The Subtle Boldness of Jesus

Mike Hosey, Elder

Jesus knows how to challenge us with the truth. He has a way of both stretching our understanding of the truth, as well as deepening it. Interestingly, he boldly uses subtle techniques to accomplish that goal.

Consider  His very bold, yet subtle teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles in John, chapter 7.

The feast that Jesus attends in that chapter is outlined in  a couple of places in the Old Testament. For instance, in Leviticus 23:33-44, God required His people to have an annual feast in which they lived in booths or tabernacles for 7 days.  It was to remind them of how God provided for them when they lived in temporary booths in the desert during their exodus from Egypt. By the time Jesus was walking the earth, that very joyful feast had taken on a couple of new practices. One of those practices was that the priests would draw water from the river of Siloam (these drawn waters were called the waters of Salvation in that day) then they would march them around the temple courtyard and pour them on the altar as a sacrifice.  One thing that this symbolized was thankfulness for rain -- which was a kind of provision for their lives.

When Jesus attended this feast he told the people that if anyone was thirsty that they should come to him and drink, and that if they believed in him they would then have rivers of living water flowing from them (John 7:37-38).  Was Jesus using this moment to point out boldly, yet with subtlety, that He was the fulfillment of that feast, and that He was the provider, and that He was the river of salvation?

Later, probably at the same feast, he does a similar thing. During the feast of booths four large lamp posts would be lit. Each post was about 75 feet tall, and each had four large lamps -- so sixteen large lamps altogether. People would hold torches and lamps and dance throughout the night in the glow of these lamp posts. Jesus tells the people that He is the light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness (John 8:12).  Was Jesus, once again being bold yet subtle, and teaching that he was the provider and the reason for the feast? Was he referencing Isaiah 60:19-22?

In order to really understand this subtlety, one must  listen carefully, and study his word!