For to us a child is born, to us a son is given (Isaiah 9:6)
Although I am deeply convinced that our Messiah was born on Sukkoth (many biblical references, when read INTO CONTEXT, point at Sukkoth or Feast of the Tabernacles), I want to set apart this particular time of the year during which many Christians celebrate our Messiah's birth to reflect on our Messiah's venue on earth.
Nothing is more beautiful than to think that Abba loved each of us-individually to offer us His most precious gift. Yeshua became as fragile as a baby in order to show us godly love.
Yeshua, as He approached me, is the most gentle person I have ever met. Since this powerful encounter I had with Him, I started reading the New Testament with new eyes.
Yeshua revealed Himself to me as Yeshua haMaschiach, the Jewish Messiah.
I am so much conscious that all New Testament references really make sense when interpreted rightly after Torah and Tanakh.
I have been accused to "hate Christians", because I want to examine Yeshua's sayings at the light of the Torah. No, I don't hate anyone and there are wonderful Christians who love Yeshua with all their hearts, but I am not in agreement with the mistakes introduced into Christianity.
I want Truth for my Messiah is the Truth and I will walk in truth as long as I live.
What the Gospel teaches us about Zachariah and Elisabeth
"In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zachariah of the class of Abia..." Luke 1:5
The Gospel of Luke teaches us that Zachariah was a priest of the class of Abia. In the next sentence we are being told that his wife, Elisabeth, was of the priestly line of Aaron. The high priests, like all levitical priests, belonged to the line of Aaron.
Does this matter? Yes, it certainly does matter.
Both, Zachariah and Elisabeth were strict Torah observants. They were obedient to the Commandments of Hashem. It also means that the one people are calling "John the Baptist" is not anyone.
The birth of their son Yokhanan was the fulfilling of a prophecy. In the Gospel of Matthew, Yokhanan is referred to as the "voice in the wilderness", quoting the Book of Isaiah : "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His path straight." (Isaiah 40:3)
Yeshua spoke of Yokhanan as Elyahou the prophet, according to the prophecy of Malachi:
"See I will send the prophet Elyahou before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. (Malachi 4:5. )
"And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elyahou, who was to come." (Matthew 11:14)
One must also know that Jewish families who celebrate the Seder (the Passover meal) always leavean empty seat and an empty cup for prophet Elyahou whose coming must precede the coming of the Maschiach.
The birth of our Messiah on Sukkhot
John 1:14: The word became flesh and dwelt among us.
A correct translation of "dwelt" from the Greek renders "tabernacled" with is a very clear reference to the feast of Tabernacles.
Also, one needs to do away with the folkloric representation of the creche to realize that Yosef, Miriam's husband act was to install his son into a Sukkah.
Many Messianic Jews believe that the date of birth of our Messiah can actually be calculated, based on the accounts of the Gospel of Luke. It is clearly stated that our Messiah was conceived 6 months after His cousin Yokhanan. The website Jewish roots gives us more accurate precisions about an actual calculation of the date of birth of our Messiah, according to the Jewish calender and to Zachariah's ministery at the Temple.
The following website also reveals us some interesting details about Yeshua's birth, from a Jewish point of view.
Also meteorology in Israel at the time of Yeshua's venue shows us that we were not in winter:
"And she gave birth to her firstborn and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no plae for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:7-8)
Knowing that the weather conditions in winter in Israel are very different from this description, usually cold and rainy, shepherds would not have been able to watch over their flock as they were doing it in the story of Luke.
If you want to have more evidence, check out this detailed article.
The most important we must remember about Yeshua's coming in flesh is that our Savior accepted to take our human condition. He is our greatest gift, ever. Through Him we are delivered from our sins.
Blessed be His Name, for ever and ever. Amen.
Copyright© by Isabelle Esling
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