"One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. " -Romans 14:5-6 (TLV) Recently, being unable to refute my answers to their Anti-Christmas rhetoric, logical fallacies and misinterpretations, one such Anti-Christmas proponent attacked my use of Romans 14:5-6, saying that the context concerned fasting and not observances in general.
Here’s why this objection is a lie, born of illogic, a contextual fallacy, and just plain error! Scriptural context is determined by examining surrounding text, identifying qualifying terms, and looking at the meta-narrative (notwithstanding the essential need for the Holy Spirit). Fasting is not mentioned in Romans 14. Deciding to refrain from eating certain foods is, and eating only vegetables is, but the context denotes a general principle regarding disputations over practices that have arisen from foolish arguments and false teaching present in the community of faith as a result of being hyper-gracious toward “weak” (immature) believers. Here are some excerpts from Romans 14 that in and of themselves refute the false teaching that says “Romans 14 is about fasting”. IMPORTANT: Let me be clear, the modern “Daniel fast” (vegetables only) nonsense perpetuated by modern evangelicals is not based on first century Jewish practice but on modern revisionist misinterpretation of the book of Daniel. First century Jews had no such fast. 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of disputes about opinions. The theme here is the strength of a person's faith. We are told to accept “weak” that is, immature believers but we are not to allow them to influence the community through disputes about opinions over non-core doctrine. 2 One person has faith to eat anything, but the weak eats only vegetables. Here we see that the disputes are not over fasting (as is foolishly suggested by people desperate to prove an untenable position), but over foods sacrificed to idols (meat) and those who have the faith to eat them, knowing that idols are nothing, and those that superstitiously think that by eating them (meat) they will become demon possessed or otherwise. Thus, they eat only vegetables. This is supported by Paul’s teaching elsewhere (1 Corinthians 8). So we see that the issue is the eating or not eating of meat (sacrificed to idols). The text says “One person has faith to eat anything, but the weak eats only vegetables.” In short, some eat meat and vegetables and some eat only vegetables (just in case the meat purchased in the market has been sacrificed to idols), both eat, so not remotely to do with fasting. Later, when we read “one eats unto the Lord and the other abstains unto the Lord” it is to be understood in the context of verse 2. As referring to eating or abstaining from meat (sacrificed to idols or not) and not to eating or abstaining from food in general. 3 Don’t let the one who eats disparage the one who does not eat, and don’t let the one who does not eat judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. In short, don’t waste time arguing over eating or not eating all foods. God is Judge. Again, the context relies on the previous verse and relates to eating meat and vegetables or only eating vegetables. Note that the mature believer is not to mock the ignorance of the immature and that the immature believer is the one admonished not to pass judgement. In other words it is the immature (weak) believer who is in error and more often guilty of presumptive judgement against the mature (stronger) believer. This is self-evident in many pseudo learned arguments regarding theology. Therefore, the following verse is a general principle regarding different types of observances as they pertain to arguments over whether a believer should or should not practice them, and not a reference to fast days, which have not been alluded to at all in this chapter up to this point. 5 One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. “Every day alike” denotes all days. There is no recorded practice within first century Judaism or the growing Messiah following community regarding fasts that covered the whole of the year. Therefore, “all days” must by nature of the context denote the numerous observances of sacred days practiced within Judaism and the growing body of believers at the time. There were many “sacred days” observed, both Biblically commanded and otherwise, the only explicit Biblically (Torah) commanded fast being Yom Kippur. It is likely then given that this letter is written to Roman believers, that the days in question were morally neutral extra-biblical observances. In keeping with concerns of the nature of foods, as mentioned in verse 2. The present verses regard morally neutral food consumption and not fasting. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Double mindedness regarding conscience is challenged. