Christmas

Is December the 25^th the day Jesus was born? Is it a pagan holiday? Should we celebrate it?

Those are three very good questions that we will address. December 25 is not the day Christ was born. It was the date of His conception. The Scriptures easily document this fact as you will see.

Now clearly anyone who uses common sense can tell that this is so. Shepherds do not have their flocks out in the middle of winter. Mary would not have attempted to travel to her cousin Elizabeth in some rather cold temperatures over, I’m sure, rough terrain.

Having that said let’s document that December the 25^th was Christ’s conception. This is not so much a study but rather to address the topic directly.

We are going to start in Luke with Zecharias. Many seem to forget this man was a priest and a had course twice a year to work in the temple. This is where you must start and learn when the course he served was. It was the course of Abia.

1 Chronicles 24:10

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

The dates of the course was June 13-19.

So then we have Zecharias and his wife Elizabeth being full-blood Levites. A Levitical priest could only marry a Levite woman.

Luke 1:6

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

In other words they fulfilled all the legal requirements of a Levitical Priest and his wife.

Luke 1:7

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Being childless at this time was a shame to a woman. Elizabeth was barren and could not conceive  a child. It will take Divine Intervention for a miracle to take place.

Luke 1:8

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

We see here that Zecharias is on duty to service the temple.

Now while he was doing this the angel Gabriel appears to him. Gabriel goes on to tell Zecharias that he shall have a son and name him John, which mean "Yahveh’s Gift". He of course being the forerunner of Christ.

Now Zecharias for some reason doubts the angels words and asks for a sign. Normal reaction I suppose, but when you have angel from God in front of you? Hmmm… Well, Gabriel becomes a bit impatient with Zecharias. He then gives him a sign all right.

Wait a minute? Are you saying Gabriel is male? That’s right. The name Gabriel means "Mighty man of God".

Luke 1:19-20

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

It seems Zecharias won’t saying a whole lot for a while.

Luke 1:23

23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

The course of Abia would not be finished until after June 20th. Zechariah lived about 30 miles from home. It would take a man his age at least 2 days to travel from the temple. This puts the date at June 23^rd or 24^th.

Luke 1:24-25

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Elizabeth his herself 5 months. This will take us to November 24^th, 5 months later.

Luke 1:26

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Where are we chronologically? The sixth month from January? No. I have seen others make that mistake. We are not in June here. This is in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John. On top of that the Hebrew calendar begins at the vernal equinox not January. So, we are now at December 25^th. June to November being five months, plus December is six months from John’s conception.

Luke 1:27

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

This only states the Joseph was of the tribe of Judah.

Luke 1:28-31

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Jesus being Greek for Yahsha. It means "Salvation of Yahveh". God will bring salvation to the world through this One.

Luke 1:32-33

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:34-35

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Mary was not doubting Gabriel’s message, she just didn’t understand how.

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

This being December 25^th, the conception of The Son of The Living God.

Luke 1:36

36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Now, here we will explain that Jesus was not of the tribe of Judah only, but also of Levi. How is that possible? It’s simple really. We already know that Elizabeth and Zecharias were full-blood Levites. If Elizabeth is Mary’s cousin, this meant that one of Mary’s parents was a Levite. It happens to be her mother. Her father naturally would be of Judah (Luke 3:33) for the scriptures say Jesus would inherit the throne of David back in verse 32. He would also be a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

This also helps explain the "supposed" problems with the genealogy in Matthew and Luke. The genealogy in Matthew is obviously Joseph’s who had nothing to do with the birth of Christ other than by adoption. In Luke you will not see the word "begat" but "As was supposed" meaning by law. In other words, Mary did not have a brother, therefore Mary's father's heritage was passed on through the daughter to the son-in-law. That's why in Luke you don't see "begat" but "which was the son of..."

Hence, you have both the king line (Judah) and the priest line (Levi). Making Christ the priest of priests and king of kings, & the Lord of all Lords.

Luke 1:37-38

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary is a good example of faith and trust in God.

Luke 1:39-40

39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

As soon as Mary was able she went to Elizabeth. No doubt she was excited.

Luke 1:41-44

41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

The soul and spirit that was placed in Mary's womb was so strong, that when she cried to Elizabeth with the good news knowing that Elizabeth had good news, that John being six months in the womb, leapt. So, when exactly did God begin to dwell with man?

Luke 1:45-50

45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

There is your documentation that Christmas is not a pagan holiday for Christians. Anytime that Jesus Christ can be the focus and His Name can be glorified I don’t believe is a bad thing.

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Written by Phil Najera

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