Sukkot by John 7

WAS THE WRITING IN THE EARTH CONNECTED TO THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES?

Many of you are familiar with the story of Yeshua (Jesus) and the woman caught in adultery. The Bible tells us that Yeshua said to her accusers, "He that is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." The Bible also tells us that Yeshua stooped to the ground and wrote something with His finger. For centuries people have speculated about what Yeshua wrote. And although we'll never know for sure, what He wrote might be connected to the Feast of Tabernacles. 

In John 7 we read that Yeshua was at the Temple for the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This day, called "Hoshana Rabbah" included a special water pouring ceremony with Messianic overtones. The highlight of the day occurred when the priest poured water taken from the Pool of Siloam into a bowl that drained into the bronze altar. This water served as a prayer to God for the winter rains and prophetically called for the Messiah to come and bring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was likely at this point that Yeshua cried out with a declaration that He was the One to provide the living waters that the people were seeking (John 7:37-38). Many in the crowd knew exactly what Yeshua was proclaiming. Some believed and others did not (John 7:40-43).

It was on that very next day that Yeshua had His run in with the scribes and Pharisees who had accused the woman of adultery. Keep in mind that these same religious leaders would have been present at the Temple the day before when Yeshua claimed Messiahship by connecting Himself to the living waters.

So what does all this have to do with what Yeshua wrote on the ground?

Keep in mind that the scribes and Pharisees knew the Scriptures extremely well. Better than most people do today. Also keep in mind that Yeshua continually battled with them and accused them of having departed from the Lord. Now check out this verse that the religious leaders would have been familiar with:

"O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake you shall be ashamed. Those who depart from Me shall be WRITTEN IN THE EARTH, because they have forsaken the LORD, the FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS." (Jer.17:13)

Did Yeshua write their very names in the dust of the earth, possibly along with their sins, in connection with them rejecting Him as the living waters the day before at the Feast of Tabernacles? We may never know for sure. But here is another example of how important it is for Christians to understand the Jewish roots of their faith and how the Old and New Testaments connect. - by Shon Cunningham