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. What day? Any or “all days” (v.5). Again, fasting is not even inferred or remotely applicable. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. Eats what? Verse 2 tells us “all forms of food meat and vegetables”. Abstains from what? Verse 2 tells us from meat, “eats only vegetables”. So is this about fasting? No! 7 For none of us lives for himself, and none dies for himself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this reason Messiah died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. The remainder of the chapter concerns passing judgement that is reserved for God. It is not as some foolishly suggest, saying that we should not judge at all, Yeshua commands us to “make a right judgement”. The point being that not once in Romans 14 does Rav Shaul (Paul the Apostle) refer to or insinuate, infer or otherwise, that fasting is the issue. © 2020 Yaakov Brown “One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.” “One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.” –Romans 14:5-6 TLV Introduction: At this time of year the inevitable Christmas objectors rear their ugly heads. Being a Jewish Messiah follower and spiritual leader, and given my clear teaching in refutation of the “Pagan Christmas” lie, I usually receive a number of angry messages and or responses to posts on the subject. These messages are full of twentieth century evidence (not evidence at all), emotionalism and personal attacks and the majority of the reactionary messages are from pseudo learned so called “Messianic Gentiles”. The Messianic movement has now been so heavily inundated with hyper-law keeping Gentiles that it no longer truly represents the Jewish followers of Yeshua. As Messiah following Jews we are appalled at the nonsense taught by many Messianic Gentiles and some Messianic Jewish leaders, who do not represent the freedom we have found in Yeshua but rather, are teaching as the laws of God, the doctrines of human beings, flesh born, unspiritual. As a result of the demise of the genuine Jewish Messianic movement, our congregation now call ourselves “Messiah following” rather than “Messianic”. This is a decision made to clearly distinguish ourselves from the foolish teaching of so many. I am bemused by the hypocrisy which has developed among hyper-law communities. I have heard them denounce the Talmud for being myth and conjecture, uninspired and full of made up stories and flawed theology, while they themselves teach as truth that which is not true. Christians have their Talmud, full of rapture theory, love languages, self-help, misinterpretation. So too do Hebrew roots groups, and Messianics, with their anti-birthday, anti-Christmas, everyone must keep Sabbath, we are the true called out Church nonsense. How ironic that the Messianic anti-Christmas movement, which prides itself on living a faith that is connected to Hebrew roots and consistent with the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, has nonetheless taken its que for the denigration of Christmas from a gentile protestant. The anti-Christmas movement essentially began in the eighteenth century CE, 1500 years after Christians began to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. The anti-Catholic German protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski (1693-1757) attempted, through pseudo scholarly works (1743), to prove that December 25 was somehow pagan and therefore Christmas was a pagan celebration and Catholicism is heretical. His facts were false and his conclusions error but his work tickled the ears of protestants and puritans (a subgroup), the majority of whom hated the Catholic Church. Thus, out of hatred for Catholicism, and not from Scripture, the “modern” anti-Christmas movement was born. It has ebbed and flowed through the last two centuries and has now found new proponents among the Messianic movement. Rather than actually looking to the Scripture, and Jewish roots of our Jewish faith, we have taken the word of a man who based his theories on false facts, a Gentile no less, and have concluded that it is Jewish to be anti-Christmas. Actually, it couldn’t be more goyish (Gentile). The truth is that for the most part modern Jews could care less about Christmas because 13.7 million of us believe Jesus to be a false demi-god of a Gentile religion that has nothing to do with our faith. Therefore, as a people and a religion Jews have little interest in being anti-Christmas. But, for the Messiah following Jews of the first century the celebration of the birth of Yeshua had everything to do with being Jewish and with the redemption of Israel (so not remotely pagan, in fact, the opposite). Several years ago, one of the beautiful ironies at work to refute the now metastasised anti-Christmas