Did Yeshua Celebrate Sukkot?

Many people wonder if Jesus actually celebrated any of the biblical feasts celebrated by Jewish people today, and the answer is absolutely. As someone who was born and raised a Jew in the land of Israel, surrounded by Jewish traditions and culture, it was as natural for Him to celebrate biblical feasts as it was for all His disciples.

Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was at hand…

John 7:2

The Feast of Tabernacles was in fact one of the primary biblical feasts when people would go up to Jerusalem to celebrate it, including Yeshua. Standing on the hills of Jerusalem overlooking the Temple Mount, it’s impossible not to feel the special atmosphere in the air during this Sukkot week. It was around this time of the feast when Yeshua finally arrived in Jerusalem for Sukkot, in secret.

However, after his brothers had left for the festival (Sukkot), he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.

John 7:10-11, 14

This chapter is all about the teaching Yeshua gave in the Temple court in the middle of the Sukkot week. He spent a while debating and discussing God’s truth and the law with the Pharisees that were present that day. They kept challenging him, asking how He could possibly teach about such deep theological issues when He was never ordained or formally educated as a Rabbi. 

However Jesus never felt the need to explain or defend Himself when facing opposition or confrontations. He knew God’s word and the power of His truth will speak for itself and pierce the hearts of those who hear it. 

Yeshua’s focus was clear. He was not there to prove anything to anyone, He was there to speak the truth, love people and reveal God’s heart to them by healing them. The Old Testament and New Testament came together in Jesus, and it is a message as relevant today as it was over two thousand years ago. 

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