The Eighth Day
The Feast of Tabernacles as one can
clearly see has an Eighth Day associated with it as we have been duly
instructed saying; “On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and
you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly,
and you shall do no customary work on it.”
“Also, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered
in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days;
on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a
sabbath-rest” (Leviticus 23: 36,39).
So, the question is, what is the significance
and rationale for the eighth day of the Feast? The eighth day in scriptures
have different connotations such as a day of cleansing, special offerings and
circumcision but in relations to the Feast of Tabernacles it pertains to the
circumcision of Jesus Christ as illustrated in the Gospel of Luke which states;
“And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name
was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the
womb” (Luke
2:21).
The day on which Jesus Christ was
circumcised should be a day of great significance to humanity because it was on
that day that He received the name JESUS the name which is above all names as
we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those
under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
This day therefore, like all worldly
annual festivals which are celebrated annually in commemoration of a particular
event and perpetuated for future generations to remember, honor and show
appreciation and recognition for what transpired on that particular day, so also
are all of God’s annual festivals including the Eighth Day of the Feast of Tabernacles
the day on which Jesus received the name which is above all other names.
Therefore, a day of such tremendous importance to humanity should not be
ignored or compromised if we truly believe. love and appreciate what the Lord
did for humanity on this particular day.
The Eighth day of the Feast of
Tabernacles, the day on which Jesus Christ was circumcised also commemorates
the day which brought unity between Jews and Gentiles as we have been duly
instructed saying; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh ---
who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the
flesh by hands --- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope and without God in the world.”
“But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself
is our peace, who has made both (Jews and Gentiles) one, and has broken down
the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that
is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself
one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them
both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were
near: For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians
2: 11-18).
The Eighth Day of the Feast of
Tabernacles therefore, is a significant day for humanity to commemorate the
circumcision of Jesus Christ and express their love, gratitude and appreciation
to Jesus Christ for what He did for humanity on the day.
It is our failure to show
appreciation to the Lord by not observing His Sabbaths His ordained festivals
at their appointed times and not following the protocols that is the root cause
of the divisions that exist in the church. It is the sin of irreverence, lack
of love, respect, adoration and gratitude to Jesus Christ for what He did for
humanity on that particular day.
Whether anyone wants to accept it
or not, the crux of the matter is, it is the observance of the Lord’s Sabbaths
that sanctifies us and set us apart. For we have been duly instructed saying; “Speak
also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for
it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know
that I am the LORD who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13).
And, “I am the LORD your God: Walk
in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they
will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your
God” (Ezekiel
20:19-20).
It is by observing the Lord’s
Sabbaths (not just the weekly seventh day Sabbath) but also the yearly Sabbaths
that we express our gratitude to God as to Who He is and what He has and still
doing for humanity. Failure to observe the Lord’s Sabbaths is to dishonor Him,
it is the sin of irreverence the lack of love, respect, gratitude, adoration
and thanksgiving for what He did for humanity on these particular days.
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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