Christ’s Birth and Conception – What Is December 25?

Today let’s cover some more “doctrine” as we make our way through the essentials of our faith. All to help you get even more out of your daily Bible readings…

And yes, I know what you’re thinking … and it’s true. When you get a clearer picture in your head about the doctrines of our faith, you are better able to receive and apply Christ’s teachings.

This, then, helps you grow and further build within yourself the character, and calm quiet confidence, of Christ.

And more and more transform your life through Scripture.

Helping you find real answers to your real questions for your real problems in life.

OK, now remember, in our last email we covered “Jesus and the Trinity”.

Today let’s think a little bit about Christ’s birth. Including the timing, which you’ll find is amazingly well planned by God within the structure of His Feast Days.

What you’ll also be interested to start to see is that Christ fulfilled every Feast Day from ancient Israel. You’ll see this more as we continue this email series on the “doctrines” of our faith.

Recovering this lost teaching of our faith is one of the ways you’ll find yourself being freed to keep even the Feast’s in Spirit and Truth!

To make it easy, let’s put this into the form of a little “creed”. Some “I believe” type statements.

Here we go:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of Heaven and Earth and Sea, and all that in them is.

And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord,

Who was born of the Virgin Mary on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles,

Begotten, not made.

Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit at the Feast of Dedication;

which Feast was fulfilled during His ministry as He, fulfilling His priestly work in the outer temple, brought forth from this New Testament temple, His body, His last will and testament – the commandments, statutes, and judgments of the New Covenant.

OK, that’s a little bit about the Birth of Jesus and His Conception.

Now, take a moment to notice the timing of His birth: at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a Feast of the fall, or autumnal, season.

Also take a moment to notice the timing of His conception: at the Feast of Dedication. A Feast happening in December; when it’s “winter” as you’ll see next from the gospel of John.

Indeed, in the gospel of John, Chapter 10, we have the following happening during Christ’s ministry on the Feast of Dedication. A Feast whose fulfillment began at His conception when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and formed in her womb the body of the Christ (the New Testament Tabernacle). And here in the gospel of John this fulfillment is being confirmed and completed by Christ Himself.

Here are the verses from the inspired pen of the Apostle John:

“And then the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, how long do you make us doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly.

“Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s Name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not: for you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them life beyond the bounds of time, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and none is able to take them out of the Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

“Then the Jews again took up stones, to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father: for which of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not, but for blasphemy, and that you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:22-33)

Regarding these verses, here are some notes on this Feast of Dedication taken from the daily readings:

Liddell Scott: evgkai,nia evgkai,nia( ta,( ¿kaino,j) a feast of renovation, esp. that established by Judas Macc. at the re-consecration of the Temple, N.T.

This feast was initiated around 164 BC by Judas Maccabaeus; it was an 8 day feast and began on December 25th each year.

This is the foreshadowing of the Annunciation, which is the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). It is the foreshadowing of the “dedication” of the “true temple” which was the very body of the Christ. This is what we celebrate on December 25th, in preparation for the birth of Christ 9 months later at the time of the Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles around September 25th of each year.

That said, don’t lose your head! Celebrating December 25th as “Christmas” is far better than losing the celebration altogether. So I take advantage of the focus on Christ during the December 25th season, whether it be the ‘annunciation’ or the actual ‘birth’, and again remember the same around September 25th, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast celebrating the tabernacling of God with men (“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14).

OK, that may be some new information for many of you!

But don’t worry. If you have any questions about this let me know. All you have to do is respond to this email and include your questions and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

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God Bless!

Coach Paul
‘Feel, Do, and Be Better!‘