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Shouldn't Christmas be a Jewish Holiday?
(page 3)
By Messianic Rabbi Ed Rothman
Continued
from page 2
The Biblical Evidence of Messiah's Miraculous Birth
1. The Promised Seed - Genesis 3:15
2. Virgin birth, G-d w/ us - Isaiah 7:14
3. G-d Became a Man - Isaiah 9:6-7
4. Born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2
5. Born a man to free us - Heb. 2:14-16
6. The Seed of Abraham - Gal. 3:16
7. The Seed of David - John 7:42
8. To sit on David's throne - Luke 1:32
9. G-d's Son by Holy Spirit -Luke 1:35
10. Born King of the Jews - Mat. 2:2
Why have anything to do with a holiday rooted in paganism and now
the high holy day of unbridled capitalism? I suggest that we consider
for a moment that more people are exposed to the Gospel (Good News)
of our L-RD & Savior between Thanksgiving and Christmas than
at any other time of the year. And the thing that amazes me the
most, is that more often than not, people are more open to the Gospel
during this season, than at any other time of the year. On December
24th-25th, multiplied millions of people around the world take time
to pause and declare that G-d sent His Son Jesus to this world to
save us from our sins.
I believe that G-d has taught me another way of looking at Christmas.
Instead of beating the air in fighting the tide of public opinion
that proclaims a day of celebration to honor the miraculous birth
of the Son of G-d, why not use this public platform to share the
Good News? Since this is the celebration of the 1st advent of the
Jewish Messiah, the promised King of Israel, then shouldn't we redeem
this time (Eph. 5:16) and use it for the glory of G-d, build His
Kingdom and further His eternal purposes for all of mankind?
The Grace of G-d & Human Traditions
"Let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect to
a holy day, a feast day or of a new moon or of the Sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is of Messiah
(Colossians 2:16-17)." I believe that Rabbi Saul (Apostle Paul)
is speaking here of Jewish observances and not Christian ones, which
did not yet exist. But there is a larger principle, which I believe
can and should be applied to the observances which are now sacred
celebrations to the majority of those in the Christian arm of Messiah's
body.
In Y'shua's High Priestly intercession before He was to suffer
and die for our sins, He entreated His Father to Make us ONE, even
as He and the Father are ONE (John 17:21-23). I believe that Y'shua's
desire to have tangible loving unity amongst His disciples is of
the highest priority and utmost importance to Him (John 13:35).
Instead of arguing over how and when to celebrate the birth of our
Savior, we should expend our energy in our Heavenly Father's business
of edifying fellow believers and reaching those who have yet to
know the incomprehensible love He has revealed to us in His only
begotten Son, Y'shua (Jesus) the Messiah.
"Let us follow after the things which make for peace &
the things whereby we may edify one another (Romans 14:19). |
