| Shouldn't Christmas
be a Jewish Holiday? (page 2)
By Messianic Rabbi Ed Rothman
Continued
from Page 1
Is December 25th the Anniversary of The Nativity
(Messiah's birth)?
Luke 1:5 reveals to us that Zacharias, was a priest of the order
of Abijah. King David divided the Aaronic priesthood into 24 orders
and the order of Abijah was the 8th order in the course of priestly
service (1 Chronicles 24:10). Each priest would serve for 1 week,
twice a year and all priests from all 24 divisions would serve during
the 3 pilgrimage festivals. Since Zacharias served during the 8th
order, take 8 weeks and add 2 weeks for serving during Passover
& Shavuot. We do not know for sure the exact year Y'shua was
born, hence we do not have the date of the beginning of that Hebrew
calendar year.
The 1st month of the Hebrew calendar is Nissan (or Aviv = Spring)
which approximates mid-March to mid-April on our calendar. As an
estimated guess, we can begin our calculations from Mid-March, add
10 weeks and find ourselves in early June. If we add a week or two
(mid-late-June) for the conception of Yohanon (John) the Immerser
(around Shavuot [Pentecost]) and add 6 months for the time when
Miryam (Mary) conceived Y'shua through the miraculous intervention
of the Holy Spirit [Luke 1:35-36] that will bring us to about mid-late-December).
Maybe Y'shua was conceived on Dec. 25th. If you add 9 months to
that timeline, it would place the possible birth of Messiah in late-September
to early October, which would approximate the time for the celebration
of the Feast of Tabernacles. "The Word became flesh and dwelt
(or tabernacled) among us (John 1:14)."
Another possibility would be if we began the reckoning from the
second priestly course that would start approximately in mid-late
September or early October. Once again the timing coincides with
the biblical feasts. 10 weeks (including the Feast of Trumpets,
the Day of Atonement & Tabernacles) which would bring us to
mid-late-December. Was Yochanon, the Immerser conceived on Hanukah
and Y'shua at Shavuot (Pentecost)? Could Y'shua have been conceived
on the same day that G-d gave birth to the Nation of Israel (Exo.
19:5 & Deut. 32:11) & the Kehilah (the Church)? If that
were true, it would mean that Y'shua was born around mid-late March
or early April, at Passover. "Behold the Lamb of G-d, which
takes away the sin of the World (John 1:29)." Any way you slice
it, Y'shua (Jesus) was probably not born on December 25th. Please
forgive me if I burst any bubbles or knocked over any sacred cows.
The Star of Bethlehem
In Daniel 2:28 & 5:11, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Daniel as the
chief of the Magi (wise men / astrologers). In Matthew 2:1-2 we
read of Magi from the east coming to Jerusalem in search of Him
who was born, King of the Jews. They saw His star and came to worship
Him. On December 25th, 2 BCE (Before Common Era), Jupiter (the Royal
planet or planet of Kings) was stationary over Bethlehem as viewed
from Jerusalem. Was this the eastern star?
Jupiter was located in the abdominal region (the womb) of Virgo
(the Virgin) for 6 days. The ancient rabbinic sages called Jupiter,
Tzedek (The Righteous One). The holiday of Hanukkah was possibly
being celebrated when the Magi presented their gifts to the Messiah
King (Matthew 2:9-11). Was December 25th the day that the Magi presented
their gifts to Y'shua?
Continued
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