I promised further comments to my thoughts on December 25 as Jesus birthday. 1. Historical tradition - this date was chosen to celebrate based on the desire to Christianize the pagan holidays surrounding the winter solstice. No evidence I have found suggests that anyone ever thought this could truly be the date He was born. 2. Cultural logistics - scripture says that the shepherds were in the fields keeping watch over their flocks. In Israel this is NOT the time of year to be out in the weather. It is cold and neither the shepherds nor the sheep would want to be in the fields. 3. Scriptural timing - when the angel came to Mary announcing that He was to be born, he said that Elizabeth was in her sixth month. When Mary went to visit her Jesus quickened in her womb making her about three months pregnant. We know that John was born at Passover in the spring. If we do the math that makes Jesus birth sometime in the fall (late September or early October). When He was on the earth Jesus life coincided with the biblical holidays as set forth in Leviticus 23. He was crucified during Passover, He was raised on the Feast of First Fruits, and God sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. I tend to believe that this pattern of connecting with the feasts is reliable. In the first chapter of John he says that the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled or lived temporarily) among us. Not really by coincidence, late September or early October is the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast celebrates the salvation of Israel from Egypt and Gods promise to dwell with them and provide for them. Could He have been born then? I believe so. Three months before Johns birth is another holiday. It isnt in Leviticus but it is one that Jesus celebrated. Some translations call it the Feast of Dedication. In the Jewish world it is Hannukkah. It is also called the Festival of Lights. Could it be that Gabriel made his visit to Mary, and Jesus, Himself the light of the world, was conceived during this feast of Lights? So much of this is hard, if not impossible to prove, but no matter, it is a lovely study and no matter what we decide, it was never his intention that we focus on his birth. Rather He said to remember what his sacrifice would provide, and celebrate that. This do, in remembrance of me! Next passover remember to look closely at the covenant He gave so much to restore.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 22:19:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015