sentiment, was that at least one of the most common objections to the celebration of Christmas (it shouldn’t be celebrated on a date when a pagan deity was worshipped), was made impotent by the date of the Jewish observance of Chanukah (Rededication), which began on Christmas day, the 25th of December 2017. In 2017 the lunar Calendar of Israel coincided with the Gregorian calendar so that the 25th of Kislev and the 25th of December (a so called pagan date) became the same day. The primary reason that I continue to speak out against the demonizing of Christmas, is the demoralizing effect that anti-Christmas sentiment has had on the community of believers (Ecclesia). I come across this message of bondage far too frequently among the wandering masses of Christianity, who, disillusioned with the shallow nature of their own faith, seek depth at the feet of pseudo-learned lay people and worse, professed Messianic Jewish Rabbis, many of whom dine on a steady diet of conspiracy theory, YouTube Bible teaching and conjecture. My hope is that the following article will equip you for the practise of freedom in Messiah. A key aspect of the faith that has been sadly neglected by the para-church swing back to bondage on the rebound from hyper-grace. It has become more and more clear that in recent times the gift of the Holy Spirit most lacking in the western Ecclesia (Church) is that of discernment. I am consistently told by certain Messianic extremists that I should not celebrate Christmas, worship on Sundays, use the name “Jesus,” etc. Though it must be said they are entirely misinformed regarding Christmas and the use of the name Jesus and fail to understand that all days belong to God; the more poignant issue is this, that they are so busy telling others what they shouldn’t do, that they are unable to articulate the freedom, wonders and depth of faith found in a Messiah essential Messianic Jewish Tradition. What’s more, the same celebrate extra Biblical festivals and break numerous other commands of Torah on a daily basis and are therefore, the greatest of hypocrites. When we define ourselves by what we are not, we are repeating the error of our forebears both Jewish and Christian. Those we seek as converts to our way of thinking are instantly disillusioned, in our zeal we turn them away from the beauty and traditions we might otherwise have positively offered them. Often our fierce words of rebuke are based on poor historical knowledge, misinterpretation of Scripture, inaccuracies and myth; passed on by lazy teachers and blinded guides. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Mattitiyahu/Matthew 23:14-16 This is not who we are, it is who we were, before we met Messiah, but now, in Him, we are to be a light to the nations. It is time to stem the flow of darkness that is issuing from our mouths. We are, “A royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to G-d. That we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Kefa/Peter 2:9 If we continually define ourselves by what we are not, we will inevitably forget who we are. Anti-Christmas Sentiment is Anti-Christ It’s interesting to note that the list of Christmas objectors includes the Mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Muslims, Conspiracy theorists, Hebrew roots groups, Messianic believers and atheists, among others. “those who celebrate Christmas do not honor God or Christ, but honor pagan celebrations and pagan gods.” –The Watchtower Magazine (JW) Dec. 8 1988 (pg.19) We must ask, why are cults and atheists some of the strongest opponents of Christmas? What is it that they share in common? There is one unifying answer, every pseudo Christian cult and atheist group agree on one thing, that Yeshua (Jesus) is not God with us (Imanu-El). “Do not be deceived, evil communication (bad company) corrupts good character” -1 Corinthians 15:33 (The Bible) The deity of Messiah is first revealed on earth in the Christmas narrative (Historical record: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). His divine conception and His lineage are first illuminated in the Christmas accounts. To neglect the celebration and remembrance of the Christmas story is a means of cutting off the truth of Messiah’s divinity and His legitimate human lineage at its root, thus supporting the Satanic claims that Yeshua (Jesus) is just a man and at the same time does not qualify to be Israel’s Messiah. This is a direct attack on Messiah, the Christ, and is at its heart driven by a spirit of anti-Christ. Refuting Common Objections to Christmas First, let me repeat that generally speaking Jews do not object to Christians celebrating Christmas because for the most part Jews do not accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah. Therefore, from their perspective Christmas is simply the