BIRTH OF JESUS

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................2 CONCEPTION & BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST..............................................3 CONCEPTION & BIRTH OF JESUS.....................................................................4 TRANSFIGURATIONOF JESUS...........................................................................5 JOSEPH & MARY IN BETHLEHEM......................................................................6 RETURN OF JESUS..............................................................................................8 QUERIES................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
JEWISH MONTH Nisan ENGLISH MONTH MAR APR DATE & FESTIVAL 14th Nisan Passover 15th Nisan Feast of Unleavened Bread (Compulsory to appear before God in Jerusalem) 22nd Nisan Feast of First fruits 6th Sivan Feast of Weeks (50 days after First fruits) (Compulsory to appear before God in Jerusalem) SCRIPTURE Leviticus 23:4 Leviticus 23:6 Leviticus 23:10,11 Leviticus 23:17

2 3 4 5 6 7

Iyar Sivan Tammuz Av Elul Tishri

APR MAY MAY JUN JUN JUL JUL AUG AUG SEP SEP OCT

1st Tishri Feast of Trumpets 10th Tishri Feast of Atonement 15th Tishri to 22nd Tishri Feast of Tabernacles (Compulsory to appear before God in Jerusalem) 25th Kislev to 3rd Tevet Feast of Dedication Festival of Lights (Chanukah)

Leviticus 23:24 Leviticus 23:28 Leviticus 23:34

8 9 10 11 12

Heshvan Kislev Tevet Shevat Adar

OCT NOV NOV DEC DEC- JAN JAN FEB FEB MAR DATE 25th Sivan Six months after the conception of John the Baptist 25th Kislev (Chanukah) 40 weeks later 15th Nisan (Passover) 40 weeks later 15th Tishri (Tabernacles)

KEY EVENT Conception of John the Baptist Conception of Jesus

COMMENTS

SCRIPTURE

25th Kislev is very close to 25th December, so Christmas is a close approximation to Jesus being conceived as opposed to Him being born. Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, the Light of the World was conceived during this festival One of the rituals of the Passover is to set a special place setting, for Elijah, and to open the door to welcome Elijah. Jesus said that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come! The word for dwelt is Tabernacled

Birth of John the Baptist

Birth of Jesus

Luke 1:26-27 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Matthew 11:13-14 13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. John 1:14 14 And the Word became 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.

CONCEPTION & BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Conception of John the Baptist

Zechariah, John the Baptist's father was part of the Levitical priesthood group known as Abijah.

Luke 1:5 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. There were 24 courses. Abijah was the eighth course. David divided them and gave them instructions concerning the time they were to serve. God's Spirit showed David how he was to divide the Priests and how they were to serve:

1 Chronicles 24:3 3 Then David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service. 1 Chronicles 24:10 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 1 Chronicles 24:18-19 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. 1 Chronicles 28:13 13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD. The following verse indicates that the length of service for each course was seven days:

1 Chronicles 9:25 25 And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for seven days. The week of service began and ended on the Sabbath:

2 Chronicles 23:8 8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions.

In addition to their normal service, the Priests, all twenty-four courses, served for three extra weeks during the year

Deuteronomy 16:16 16 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.

24 courses times 1 week equals 24 weeks that have been served by the twenty-four courses. Then we add the three extra weeks when all 24 courses served. We now have covered 27 weeks.

Each course, therefore, served for one week twice a year, and three weeks a year they all served. Each course, therefore, served a total of five weeks during the year. Between the first and the eighth week of the year, two of the three times when all twenty-four courses served, intervened. The eighth course would, therefore, serve during the tenth week having allowed for the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks, which both occur during the first eight weeks of the year. This is the second Sabbath of Sivan, and the week that follows (approximately Sivan 12-18). Elizabeth conceived Yochanan (John) the Baptist AFTER Zechariah had finished his Temple service. So, she would have become pregnant after the third Sabbath of Sivan (approximately Sivan 19-25): Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months, which was until the birth of John the Baptist. Since a full pregnancy term is 41 weeks, and 27 weeks makes up the first six months (two trimesters), which is exactly the time from the discourse of Abiyah to Chanukah, that leaves 14 weeks to accomplish the last trimester and bring the pregnancy to full term. There are exactly 14 weeks from Chanukah to Passover (Nisan 14-22). Therefore, John the Baptist was born at Passover. He was circumcised on the eighth day, which would be the last day of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Luke 1:23-24 23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, Luke 1:56-60 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house. 57 Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."

