Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Day Jesus Was Born of Mary

I like to remind people of today. At sundown today the Jewish Calender (which hasn't been polluted by Popes or Kings) begins the celebration of Sukkot, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles.

This commemorates the protection of the Children of Israel in the desert and lots of other things including hospitality.

For the Christian it should be important because it is in fact the day Jesus was born. So, in an earthly sense, Happy Birthday Jesus.

I won't go into the how this all was polluted by tradition, why Christmas is celebrated in December. I like Christmas. Heck, I'm German (mostly) and in Germany they have a saying, "the Germans invented Christmas". If you ever celebrated Christmas in Germany you'll come to believe they really did. So, I like Christmas. Der Nicholas and all.

If you celebrated MY birthday in June it would be no less a celebration of my birthday. It would honor me. It would just be on the wrong day. That wouldn't take away from the celebration.

So it is with the December 25th date. Great celebration. Wrong Day.

Oh, I'll enjoy the holiday again this year with family and friends. I'll enjoy the Christmas programs. The music that according to my recognition will begin in the shopping malls in two weeks.

However, if you privately want to celebrate the real birth of Jesus tonight at sundown is the time. I will privately do so. I'll build a little fire in a little fire pit and think about it all.

There are many Christian Sukkot celebrations much more elaborate with huge bonfires, eating, sleeping outside, dancing, imbibing and all around good cheer. One such goes on in Missouri. I have considered going.

But, not this year.

So, just to help y0u remember the real birth of Jesus, it's today. More accurately tonight at sundown it begins.

Oh, and if you have questions as to whether or not I'm a crackpot, you can look at this link. The theology that identifies Jesus being born on the first day of Sukkot is well established and believed by many Bible Scholars. Google the question, "what day was Jesus born". There are some of the Bible Code believers that maintain he was born on the first day of the Feast of Trumpets, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah. Good arguments but Biblically I'm stuck on first day of Succot.

I just don't happen to propagate the whole thing. I mean, my birthday in June is still a celebration. Why would Jesus be upset if we miss the date a bit.

One other thing, John the Disciple Jesus Loved, was assigned by Jesus to care for His mother, John would have asked about the day Jesus was born. It was common knowledge to them. They didn't make a cake but when John writes in the first chapter of his Gospel book he makes an abstract note of it all:

John 1:14 (Amplified Bible)

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.

The use of the word tabernacled is NOT accidental. He was born on the first day of the feast and tabernacled among us. And, we actually SAW his glory? Is that a reference to the pillar of smoke and of fire in the desert as an abstraction but Jesus as the real thing? If you think about this one verse very long you start to see it as John saw it. The real celebration wasn't about his birth or even his death. The real celebration for Christians is and always should be his Resurrection from the dead. That's the pivotal point of all our victory. Price paid full redemption.

Nonetheless, Happy Birthday JESUS.

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