religious practice of the Gentile Western world. So who are these people within the faith community who are objecting to the celebration of Christmas? They are for the most part, disillusioned Christians, who, with great pride, claim to be Messianic. They are not Jews but they are Judaizers and because of their devote observance of human rules, consider themselves more righteous than the so called, “Apostate Church” they claim to have separated themselves from. As a Jew I find this extremely offensive because they are not only misrepresenting the message of the Messiah but they are also pretending to observe Jewish practices and thus often appear to be representing the Jewish view. They do not represent the Jewish view, nor do they represent the Messianic Jewish view. They simply represent themselves and their own confused attempts to earn God. A Response to Some of the Most Common Objections to Christmas Some popular false claims regarding supposed Christmas syncretism with false gods: Even if it were true that false deities were worshipped in similar ways to Yeshua prior to His birth, this does not detract from Yeshua Who is all existing and therefore pre-existed all these false deities (John 1:1). Nor does performing miracles equate false gods and holy men to Yeshua. The Bible teaches that the Anti-Messiah will perform miracles in an attempt to fool the elect (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The misuse of something does not define its intended purpose! A counterfeit does not delegitimize the real thing. Nor does it matter on which day Yeshua was born or if other deities were worshipped on that day. All days were created by God for His glory. Again, the misuse of a thing does not define its intended purpose! 1.Christmas is Pagan. This generalisation is lazy and intellectually dishonest as well as being an oxymoron (self-contradicting). In fact Christmas is the name of a Judeo-Christian celebration of the birth of Christ (Messiah). The name Christmas is a contraction made up of two words: Christ and mas. Christ comes from the Greek Khristos and means anointed one, it was intended by the Jewish New Testament writers to convey the Hebrew title Mashiyach, which is often translated Messiah, both titles represent the anointed one of God, Who would be born into time and space to deliver His people Israel. So I guess you could say the first part of the name Christmas is pretty much Jewish. Mass: the English term mass comes from the Anglo-Saxon word maesse, which came from the Latin missa, which is a form of the verb mittere, which means "to send." In Hebrew we would use the term neshlach—to send. Therefore the meaning of Christmas is, “Christ is sent,” or Mashiyach neshlach—Messiah is sent. In truth, the two concepts of anointing and sending are rooted deeply in Judaism and help make Christmas—in my opinion—as much a Jewish Holiday as Purim and Chanukah. So, is Christmas Pagan? Well, the name certainly isn’t. Some say that the celebration of Christmas is part of a Satanic agenda. To the contrary, to be anti (Christmas) Christ being sent is more Satanic than all the so called pagan links to Christmas put together. If there is a Satanic (Pagan) agenda at work, it is the agenda that seeks to silence the celebrating of the birth of our Messiah: it’s literally an anti-Christ agenda. I wish you a hearty, “Chag Sameach le’Mashiyach neshlach!” and a, “Chag Ha-molad Sameach!” Christ = Messiah & mas (Sent) Christmas = Messiah is Sent 2.The date of Christmas is a day on which pagan deities were worshipped. Therefore, Messianic believers shouldn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. As clearly shown in my previous tables regarding the supposed correlation between false gods and Yeshua (Jesus), the majority of the proposed pagan deity connections to the 25th of December are false. In addition, we have the following: The god Tammuz was celebrated in February, March, April, June and July. The “Wailing of Tammuz” was celebrated at the end of summer long before the winter solstice. Saturnalia was celebrated from 17 – 23 December, not 25 December. And then there’s the false claim that Christmas borrows from Natalis Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquerable Son) an addition to the Emperor cult syncretized from paganism. Natalis Sol Invictus is celebrated on the 25th December (4th century), however… While Aurelian made Sol Invictus an official religion in Rome in 274 CE, the December 25 connection to the religion is a later syncretism between Sol Invictus and Saturnalia that did not exist in the third century CE. The earliest reference to this pagan celebration on the 25th December is written by Macrobius Theodosius in the 4th century CE [j]. The Christian author Hippolytus of Rome (170-235 CE) writing prior to 235 CE suggested