Christmas
David Bennett
David Bennett
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be
afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11
According to Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary the words in verse 10 for "all people" are "pas laos" means "everyone" or "all men."
If the angel wanted to say that the Savior was for just a select group he could have said that Jesus' birth for a certain select few, but he didn't, he
said the Savior was for all people.
The Christmas message is this, the Savior, was and is for all men. For kings and shepherds, wise men and ignorant men, Jews and Gentiles, and
even a thief on a cross some 33 years later.
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The Significance of the Christian Feast of Michaelmas, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, and December 25th
The Bible does not tell us the actual date of Christ’s birth and the early church did not celebrate “Christmas”, certainly not as we know it and, not
that it really matters, it has been pointed out that the day we celebrate Christmas, December 25th, is likely of pagan origin. Many historians and
Bible scholars make a good case that the actual date of the birth of Christ was probably in the fall.
Dr. Henry Morris, founder of the Institute for Creation Research, wrote an interesting article "When God Became Man" (1) explaining how
both the fall date and the December date are significant in regard to the birth of Jesus.
A feast called the Feast of Michaelmas was popular in the Middle Ages and according to Dr. Morris the feast was celebrated on September
29th in observance of the angel, Michael, who may have been the main angel among the heavenly host sent to announce the birth of Jesus to the
shepherds.
Michaelmas was celebrated several days before the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles which was observed “each fall in gratitude for the annual
harvest, with each family dwelling for a time in a tent, or "tabernacle.” When John wrote that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us", he did not use the usual Greek word for "dwell." Instead, he said, literally, that the Word (that is, the Creator)
"tabernacled" among us for a time...”
Dr. Morris then went on to explain that the actual incarnation of Jesus would have been “when He created a body for Himself and took up His
residence in Mary's womb” nine months prior to His actual birth and not the birth itself.
“…that brings us back to December 25 again! The actual number of days between the two dates is 278, which is the ideal period of
human gestation…How appropriate it would be for Him to enter the world right at the season of darkest and longest night, for He would
come as "the light of the world"…”
Adding to the importance of December 25th "the original significance of December 25 is that it was a well-known festival day celebrating
the annual return of the sun. December 21 is the winter solstice (shortest day of the year and thus a key date on the calendar), and
December 25 is the first day that ancients could clearly note that the days were definitely getting longer and the sunlight was returning."
(2) And so on or about December 25th the Son of God came to the world at a dark time to bring light to the world.
When Jesus was eight days old His parents took him to the temple to present Him to the Lord. At that time there was an old man at the temple
named Simeon who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. The Bible tells us:
- Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in
peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the
Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:28-32
Several centuries prior to the birth of Jesus Isaiah in the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied:
- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned... For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:2;6
And during His ministry Jesus spoke about being "the light of the world":
- When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life." John 8:12
Then Jesus cried out, "...I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 12:44-46
1. Morris, H. 2008. When God Became Man. Act & Facts. 37 (12): 10-12. http://www.icr.org/article/4283/
2. ChristianAnswers.net, What are some of the most common misconceptions about Jesus Christ's birth? http://www.christiananswers.
net/christmas/mythsaboutchristmas.html
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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
Alfred Edersheim M.A.Oxon., D.D. Ph.D.(1825-1889)
CHAPTER VI.: THE NATIVITY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH.
- ...But as we pass from the sacred gloom of the cave out into the night, its sky all aglow with starry brightness, its loneliness is
peopled, and its silence made vocal from heaven. There is nothing now to conceal, but much to reveal, though the manner of it
would seem strangely incongruous to Jewish thinking. And yet Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful. That
the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, was a settled conviction. Equally so was the belief, that He was to be revealed from
Migdal Eder, ‘the tower of the flock.’ This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the
barren sheepground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the Mishnah* leads to the
conclusion, that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, [952] and, accordingly, that the shepherds,
who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds. The latter were under the ban of Rabbinism, [953] on account of their
necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of life, which rendered strict legal observance unlikely, if not
absolutely impossible. The same Mishnic passage also leads us to infer, that these flocks lay out all the year round, since they are
spoken of as in the fields thirty days before the Passover - that is, in the month of February, when in Palestine the average rainfall
is nearly greatest. [954] Thus, Jewish tradition in some dim manner apprehended the first revelation of the Messiah from that
Migdal Eder, where shepherds watched the Temple-flocks all the year round. Of the deep symbolic significance of such a
coincidence, it is needless to speak....
people, as championed by the Pharisees, and is considered the first work of Rabbinic Judaism.
[952] In fact the Mishnah (Baba K. vii. 7) expressly forbids the keeping of flocks throughout the land of Israel, except in the wilderness - and the
only flocks otherwise kept, would be those for the Temple-services (Baba K. 80 a).
[953] This disposes of an inapt quotation (from Delitzsch) by Dr. Geikie. No one could imagine, that the Talmudic passages in question could
apply to such shepherds as these.
Full text version: www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/lifetimes.txt Full HTML version: www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/lifetimes.toc.html
_____________________________________
CHRISTMAS RESOURCES
From Ray Vander Laan's That The World May Know/Follow The Rabbi
Herod is Dead, Jesus Lives
Herod The Great
Herodion
Bethlehem--Jesus' Birthplace
Jesus' Genealogy
Also from Ray Vander Laan: In The Shadow Of Herod:
Part 1: Herod's Magnificent Palace
Part 2: Jesus' Humble Manger
Part 3: Nations in Conflict
Part 4: Two Kings—Two Legacies
Part 5: God's People in the Shadows
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The Humble Bethlehem
The Christmas Controversy
______________________________________
From Christiananswers.net:
Is biblical Christmas story true? Is Jesus Christ for real
When did the Luke 2 census occur?
What are some of the most common misconceptions about Jesus Christ's birth?
What Is The Real Meaning Of Christmas?
What was the Star of Bethlehem?
If Christ's miracles really happened, why weren't they reported by historians?
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