Messiah in Sukkot Chapter 19
- The Light of the World was born in the evening at the beginning of Sukkot
- The never-ending age of the Spirit of Grace
- The New Beginning
- Messiah’s birth is the rebirth of the Almighty One’s Kingdom here on earth
The Light of the World was born in the evening at the beginning of Sukkot:
In the Beginning #1. The visible appearance of the Elohei Kedem in human form occurred at His birth—when He was first seen in the form of something He had never been before—a human-baby. This miracle birth event occurred at the very beginning of “Sukkot” (Tishri 15), at Bethlehem, the city of King David.
In the Beginning #2. Joseph and Mary (the adoptive father and biological mother of M’shiach Adonai) were directly related to David by his two sons Solomon and Nathan. The mother of both of these men was Bathsheba. Joseph was related to King David through King Solomon. Mary was related to King David through Prince Nathan.
In the Beginning #3. As announced by the mighty angel Gabriel the Messiah (invisibly) arrived in Mary’s womb “inside the temple” of the womb of the Jewess Mary at the very beginning of Chanukkah (Kislev 25). Forty weeks thereafter, the Holy One was seen for the first time “outside the temple” at His birth which occurred at the very beginning of Sukkot.
In the Beginning #4. The Messiah was born of a miraculous conception and birth. He was like the first Adam a new creation. His perfect father was Adonai Elohim (the LORD God) and his mother was the Jewess Mary, daughter of King David. In this Divine conception and birth Messiah fulfilled the prophecy of the Seed of the Women (cf. Genesis 3:15; zarah her seed; ha-Isha, the woman).
In the Beginning #5. There is only One human being in all of human history who will ever be born exactly in this manner (by the new creation power of the Spirit of Holiness). Messiah is that one person.
In the Beginning #6. Messiah in His resurrected-glorified form is the first of a redeemed humanity that is now being Indwelt with the spiritual life-Presence of the Holy Spirit. It is these followers of the Messiah who will in the future be raised to new life by the Resurrection-Power of the Holy Spirit, who is the Voice of Messiah…
In the Beginning #7. On the “eighth” day after the first day of Sukkot, on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, the Messiah Yeshua was circumcised. The *Prophet Yochanan ben Zechariah ben Aaron, who was a type of the Elijah to come, was circumcised on Nisan 21, the eighth day of Chag HaMatzot (Unleavend Bread). This circumcision speaks of the permanent putting away of our sin through the atoning-redemptive ministry of Messiah.
In the Beginning #8. Messiah’s circumcision on the eighth day, six months “after” the circumcision of the prophet Yochanan ben Zechariah ben Aaron, prophetically speaks not only of the removal of sin in redeemed humanity but it also speaks of an eternal age where sin will be put away completely; removed completely from all of creation (as well as man) by the Messiah making “all things new.” Therefore, Messiah’s infant birth and circumcision are Abba Avinu’s promise to His children that through Ha-Mashiach He will create a new humanity, and a new heaven and a new earth, where the taint of sin will be completely removed from ourselves, the total environment, and even from our memory.
The never-ending age of the Spirit of Grace:
Sukkot celebrates the Messiah’s inauguration of a “new beginning.” In Judaism the number eight speaks of the infinite. The number seven indicates completion and the number eight speaks of new beginnings and eternity. There are four messianic festivals that employ the use of an eighth day:
Eighth Day Festival #1. The eight days of Chanukkah, where the eighth day completes the fullness of the festival (Kislev 25-Tevet 2).
Eighth Day Festival #2. The eight days of Ezekiel’s New Rosh Hashanah where the Messiah is installed in the Millennial Temple on the eighth day as the Eternal High Priest and Eternal King (cf. “Messiah in Rosh HaShanah II & Chanukkah II).” This future observance will occur Nisan 1-8. This is the same time frame that Aaron and his sons were consecrated in their offices as the High Priest and priests of Israel. After the initial dedication of the Millennial Temple and the installation ceremony of Ha-Mashiach the annual dedication and cleansing of the Temple will be observed on the Rosh HaShanah of Nisan 1. This new festival of Ezekiel, therefore, will occur just two weeks before the annual observance Pesach. However, there will also be an annual make-up observance allowed on Nisan 7, for those who missed attending the observance on Nisan 1. In this latter case the observance will only be one week before Pesach.