If you go forward forty weeks, for a normal pregnancy, we see that Yochanan (John) the Baptist was born on Passover. We would expect that this pregnancy would be perfectly normal because this is the mark of God's handiwork - perfection!

CONCEPTION & BIRTH OF JESUS

Jesus was conceived during the feast of Dedication (Festival of Lights or Chanukah). He identifies Himself as being one with the Father during this feast (John1:30) which testifies to His Divine origin in His conception. It also reinforces Chanukah as the time of His conception.

John 10:22-30 22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."

25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 "I and My Father are one." Mary conceived six months after Elisabeth conceived, which means Jesus birth would have to come six months after John's birth, during the seventh Hebrew month of Tishri. Since we know that John was born at Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, we learn the time of Jesus birth by counting six Hebrew months from Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on Nisan 15 and six months later Tabernacles begins on Tishri 15. Therefore, Jesus was born on the first day of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). The first day of Tabernacles is a Sabbath rest, so it fits that Joseph and Mary planned their journey to Bethlehem so they would finish their journey before the festival Sabbath. They found lodging just in time. Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles, God commanded that Israel should observe it eight days. They were to build temporary dwellings called a sukkah and dwell in them [Leviticus 23:34-43]. These sukkahs were erected to house families with some bare comforts and food for the eight days. Food was placed in a stall or a crib for storage in the tabernacle, which is referred to as a manger. Jesus was not born in a barn, but rather in a temporary tabernacle which had been built for the celebration. He was placed in a "manger", demonstrating in a type that He is the Bread of Life from heaven. A "manger" is a "feeding trough". Most likely a newly-made, unused trough substituted for a crib. This emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the Bread of Life ( John Chapter 6 ), born in Bethlehem "the house of Bread". "Manger" does not mean stable. The emphasis here is upon the source of nourishment, not the housing. Luke 2:7 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The eighth day, Jesus was circumcised according to the scriptural command. For a male, this is what accomplishes a full Hebrew birth. The Feast of Tabernacles is for exactly eight days. The first and last days are both holy Sabbaths. Jesus was born on the first day, a holy Sabbath, and circumcised on the eighth day, a holy Sabbath. Evidently, God intended this entire Feast of Tabernacles to be set aside in order to accomplish and celebrate Jesus birth into the world. Luke 2:21 21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Note that God provided two holy feasts that lasted eight days, Passover/Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah, was born and circumcised in the eight days of the first, then six month later Jesus, the Messiah, was born and circumcised the eight days of the second. John came in the first month of the year and Jesus came in the seventh month. In ministry, John introduced the way through Messiah and then Jesus perfected it, even as the first and seventh months signify.

TRANSFIGURATIONOF JESUS
Lastly, it should be mentioned that the Transfiguration took place during the Season of Tabernacles. Matthew. 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-10 and Luke 9:29***see below The Transfiguration reminds us that we will someday trade these earthly tents for

beautiful glorified bodies to dwell forever in the Heavenly Jerusalem with Him "and so shall we ever be with Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Just to BE with Him is real SIMCHAT, JOY! 2 Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (sukkot) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (see all of 1 Corinthians 15 , and 2 Corinthians 5) 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, " Then we will be "changed from glory to glory" by the Holy Spirit. Like the song says, "We've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun!"

