Toward the end of the Gospel of John, John writes his purpose: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Along with these signs, Jesus fulfilled the Jewish holidays. This article will examine the three feasts mentioned in John's traditional context (Passover, Tabernacles, and Dedication) and how Jesus fulfills them in his Gospel. Passover is the celebratory holiday, which the Jews remember as God had freed them from their bondage of slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew name for this holiday is “Pesach,” which literally means “the lamb.” God gives great detail to Moses about what is to be done for the first Passover. It is recorded in Exodus 12:2-11. First, God commands a family to take a lamb for the house on the tenth day of the first month, Nissan. Additionally, another lamb was chosen for the nation of Israel and “was led in a great procession from Bethany to the Temple. During the procession, the people waved palm branches and sang psalms, including: 'O Lord, save us (Hosanna)... Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'”. These particular lambs had to “be without blemish, a one-year-old male” and an individual must not “break any of its bones.” For the next few days, the lamb is held and examined. Then "on the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight." At the first Passover, the Israelites are commanded to sprinkle the blood of the lambs on the doorposts of the houses in which they ate their meals with a hys... half of paper... Hanukkah saying the Father has 'sanctified' the Son of God and sent him into the world… the Greek word “sanctified” would be translated into Hebrew, it would be 'dedication' or Hanukkah. (Jesus is our Hanukkah)” (10:34-36). He then ends his speech by pointing to His works as a way for people to say that the Father and He are one, which this time the Jews try to arrest Him, but He escapes (10:37-39). Jesus performs the third feast mentioned in the Gospel of John. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. These three feasts that appear in this Gospel of John are just one area that Jesus fulfilled. This article has examined the traditional scenarios of these holidays and how John, the writer of the Gospel, shows Jesus as the one who brings them about. As we approach the feast of Easter, we are reminded that the resurrection of Jesus, which brought with it the satisfaction of the Old Testament.
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