Eighth Day Festival #3. The eighth day of Pesach when the feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) has reached the zenith of its celebration (Nisan 14-21 (22).
Eighth Day Festival #4. The eight days of Sukkot, where the eighth day is celebrated as its own distinct holy day, a day celebrating extended fellowship with Adonai (the LORD) and rejoicing in the Joy of (the fulfillment of) His Torah (Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah; Tishri 15-22).
The New Beginning:
It should once again be noted that in the Tanakh eight is the number of “new beginnings.” The festivals of the Messiah teach us that Yeshua is the Messiah who is the Light of the World. Yeshua, (lit.) the Salvation of Adonai. He is the Beginning of the [New] Creation of the Almighty One (Reishit Bri’at HaElohim). He is the One who reignites the world with Divine light and life.
Reishit Bri’at HaElohim #1. The beginning of the New Creation order starts with Yeshua the Messiah’s conception, birth, and earthly ministry. This includes the work of Messiah’s atoning death, life giving resurrection and victorious ascension into heaven.
Reishit Bri’at HaElohim #2. It is this redemptive-saving work of the Messiah that allows us to receive the gift of the Father, the Living Torah of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Messiah’s high priestly ministry removes our sin that allows us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that replaces our sin with our heavenly Father’s Righteousness. The Scriptures say:
בּוֹ הָיוּ חַיִּים וְהַחַיִּים הָיוּ הָאוֹר לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם. וְהָאוֹר מֵאִיר בַּחֹשֶׁךְ וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ לֹא הִשִֹיגוֹ. הדבר נהיה בשר ושכן בתוכנו; ואנחנו ראינו את כבודו, כבוד בן יחיד מלפני אביו, מלא חסד ואמת. פ
בּוֹ הָיוּ חַיִּים וְהַחַיִּים הָיוּ אוֹר לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם׃ וְהַדָּבָר נִהְיָה בָשָׂר וַיִּשְׁכֹּן בְּתוֹכֵנוּ וַנֶּחֱזֶה כְבוֹדוֹ כִּכְבוֹד בֵּן יָחִיד לְאָבִיו רַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת׃
“There was life in Him, and the life (הַחַיִּים-hachesed) was light (אוֹר-or) for the sons of men (בְנֵי הָאָדָם-b’naii haAdam). The Word (הַדָּבָר-haDavar) was made flesh [was cloaked in our human form] and dwelt in our midst. We have beheld His glory, like the glory of a father’s only son (the only begotten of the Father), great (רַב-rav, abundance, fullness) in loving-kindness (חֶסֶד-chesed, graciousness) and truth (אֱמֶת-emet).”
Messiah’s birth and the rebirth of the Almighty One’s Kingdom:
The virgin birth narrative, so wonderfully depicted in the four Jewish Gospels (Ezekiel’s vision of the Four Faces of Messiah), is depicted in the Sukkot holy day testimonial to Yeshua.
The Light Inside & Outside the Temple #1. On Chanukkah the Light that is celebrated inside the temple is hidden from public view. Only the small light that peeks out of the temple windows can be seen from outside.
The Light Inside & Outside the Temple #2. Two hundred and eighty-five days (forty weeks) later the festive Sukkot lights are illuminated “outside” the temple in the Courtyard of the Women.
The Light Inside & Outside the Temple #3. The four great lights located in Courtyard of the Women was so luminous that they lit up the entire city of Jerusalem. The four giant lamp stands, used to project this great temple light were so large that ladders had to be used to climb up high enough to refuel them.
The Light Inside & Outside the Temple #4. This great fourfold light (N-S-E-W) represents the Shekinah Light emanating from the Messiah). For Ha-Mashiach is the “Light of the World!” (Or Ha’Olam).