Yom Ri-shon, Tevet 25, 26001 – December 25, 2016

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Today, for many believers around the world is a day of celebration for the birthday of the Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Oddly, most would admit it is highly unlikely that He was born in winter, and some would say definitely not December 25th. But traditions are strong for most people. When I was researching this phenomenon many years ago, the best answer I could get as a believer trying to sort this all out was that it really doesn’t matter, and that the scriptures do not really say when He was born. Hmmm. Okay, let’s take a look. We do know that originally at least as far back as the Exodus (and there is some evidence of it being even earlier) that there were moedim, or “appointed times”, that were established by the Father. So, who could have changed them? The scriptures do tell us this answer.

Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Most would say that the beast at the end of time is the anti-Christ, or the anti-Christ spirit. I agree. It says he changes times (moedim) and laws. It looks like Daniel prophesied that the anti-Christ would change the holy days, or as we would say, the holidays, and wear out the saints. So we have part of the answer. The anti-Christ, and not God, would have changed the celebration of the Messiah’s birth, if indeed it did change.

Does the bible say when the Messiah was born? To answer this, I first suggest that the scriptures are not written by accident, and that God often leaves clues for us to follow in plain sight. If you agree, read on. If we track the story of His birth, we find clues. John the Baptist’s father served in the temple.

Luke 1:5 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.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

The short version here is this. Zacharias was serving in the temple at a certain time of year, according to the order of Abijah his father (they had a calendar given by God, not ours, but roughly June). The priests were assigned certain times originally to serve in the temple to assure service at all times. He is told he will have a child and will not speak until he does. He comes out of the temple and cannot speak. Now he knows it is real. Once his service is complete he goes home to see his wife, and the next verse says she conceives. Clue one is we know that John was conceived in the June – July time frame. But what about Mary?

Luke 1:36 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.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

The same angel that told Mary that the Holy Spirit had just conceived the Messiah in her womb told her Elizabeth her cousin, wife of Zacharias and mother of John, was six months pregnant. When Mary immediately went to see Elizabeth, John jumped in Elizabeth’s womb. This would have to be the December – January time frame, six months later, when Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. Nine months later she would give birth to our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus), roughly September – October (NOT December 25th). Why might this be important?

There is a moedim that takes place in the September – October time frame, called the Feast of Tabernacles. It begins on Tishri 15 (the Father’s calendar). Could this be the birth date of the Messiah? Let’s see if there are more hints.

John 1:14 And the Word was made 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.

Here we have a record of the Messiah becoming flesh. It says he “dwelt” among us. The word here in the Greek is actually “tabernacled” among us. Sounds like that could be the Feast of Tabernacles. This would explain why Joseph and a pregnant wife were trying so badly late in her pregnancy to get to Jerusalem as all males had to be there. But let there be two witnesses at least (there are more, but this is getting long).

Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

So one day, all will keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and originally all kept the Feast of Tabernacles. So why not now? Daniel 7 has the answer, I suggest. Is Yeshuah (Jesus) the same yesterday, today, and forever? O just yesterday and forever, and not today?

One last thing. What did our very Messiah Yeshuah say about traditions versus what the Father has said?

Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

So, I suggest we pray and seek our Father, Yahuah (Lord), through the Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus) that we all may know truth, today and always.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King! Praise the name Yahuah (Lord)! Let us shine Your light here today and everyday to bring Your will to earth as it is in the heavens. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal our hearts and minds. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundred times one hundred times one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the much more besides. Rise up today, my King! Rise up and defend Your words and Your people today, that all men might know that You alone, Yahuah, are our Elohim. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus).