Ben Avraham
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL (A look at Tradition vs Biblical Truth)
I would like to extend a "Shalom Aleichem" (peace be upon you) to all of you on this Forum site. Thank you all for your reading support and your comments. December is the "Hanukkah/Christmas/New Year's" month of Festivities and a time or times to gather with family and eat special festive meals, and just enjoy the fellowship.
We have celebrated the "Festival of Lights" (Hag HaUrim) or "Hanukkah" (Festival of Dedication). And this evening, according to the Gregorian Calendar, is Christmas Eve. I know that almost all families in Christendom celebrate Christmas with the "Tree and Trimmings." It is a time to encourage families to get together in warm fellowship, despite different traditions. Some will go buy fresh-cut pine trees and decorate them, others will buy plastic ones. Some families will go all out and spend $$$ on decorations, lights, the works. Some prefer the simple things, just time with their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and sit around the dinner table with a turkey or a Leg of Lamb, wine, and eggnog.
But what about the 25th of December being "Christ's Birthdate?" Is it true? I would say no. However, it is "tradition", and has been for the last 2000 years. Does it matter the exact date and time of his birth? maybe not. If God had wanted us to know the exact date of Jesus' birth, I am sure He would have guided the writers of the New Covenant scriptures to write something like: "And it happened that on the 10th day, of the 7th month, during the reign of Caesar Augustus, and King Herod of Judeah, during the time of the Census, that in Bethlehem, was born Christ the King, Emmanuel..." Yet nothing like that is recorded, yet we can deduce through simple mathematics and using the Hebrew calendar, the approximate time of year our Savior was born. So, this article is of educational value, "that we might know."
The date "25th of December" is a date imposed by Rome on or around A.D. 350. The date was known as "Saturnalia," the "birthdate" of the gods of Rome. The emperor Constantine wanted to help the pagans embrace Christianity, so he moved the time of year when Yeshua was born to fit in with the pagan gods of Rome (mainly, the sun gods). We must remember, however, the "event", not the "date". Yet one often wonders, when was Messiah really born?
In the gospels, the sheep were in the fields with the shepherds, and in December, it is cold and wet, so the shepherds would have been keeping the sheep in covered shelters. Agustus Cesar would not have conducted a census during this time, as it would have been difficult for people to travel in the wet and cold weather. That rules out December as the time of the "birth" of Messiah Yeshua.
In 1 Chronicles 24:7-18, it states that King David divided up the priesthood into 24 groups or orders of families. Each family would serve two weeks in the Temple throughout the year. Zachariah, the husband of Elizabeth, was of the order of Abijah, which was the 8th group of priestly service. The groups started at the beginning of the Jewish year, the First of Nisan, which was in April. (Exodus 12:1). So, group 1 and 2 would have served in April (corresponding to our Gregorian calendar). Groups 3 and 4 would have served in May. Groups 5 and 6 would have served in the month of June. Groups 7 and 8 would have served in July. Since Zechariah was part of the last group, group 8, of "Abijah" (Lucas 1:5), he finished his term of service probably by the end of July, and he went home to be with his wife after that, in August.
We need to realize that the Hebraic months overlap the Gregorian months, as the Hebraic months are set by the phases of the moon, while the Gregorian months are set by the sun, which never changes. When Zachariah finished his term, it would have been towards the end of July or early August. Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist around this time. Luke 1:17 states that "John the Baptist would come in the Spirit of Elijah." During the time of Passover, the Prophet Elijah is symbolically at the Passover Seder. If we count 9 months from August, we get to April, the time of Passover, the time of John the Baptist's birth.
We know that the gospels state that in the 6th month (Luke 1:24-26) that being the time of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she would carry in her womb Yeshua, and nine months later, he would be born. So, if we count 6 months from July-August time, we would come to December-January time. It may possibly be that God's precious seed was implanted in Mary's womb during the 8 days of Hanukkah 2000 years ago, which may have come during the later part of December. Only God knows. It would be fitting that the "LIGHT of the world, come into this world, during the "Festival of Lights". (coming into the womb of Mary)
If we count 9 months from then, we end up with late September or early October as the time of birth of Messiah Yeshua, perhaps during the "Feast of Tabernacles," which means "God coming to "tabernacle" among mankind, which is exactly what He did through Yeshua!
During this time, the weather was still OK to have sheep in the field. No room in the Inn was because the Feast of Tabernacles was a feast when all families had to make their way to Jerusalem to celebrate, and would have been renting rooms in all the areas surrounding Jerusalem, which included Bethlehem. "Beit-Lechem" (The House of Bread), where the "Bread of Life" was born." The Greek word used for "Inn" was not an "Inn" at all, but rather the top-floor guest room of a house. The bottom level would have been used for the animals, that is, where Joseph and Mary ended up; the top floor was in use by other guests. The Feast of Tabernacles plus the census would have made it difficult to find a decent room at that time.
This would have been a good time to conduct the census by Augustus Cesar since the weather was still good and people were already on the move. But no one, of course, knows the exact date, as I mentioned, only the time of year.
So, to say that "God came to man" during December, would still be true, as he came as the "Seed implanted" in the Virgin Mary, perhaps during the "Festival of Lights" the "Light of the World" came, and was born to live among men and women, nine months later during the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, to be that "Holy and sinless Tabernacle" to teach Torah, to heal the sick, and raise the dead, and to die for the sins of the world.
Gifts? presents anyone? Yes, but anytime during the year would be good for gift giving. For graduations, weddings, birthdays, even a gift for "closing that 10 million dollar contract deal, Thank you, Ben Avraham, here is your 2025 Mercedes." (Sure, OK, I'll take it to the Mercedes dealer and sell it back to them, then buy a VW mini-bus) then save the leftover $$ (cheaper on gas)
So, what about the Santa Claus thing? The real meaning of Christmas has been diverted to someone who has "God" qualities. A fake and substitute God! Sadly enough. Santa knows who has been good and bad. Only GOD knows that! (and Santa too? Hello?) How can one person travel all over the world in one single night and bring presents out of one single sack? Only GOD can see all over the world and be all over the world at once. Jesus took 5 loaves and 2 fish from one basket and fed 5000, (kind of like a bottomless basket). Is Santa's sack bottomless? Santa gives kids what they want, God gives us what we need. Santa comes into the house via the chimney "Via FIRE!) (and if you don't have a chimney? How does he come in? Squeeze under the door? The Holy Spirit comes into us by the heart!
New Year's resolutions! Don't even go there. You'll break them soon enough. "God, I promise no more cussing this year. Hey, who spilled the wine on the rug? Why you dirty little *&^%$! (Oh, sorry about that, God. Yeah, my bad!) Better yet, let's start this new Gregorian year of 2026 with desires addressed to God:
Heavenly Father, I ask you to give me the ability to control my temper this new year, to make me more sensitive to others' needs, educate me more in your WORD, help me be a better husband, wife, father, mother,...help me to grow more in your Spirit, through your Holy Spirit....
We can ask for those things. Let's not promise anything! So, Happy Holidays to all. Enjoy time with your families, enjoy the lights, the special food, and the smells. (Roast leg of lamb, anyone?) Yeah, I wish. Let's remember the event of the birth of Messiah Yeshua, God incarnate, the "Light of the World," coming to planet Earth as the "Bread of Life" via the "House of Bread" (Beit-Lechem), Bethlehem.
I would like to extend a "Shalom Aleichem" (peace be upon you) to all of you on this Forum site. Thank you all for your reading support and your comments. December is the "Hanukkah/Christmas/New Year's" month of Festivities and a time or times to gather with family and eat special festive meals, and just enjoy the fellowship.
We have celebrated the "Festival of Lights" (Hag HaUrim) or "Hanukkah" (Festival of Dedication). And this evening, according to the Gregorian Calendar, is Christmas Eve. I know that almost all families in Christendom celebrate Christmas with the "Tree and Trimmings." It is a time to encourage families to get together in warm fellowship, despite different traditions. Some will go buy fresh-cut pine trees and decorate them, others will buy plastic ones. Some families will go all out and spend $$$ on decorations, lights, the works. Some prefer the simple things, just time with their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and sit around the dinner table with a turkey or a Leg of Lamb, wine, and eggnog.
But what about the 25th of December being "Christ's Birthdate?" Is it true? I would say no. However, it is "tradition", and has been for the last 2000 years. Does it matter the exact date and time of his birth? maybe not. If God had wanted us to know the exact date of Jesus' birth, I am sure He would have guided the writers of the New Covenant scriptures to write something like: "And it happened that on the 10th day, of the 7th month, during the reign of Caesar Augustus, and King Herod of Judeah, during the time of the Census, that in Bethlehem, was born Christ the King, Emmanuel..." Yet nothing like that is recorded, yet we can deduce through simple mathematics and using the Hebrew calendar, the approximate time of year our Savior was born. So, this article is of educational value, "that we might know."
The date "25th of December" is a date imposed by Rome on or around A.D. 350. The date was known as "Saturnalia," the "birthdate" of the gods of Rome. The emperor Constantine wanted to help the pagans embrace Christianity, so he moved the time of year when Yeshua was born to fit in with the pagan gods of Rome (mainly, the sun gods). We must remember, however, the "event", not the "date". Yet one often wonders, when was Messiah really born?
In the gospels, the sheep were in the fields with the shepherds, and in December, it is cold and wet, so the shepherds would have been keeping the sheep in covered shelters. Agustus Cesar would not have conducted a census during this time, as it would have been difficult for people to travel in the wet and cold weather. That rules out December as the time of the "birth" of Messiah Yeshua.
In 1 Chronicles 24:7-18, it states that King David divided up the priesthood into 24 groups or orders of families. Each family would serve two weeks in the Temple throughout the year. Zachariah, the husband of Elizabeth, was of the order of Abijah, which was the 8th group of priestly service. The groups started at the beginning of the Jewish year, the First of Nisan, which was in April. (Exodus 12:1). So, group 1 and 2 would have served in April (corresponding to our Gregorian calendar). Groups 3 and 4 would have served in May. Groups 5 and 6 would have served in the month of June. Groups 7 and 8 would have served in July. Since Zechariah was part of the last group, group 8, of "Abijah" (Lucas 1:5), he finished his term of service probably by the end of July, and he went home to be with his wife after that, in August.
We need to realize that the Hebraic months overlap the Gregorian months, as the Hebraic months are set by the phases of the moon, while the Gregorian months are set by the sun, which never changes. When Zachariah finished his term, it would have been towards the end of July or early August. Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist around this time. Luke 1:17 states that "John the Baptist would come in the Spirit of Elijah." During the time of Passover, the Prophet Elijah is symbolically at the Passover Seder. If we count 9 months from August, we get to April, the time of Passover, the time of John the Baptist's birth.
We know that the gospels state that in the 6th month (Luke 1:24-26) that being the time of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she would carry in her womb Yeshua, and nine months later, he would be born. So, if we count 6 months from July-August time, we would come to December-January time. It may possibly be that God's precious seed was implanted in Mary's womb during the 8 days of Hanukkah 2000 years ago, which may have come during the later part of December. Only God knows. It would be fitting that the "LIGHT of the world, come into this world, during the "Festival of Lights". (coming into the womb of Mary)
If we count 9 months from then, we end up with late September or early October as the time of birth of Messiah Yeshua, perhaps during the "Feast of Tabernacles," which means "God coming to "tabernacle" among mankind, which is exactly what He did through Yeshua!
During this time, the weather was still OK to have sheep in the field. No room in the Inn was because the Feast of Tabernacles was a feast when all families had to make their way to Jerusalem to celebrate, and would have been renting rooms in all the areas surrounding Jerusalem, which included Bethlehem. "Beit-Lechem" (The House of Bread), where the "Bread of Life" was born." The Greek word used for "Inn" was not an "Inn" at all, but rather the top-floor guest room of a house. The bottom level would have been used for the animals, that is, where Joseph and Mary ended up; the top floor was in use by other guests. The Feast of Tabernacles plus the census would have made it difficult to find a decent room at that time.
This would have been a good time to conduct the census by Augustus Cesar since the weather was still good and people were already on the move. But no one, of course, knows the exact date, as I mentioned, only the time of year.
So, to say that "God came to man" during December, would still be true, as he came as the "Seed implanted" in the Virgin Mary, perhaps during the "Festival of Lights" the "Light of the World" came, and was born to live among men and women, nine months later during the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, to be that "Holy and sinless Tabernacle" to teach Torah, to heal the sick, and raise the dead, and to die for the sins of the world.
Gifts? presents anyone? Yes, but anytime during the year would be good for gift giving. For graduations, weddings, birthdays, even a gift for "closing that 10 million dollar contract deal, Thank you, Ben Avraham, here is your 2025 Mercedes." (Sure, OK, I'll take it to the Mercedes dealer and sell it back to them, then buy a VW mini-bus) then save the leftover $$ (cheaper on gas)
So, what about the Santa Claus thing? The real meaning of Christmas has been diverted to someone who has "God" qualities. A fake and substitute God! Sadly enough. Santa knows who has been good and bad. Only GOD knows that! (and Santa too? Hello?) How can one person travel all over the world in one single night and bring presents out of one single sack? Only GOD can see all over the world and be all over the world at once. Jesus took 5 loaves and 2 fish from one basket and fed 5000, (kind of like a bottomless basket). Is Santa's sack bottomless? Santa gives kids what they want, God gives us what we need. Santa comes into the house via the chimney "Via FIRE!) (and if you don't have a chimney? How does he come in? Squeeze under the door? The Holy Spirit comes into us by the heart!
New Year's resolutions! Don't even go there. You'll break them soon enough. "God, I promise no more cussing this year. Hey, who spilled the wine on the rug? Why you dirty little *&^%$! (Oh, sorry about that, God. Yeah, my bad!) Better yet, let's start this new Gregorian year of 2026 with desires addressed to God:
Heavenly Father, I ask you to give me the ability to control my temper this new year, to make me more sensitive to others' needs, educate me more in your WORD, help me be a better husband, wife, father, mother,...help me to grow more in your Spirit, through your Holy Spirit....
We can ask for those things. Let's not promise anything! So, Happy Holidays to all. Enjoy time with your families, enjoy the lights, the special food, and the smells. (Roast leg of lamb, anyone?) Yeah, I wish. Let's remember the event of the birth of Messiah Yeshua, God incarnate, the "Light of the World," coming to planet Earth as the "Bread of Life" via the "House of Bread" (Beit-Lechem), Bethlehem.