JOSEPH & MARY IN BETHLEHEM

This is one of the things that the Jewish people who are anti-missionaries have pointed out. They have found in history the records that indicate that there was no such law made, that no one was required to go immediately to the . . . lets say the capital of their province to register for the census. In fact, historical documents prove that when a census was given by any governor, that every citizen had at least one year to go and make this census. And if they were not able to go in one year, there were even other provisions made that messengers would be sent out to help take the census. And so there is no evidence anywhere that Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem because of the census. But because they were going to Jerusalem anyway, its very likely that they filled out their census in Bethlehem and then went on to Jerusalem. Somebody said, Why were they going to Jerusalem? Because it was commanded of them. Dont forget that Yosef, the earthly father of the Lord, or the earthly husband of Mary, the mother of our Lord, was what? He was a Jew. And it was commanded of him that he leave Nazareth three times a year and go where? To Jerusalem. To do what? To worship God. We are able to prove by these weekly courses of the priests that Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem on their way to Jerusalem because it was the Feast of Succot. And they were commanded to be in Jerusalem at that time. That makes it very, very special when we get that far. And we probably wont get that far this morning. Weve read in Luke, chapter 1, that Zacharias had drawn a lot. Lots were cast. And according to the lot, the assignment was distributed for the service of the Temple. How many of you remember what Zacharias job was given to him by the lot? He was to burn incense on the holy altar of God. We also are able to know because of Josephus that Zacharias was serving his first week of the year and not the second week. Somebody said, How in the world could you know such a thing as that? Because Josephus records that the order of the Temple was such that during the first week of a priests service, the rural priests, the country preachers, would always serve in these little ministries of lighting the incense, burning the incense, cleaning out the lamps and these little menial type tasks. In the second course they would move up into a higher level of ministry in the Temple.

Those priests who lived in Jerusalem, which were historically more corrupt, . . . They were so corrupt over the years, at times, that they became the elite in such a way that they were so exalted, and they began to take bribes. And thats what you hear the prophets crying out about. When you hear them prophesying against shepherds and crying out against false prophets and so forth, a lot of times theyre speaking about the corruption of the priests in the Temple. These were the Jerusalem priests who lived in the upper city, in the Green Island Hills of Jerusalem. Thats where they lived, in the exclusive area. But the rural priests, like Zacharias, he lived a few miles away from the Temple out in Ein Kerem, what we know now as Ein Kerem, out in the country. When you drive out there, you think youve left Israel, almost, because you start seeing trees. You start seeing little forests and green hills and little brooks. And it almost looks as though youve left the country altogether. And Zacharias chose that kind of a life. And Josephus then tells us that Zacharias was in the temple, in Luke, chapter 1, serving his first week. Not the second week. His first week. It just so happened that because he was in the eighth order . . . Now here is . . . Now Brother Billy has fixed that so nice. We are able to see how this went in the first week. Now remember this . . . that in a Hebrew month, a lot of times in a Hebrew month, we will have two of our months and vice versa because the Hebrew calendar is based on what? The moon. Our calendar is based on what? The sun. And so we have the month of Abib and Nisan which is sometimes referred to as the same month. In our calendar it would be March and April. And that means on the first day of Nisan, the first day of the month, Jehorab would have been the priest. His order, those who were after his family, his descendants, would have been the ones who were working in the Temple. How long was their course of ministry? One week. And it started what day of the week? Shabbat. And ended on what day of the week? Shabbat. Do you think they waited until early Saturday morning to get there? No. They went early because there is a commandment that tells us we cant travel on the Sabbath. Thats the reason why Joseph and Mary went early. They were there a few days early because the first day of Succot is what? A Sabbath. And so they went early to Bethlehem. And when they got there, there was a crowd of people. Not because of the census, but because of Succot because the population of Jerusalem would swell three times a year from 120,000 to . . . Do you want to guess? Two million people. From 120,000 to 2,000,000. Anybody want to guess why all the inns were full? And the houses? And the closets? And the basements? Because everybody had relatives in Jerusalem. And listen at this. Not only is that interesting, its also interesting to note that in Succot the people are commanded to build (what?) booths outside of their homes. Can you imagine how crowded the streets got if two million people were building their little booths around Jerusalem, all through the hills of Judea, even in toward Bethlehem? And it is commanded that men . . . only the men are commanded to do it . . . sleep in the succa, in the booth, in the tabernacle at night. But at least a meal is taken, a family meal is taken, in the succa. Now it would often happen, Josephus said, when he was in Jerusalem for the feast he would notice that because it was so congested and crowded that a lot of times a family would build their succa, but they would sleep inside at night and leave the succa for pilgrims and travelers who were passing along.

