By Mike Walsh Significance of Jesus Birth (& demonstrate it’s importance) To figure timing of Jesus’ birth, we can figure John the Baptist’s birth Lk 1:5, 8 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron…Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,” Of 51 wks of Jewish calendar, there were 24 divisions of priests serving twice during the year= 48wks. (3 extra weeks were feasts when all the priests came, so they didn’t have a particular division of priests serving.) Service time of Abijah’s division can be determined would have been between 6/21 to 7/6. During this time he was told he’d have a son. Vs 24 “After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion” and 9 mos later put John’s birth at time of Passover. (when Jews anticipated coming of Elijah. In Mal 4:5 - "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."). So Elijah comes first, then the Messiah. (Luke 1:15 – Gabriel tells Zechariah, “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And Matt. 11:13-14 –“ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” If John was born during Passover, he aptly fulfilled the prophecies. 6 months later would have been Dec. on our calendar that Gabriel told her she would have a baby, and would be pregnant and stayed with her 3 mos (Lk 1:57), so we know John the Baptist was 6 mos older than Jesus. In Luke 2, Caesar Augustus called for a census, requiring people to travel. It was unlikely when there was snow, making it difficult to travel. On Hebrew calendar, puts us at the start at Feast of Tabernacles, so inns may have been full because of that. Shepherds wouldn’t be out in the fields at night if there was snow. Feast of Booths the one feast they were told to rejoice, so would be most joyful day of the year. (Dt. 16:13) They sang Ps. 118 on this day - “ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation (jeshua). 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents (tabernacles) of the righteous:” (Jesus is in his tabernacle (temp. dwelling for animals) observing the feast. The temple of Jerusalem was lit up during this time, at times called the’ light of the world,’ which Jesus referred to as himself JN 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.” A lot of dancing and festivities during this time (so actually celebrating Christ’s birthday). Eight days later he is circumcised according to the law, so Jesus is finishing up the old covenant and beginning the new (8 speaks of new beginnings). They brought Jesus (a lamb) and the sacrifice (2 turtledoves) Think about what are we giving to the Lord: • We give him gold (divinity, nobility) –speaks of honor, glory, obedience, respect, purity of heart refined by fire. • We give him frankincense (incense on fire offered to God) - speaks of our prayer worship, and praise. • We give him myrrh (ingredient in perfume, smells good, but tastes bad) - speaks of longing of our heart for more of Jesus. Feast of Tabernacles is really the celebration of Jesus coming to tabernacle among us (Jn. 1:14,. Is.7:14), but also in His resurrection, he is tabernacling in us by His Spirit.

Speaker: Michael Walsh
Topic: Jesus' Birth
Location: Christ the King Church