Never Too Old to Learn

In recent months I joined a Bible Study at my new home church. I love that the goal is to go deep, rather than just look at the facts. Don’t get me wrong. I love the facts of Bible stories. They are ingrained in my mind from so many years of teaching them to children, and all the study to be prepped to do so. Without them, I wouldn’t be ready to understand more.

But, I also want to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord, and seeing beneath the surface to Jewish customs, traditions, and word meanings opens new understanding. This past week new to me information impacted me in a way I cannot even describe to you, other than to say it was one of those God moments where you stand in awe at the wonder of His ways.

In John 8:12, Jesus says He is the Light of the world. Did you know that during the Feast of Tabernacles there was a ceremony called the Illumination of the Temple? Held in the Court of the Women, four 75 foot high, oil-fed lamps were lit each evening of the festival.

The light represented the pillar of light that led the children of Israel in the desert and reportedly could be seen throughout all of Jerusalem. Looking back at Ex. 13:21 we see “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” NIV

The pillar was the very presence of God leading the way. It never left its place in front of the people. So when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” it wasn’t some random statement out of the blue. He clearly equated Himself with the pillar of God’s presence. The Jews who were present knew exactly what He implied.

John 8:20 tells us that Jesus spoke near where the offerings were put. The treasury was located in the Court of the Women. So, He apparently stood near the giant lights as He spoke. Wow, just wow. It’s another example of God using Old Testament truths to introduce the identity of Jesus. And I, for one, kneel before Him awestruck.