Ryan
Member
Most Christians recognize December 25 as Jesus's birthday. There is little to no scriptural basis for this day being the day Jesus was born. If one wanted to really know where that date came from, it wouldn't be hard to find where this "tradition" came from. Don't get me wrong, I will do my usual token traditional Christmas day observance with the family, but does the bible give us clues on when he was born? Try and follow along:
Luke 1:5,8,9 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 24:1,2,10,19 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. 10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner,
The course of Abia, or Abijah tells us what time of the year it was and when he was serving. Each of these courses (teams) would serve once a week, twice a year and would rotate. I will use the word teams to just facilitate our western idea and thoughts about what a course meant. What happened was during the 3 annual pilgrimages to the Jerusalem temple in Israel for the Feasts, it has been documented up to 1 - 2 million people would come during this time and the priests would serve in weekly rotations. During the annual pilgrimages, all the teams would serve together due to the multitudes of people coming to sacrifice. So Zacharias was the eighth team (1 Chronicles 24), and understanding the Feasts that approximately 8 weeks from Passover is Pentecost, we can understand when he was serving and what time of the year it was. Zacharias would be serving double duties. One week for what would now be his regular duties, and then an additional week for his Pentecost duty. It would look like this:
The following is the order of the priestly divisions in relation to the Feasts:1st week of Nissan/Abib,
1st priestly division of Jehoiarib serves
2nd week of Nissan, 2nd priestly division of Jedaiah serves
3rd week of Nissan, Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, ALL PRIESTS SERVE
4th week of Nissan, 3rd priestly division of Harim serves
1st week of Iyar, 4th priestly division of Seorin serves
2nd week of Iyar, 5th priestly division of Malkijah serves
3rd week of Iyar, 6th priestly division of Mijamin serves
4th week of Iyar, 7th priestly division of Hakkoz serves
1st week of Sivan, 8th priestly division of Abijah serves
2nd week of Sivan, Shavuot, ALL PRIESTS SERVE (including the division of Abijah
Luke 1:10,11 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Multitude means a plethora, or a large number of people. And why were they there? It was for the Feast of Pentecost that would have been at the time, upwards of 1 - 2 million people would have descended upon the city (Deuteronomy 16:16) as it was commandment to be there. God wanted us to know that this was during a Feast time.
Luke 1:23,24 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months,
For his wife to conceive, it would not have happened unless he was there, so obviously he was in a hurry to get home. :toofunny
Luke 1:26,35,36 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
It would now be in December of Elizabeth being pregnant and Mary spent 3 months with her until Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist which would be around Passover in March - April.
Luke 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Jesus was conceived in her womb about late December or January, and 9 months from then would be into September or October which would take us into the fall Feasts. Namely Succot, which happens to be today.
Understanding the Messianic connection of Jesus to the Feast of Tabernacles, or Succot even helps us grasp something of the mystery of His Incarnation:
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
The word "dwelt" here in the Greek means "tabernacled."When He became flesh, Jesus inhabited the temporary shelter of an earthly body, knowing He soon would be required to leave it. Why did He do it? So that we might find a home in Him - not a temporary shelter in the wilderness, but an eternal home in a Kingdom that abides forever.
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (When?)
Mark 9:1,2,5 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Peter saw this as a Feast of Tabernacles event, and that is why he wanted to build a tabernacle.
But back to baby Jesus, he has now been born, and has been wrapped in swaddling cloths and there was no room in the inn. Why was there no room in the inn? Being born during the Feasts, there was a huge influx of Jews to Israel for the annual pilgrimage, and all the rooms were taken. If he was born in December, there would have been plenty of room. That explains why there was no room in the inn.
December as well does get cold in Israel, particularly in December. Luke 2:8-11 has the shepherds out in the fields. The heavy rains start in December and January, and the sheep were not kept out to be hit by rain and snow. They were back in their pens for the winter months. It would have been cruel for God to have Mary make the trek to Jerusalem 30 days after her purification to travel over mountainous terrain during the rainy and cold season (Leviticus 12:4; Luke 2:22).
Succot is to be a time of great rejoicing and one is to even bring strong drink if desired (Deuteronomy 14:26).