that Yeshua (Jesus) was born on December 25. [k] Therefore, according to the known historical record, the first Christian reference to a December 25th date for Messiah’s birth predates the pagan Sol Invictus celebration by over a hundred years. The only conclusion is that the Emperor of Rome borrowed from the Christian practice in order to syncretize the pagan practice, and not the other way around. Put simply. Christians used the 25th of December prior to the Natalis Sol Invictus cult. Pagans adopted our date. The logic of this objection is that any day used to worship a false god should not be used to worship the one true God. Nonsense! Prior to the giving of the Torah and the moedim (festivals) of HaShem at Sinai, Israel was under bondage in a land where the Sun deity Ra-Atum was worshipped every morning at dawn and every evening at sundown (365 days a year). Using the foolish logic of those who claim pagan deities defile days, every one of HaShem’s moedim (festivals) should not be celebrated because they fall on days when the pagan deity Ra-Atum was worshipped. Who made the days? On which of the days should the God of Israel not be worshipped? We are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory. In the midst of all the rhetoric and conspiracy allegations aimed at the Gentile Church fathers of the 2nd Century regarding the so called pagan date of the 25th of December. Few Christmas objectors have bothered to consider the fact that the authentic fathers of the Church were Jews who lived over 100 years before the first records indicating syncretism, and would have been eager to celebrate the birth of the Jewish Messiah on a regular basis in a Jewish way and for at least 100 years, free from Gentile interference. In fact the Jews have an intrinsic connection to the date of the 25th of December. Every four years or so Chanukah coincides with the 25th of December. In fact, last year in 2017 the first day of Chanukah 25th of Kislev coincided with the 25th of December. Those who claim that pagan connections to this date make the day unsuitable must either denounce Chanukah (A festival Yeshua venerated) or simply admit that they are in grave error. Given that we have no way of knowing when Messiah was born either from Biblical or Historical record, who’s to say that the 25th of December is the wrong date? We don’t know the date, therefore we contradict ourselves by saying that the 25th is the wrong date. Consider this, the 25th of Kislev of the Biblical lunar calendar of Israel which begins Chanukah (A festival of light/dedication) coincides with the 25th of December of the Gregorian Solar calendar on a regular cycle. Therefore, if we are bound by conjecture, as so many anti-Christmas proponents are, we may as well conjecture that it is equally likely that the date of Christmas was simply transitioned from one calendar to another and that early Messianic Jews celebrated the birth of Yeshua (The Light of the World Who rededicated Israel to God) during the festival of Chanukah. Which, as we know, is in the winter months and regularly coincides with Christmas. 3. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Remember my death until I come", therefore, we should not celebrate Christmas. The logic here is, that anything not explicitly commanded in Scripture should not be observed. This flawed logic makes a negative commandment out of a positive commandment. It is a self-defeating premise because Messiah’s death cannot be remembered without His birth into time and space. Yeshua Himself observed Chanukah (John 10:22-41), a festival that is not commanded in Scripture. If we pursue the foolish logic of this objection, we must also cease to celebrate Purim, Chanukah, the Torah cycle, the resurrection, and the miracles of the Messiah. Therefore, if we fail to acknowledge the Messiah’s literal birth into the world we make His life and ministry redundant. An instruction to remember something does not negate the remembrance of other things. 4.Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Messiah’s birth because birthday celebration is pagan. Ancient Pagans celebrated weddings too, should we no longer celebrate weddings? The false Canaanite deity Shalem is said to have been worshipped on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Yebus) thousands of years before Solomon’s Temple was built there.