
as a foreshadowing of Christ’s return to this earth, and
a reminder they are to live their lives as pilgrims, as
they await the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
Following this feast there remains yet one more
festival.
THE LAST GREAT DAY
Leviticus 23:39: Also in the fifteenth day of the
seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the
land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on
the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day
shall be a sabbath. KJV
Comment: Following the 7 days of the Feast of
Tabernacles, a final feast, and eighth day, comes right
on its heals. The Jews of Christ’s day observed this
festival, but again without any real understanding of
its meaning. This Feast is mentioned in the above
scripture as an 8th day that was to be observed as a
sabbath or high day immediately following the Feast of
Booths or Tabernacles. Christ observed this day, and was
found in John 7:37 preaching with power at this
festival, crying out to his listeners, proclaiming the
way to salvation. This was a general call for all those
who could hear him to receive the holy spirit. While
those who heard at that time could not understand the
import of what he was saying, this incident pointed to a
future time when all humanity will be offered salvation.
Because this festival immediately follows the 7-day
Feast of Tabernacles, it points to a period right after
the millennium when all those who have never truly known
Christ will be resurrected to physical life in what the
Bible calls the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation
20:11-12). These people will be given an opportunity to
come to repentance, receive the holy spirit, and qualify
for eternal life. Christians today celebrate this
festival as a foreshadowing of what is yet to come, and
the culmination of God’s plan for his physical creation.
Conclusion
The men and women of Galilee were no different when it
came to spiritual matters than anyone else who has ever
walked this earth. Their one outstanding characteristic
was that they adhered, in the face of a corrupt society,
to the Scriptures given by Moses regarding celebrating
God’s Holy Days. They did not follow Christ in great
numbers. There were only 120 followers of Christ who
came together on the day of Pentecost to receive God’s
holy spirit. But the example of the Galileans does
provide a valuable lesson: strict adherence to the
Scriptures does make it possible for God to use human
beings for his purposes, and the reward to those who
remain loyal to the scriptures will be that God will
make sure they are where they need to be, and at the
right time.
You may want to find out when and where you should be
keeping God’s holy days. Please be sure to request your
free copy of our booklet, The Gospel According To
Christ, and also request your copies of our Bible
Studies on the Holy Days. Better yet, download your
literature from our website today! It’s available 24/7
from the Wonderfulworldtomorrow.org. |