Deuteronomy 16:14-15 <SUP></SUP>and you shall <SUP class=crossreference value='(P)'></SUP>rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. <SUP class=versenum>15 </SUP>Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
God wants us to party and celebrate when he will dwell with us once again. He wants us to celebrate his birthday. Not just for one day, but for one week!!! So loosen up a bit, and celebrate the day when he first dwelt with man, and will one day return for all of eternity.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Luke 1:5,8,9 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 24:1,2,10,19 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. 10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner,
The course of Abia, or Abijah tells us what time of the year it was and when he was serving. Each of these courses (teams) would serve once a week, twice a year and would rotate. I will use the word teams to just facilitate our western idea and thoughts about what a course meant. What happened was during the 3 annual pilgrimages to the Jerusalem temple in Israel for the Feasts, it has been documented up to 1 - 2 million people would come during this time and the priests would serve in weekly rotations. During the annual pilgrimages, all the teams would serve together due to the multitudes of people coming to sacrifice. So Zacharias was the eighth team (1 Chronicles 24), and understanding the Feasts that approximately 8 weeks from Passover is Pentecost, we can understand when he was serving and what time of the year it was. Zacharias would be serving double duties. One week for what would now be his regular duties, and then an additional week for his Pentecost duty. It would look like this:
The following is the order of the priestly divisions in relation to the Feasts:1st week of Nissan/Abib,
1st priestly division of Jehoiarib serves
2nd week of Nissan, 2nd priestly division of Jedaiah serves
3rd week of Nissan, Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, ALL PRIESTS SERVE
4th week of Nissan, 3rd priestly division of Harim serves
1st week of Iyar, 4th priestly division of Seorin serves
2nd week of Iyar, 5th priestly division of Malkijah serves
3rd week of Iyar, 6th priestly division of Mijamin serves
4th week of Iyar, 7th priestly division of Hakkoz serves
1st week of Sivan, 8th priestly division of Abijah serves
2nd week of Sivan, Shavuot, ALL PRIESTS SERVE (including the division of Abijah
Luke 1:10,11 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Multitude means a plethora, or a large number of people. And why were they there? It was for the Feast of Pentecost that would have been at the time, upwards of 1 - 2 million people would have descended upon the city (Deuteronomy 16:16) as it was commandment to be there. God wanted us to know that this was during a Feast time.
Luke 1:23,24 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months,
For his wife to conceive, it would not have happened unless he was there, so obviously he was in a hurry to get home. :toofunny
Luke 1:26,35,36 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
It would now be in December of Elizabeth being pregnant and Mary spent 3 months with her until Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist which would be around Passover in March - April.
Luke 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Jesus was conceived in her womb about late December or January, and 9 months from then would be into September or October which would take us into the fall Feasts. Namely Succot, which happens to be today.
Understanding the Messianic connection of Jesus to the Feast of Tabernacles, or Succot even helps us grasp something of the mystery of His Incarnation:
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
The word "dwelt" here in the Greek means "tabernacled."When He became flesh, Jesus inhabited the temporary shelter of an earthly body, knowing He soon would be required to leave it. Why did He do it? So that we might find a home in Him - not a temporary shelter in the wilderness, but an eternal home in a Kingdom that abides forever.
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (When?)
Mark 9:1,2,5 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Peter saw this as a Feast of Tabernacles event, and that is why he wanted to build a tabernacle.
But back to baby Jesus, he has now been born, and has been wrapped in swaddling cloths and there was no room in the inn. Why was there no room in the inn? Being born during the Feasts, there was a huge influx of Jews to Israel for the annual pilgrimage, and all the rooms were taken. If he was born in December, there would have been plenty of room. That explains why there was no room in the inn.
December as well does get cold in Israel, particularly in December. Luke 2:8-11 has the shepherds out in the fields. The heavy rains start in December and January, and the sheep were not kept out to be hit by rain and snow. They were back in their pens for the winter months. It would have been cruel for God to have Mary make the trek to Jerusalem 30 days after her purification to travel over mountainous terrain during the rainy and cold season (Leviticus 12:4; Luke 2:22).
Succot is to be a time of great rejoicing and one is to even bring strong drink if desired (Deuteronomy 14:26).
Deuteronomy 16:14-15 <SUP></SUP>and you shall <SUP class=crossreference value='(P)'></SUP>rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. <SUP class=versenum>15 </SUP>Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
God wants us to party and celebrate when he will dwell with us once again. He wants us to celebrate his birthday. Not just for one day, but for one week!!! So loosen up a bit, and celebrate the day when he first dwelt with man, and will one day return for all of eternity.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