And not only would they do that . . . (Im getting ahead of myself, of course.) . . . Not only would they do that, but they would build a little shelf of whatever they had, some kind of little container. The word in Latin is . . . it comes from . . . its translated in English from Latin, Crib. C-r-i-b. Thats where we get our word crib. But its not referring to a place where babies are born or placed after theyre born. Its referring to a place where food is stored like our grandparents used to talk about corn cribs, a place of storage. And so what these families would do is, they would build a little shelf. If they didnt have a shelf, perhaps they would even go out and bring in a trough or a manger that had been used to feed the animals, not likely made of wood because wood was very scarce at this time. Still, today, scarce in Israel. And so it was probably made of what material? Stone. So some would set up a little table or a little booth, a little shelf. It has a word in Hebrew. I dont recall it just now. And others would use whatever kind of storage bin, or crib, or container they could get. And they would leave food in there after their meal. They would leave leftovers in there because somebody was traveling without a place to stay. And maybe their family had come, and they would leave food out there in case somebody ducked in there on their way on up to Jerusalem or something. Its so wonderful to think of that because after a lot of study, we see that Yeshua was not born in a crche. Is that what they call it? What was the word they use? Crche. How do you say it? Am I not saying it quite right? Whats the word the Catholic church uses? A crche? Nobody knows? What did you say? Its crche, isnt it? How many of you know in a little nativity scene, youve got this little wooden building. How many of you have seen it? Youve got this little wooden building where theyre born. And then theres other theories that perhaps it was a cave where the animals were kept. But most likely because God did everything in such meticulous detail . . . fulfilling every one of the Feasts of Jehovah in the Lord Yeshua . . . Its most likely that He was not born in a cave, He was not born in a Catholic crche, but He was most likely born in a succa because there were thousands and thousands of them everywhere. And its not likely that He was laid in a little wooden trough, but its likely that when He was born, His mother laid Him either on a little shelf, or perhaps it really was a little manger type thing that had once been used for animals but was now being used to store food during Succot. Somebody said, Why is that so significant? What did Yeshua say about Himself? He said, I am the Bread of Life. How wonderful it is that when His mother gave birth to Him, she wrapped Him in these rags, in these swaddling clothes, (which there is a whole other interpretation of that as well) and laid Him on this little shelf, or crib, or manger, whatever it was, where either animals had taken their meal or more likely pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem. Their bread would have been left in there. Can you imagine? Ducking into a succa on your way up to Jerusalem at night expecting to find a piece of bread in the little crib and instead find a little baby laying there? But this wasnt any ordinary baby.

RETURN OF JESUS
Jesus will return on His birthday ? 1Thessalonians 4:16-18 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

QUERIES
How many of you remember what Zacharias job was given to him by the lot? He was to burn incense on the holy altar of God. We also are able to know because of Josephus that Zacharias was serving his first week of the year and not the second week. Somebody said, How in the world could you know such a thing as that? Because Josephus records that the order of the Temple was such that during the first week of a priests service, the rural priests, the country preachers, would always serve in these little ministries of lighting the incense, burning the incense, cleaning out the lamps and these little menial type tasks. In the second course they would move up into a higher level of ministry in the Temple. Those priests who lived in Jerusalem, which were historically more corrupt, . . . They were so corrupt over the years, at times, that they became the elite in such a way that they were so exalted, and they began to take bribes.

That the birth of Yeshua took place on Sukkot is corroborated by many other evidences pointed out by Christian theologians. Many of such evidences are discussed above, plus, some have noted that the chronological calculations of the Gospels lead us to the place the birth of Messiah in the late fall - most agree that Yeshua's earthly ministry lasted three and one-half years. Since we know he died on Passover (March/April), by back tracking we arrive at Sukkot (September/October).