[l] Does this mean the Temple Mount is Pagan? By applying the logic that we should do nothing that pagans do, we must also cease drinking water, procreating, even breathing. Did Joseph and Mary not celebrate the birth of Yeshua? They did, are they pagan? Did the Jewish shepherds of the Migdal Eder (Temple flock) not celebrate Yeshua’s birth? They did, are we to call them pagan? Were the gifts of the magi not celebratory? If they were considered pagan, why did Joseph and Mary allow them to be presented to Yeshua? Some go so far as to suggest that Jews don’t celebrate birthdays. What nonsense, they have obviously spent little time around Jews. Furthermore, Jews have honoured and celebrated birthdays from ancient times. Within the Tanakh (OT) there are numerous examples of the births of children being celebrated. One of the ways the birth of Jewish children is celebrated both in the Scripture and in modern Jewish life is with the naming ceremony, called a Brit Milah for Jewish boys (circumcision), and held eight days after the birth. The births of children are honoured throughout Scripture by placing a God given name on the child and/or choosing a name that expressed the character attributes exhibited by the child through the pregnancy and in the birthing process (Gen. 25:24-26; ). Hence, Yeshua (YHVH Saves)! One of the most famous Messianic prophecies of Isaiah is in fact a birthday celebration song: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God My Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. 6 Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end-- on the throne of David and over His kingdom-- to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.” -Isaiah 9:5-6 5.Yeshua (Jesus) wasn't born during the Christmas season, He was born during Sukkot (Festival of Booths). No, there isn’t any conclusive way to determine the day or season of Messiah’s birth. We simply don’t have historical information that enables us to make an accurate assessment concerning the time of His birth. Those who presume to know are reliant on conjecture born from theological niceties and presumption. Am I saying Messiah was born on the 25th of December? Certainly not. Does it matter which day He was born? Given the lack of Biblical evidence citing exact dates and times for His birth I would hazard a guess that God doesn't want us to know the date or season of His Son’s birth. He probably has a very good reason for this. Learn to embrace the mystery of God, you don’t need to know everything, knowledge puffs up but love builds up. With regard to the “Sukkot birth” claim, the census recorded in Luke 2:1-4 was the first of two, taken between 1 C.E. and 7 C.E. (It’s the latter of the two that is referred to in Acts 5:37). While Quirinius was not physically governing in Syria until 6 C.E., he was responsible for the oversight of its operations and defence under Varus, during Herod’s reign. It’s important to remember that for the people of Israel, a census was considered an affront to God. The taking of a census denoted a lack of trust in God’s provision. This census therefore, was something they were forced to participate in under an oppressive Roman occupation. (See Exodus 30:12; 2 Samuel 24). Beit-lechem (Bethlehem) is approximately 8 kilometres from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and approximately 136 kilometres from Natzeret (Nazareth) in the Galil (Galilee). Given that a majority of governors over the province of Philistia (Occupied Israel) were keen to avoid further uprisings and the causes for them, it is unlikely that a census would have been called during an Regalim (going up) festival of Israel (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot). In addition, a Jew could not be both in his ancestral town and in Yerushalayim at the same time. While Beit-lechem was close to Yerushalayim, the majority of Israel’s outer communities were more than two days journey from Yerushalayim, where the Temple stood. This is just one of many reasons why a Sukkot birth for Messiah is extremely unlikely. In fact all of the Regalim festivals fall into this category. Therefore, it is more likely that Yeshua was born in the winter months. Some misuse the following verse, claiming it proves a Sukkot birth: “Now in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,” –Luke 1:26 There has been much needless conjecture relating to this text. Many who are desperate to claim a Sukkot birth for Messiah need to perform linguistic, contextual, chronological and cultural gymnastics—to name a few—in order to manipulate this date to fit their argument, something every good Bible student knows, is usually an indication that we’re headed in the wrong direction. It’s most likely that this “sixth month” refers to the time as counted from the conception of Yochanan (see verse 36), the problem with confirming the date this way is that we don’t know which of the two times of year that Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division was serving is intended by the narrative. We’re not told at what point during the year that the 24 divisions began to serve but we can presume that they began in the seventh month, Tishrei, following the inauguration of Solomon’s temple. If this continued to be the practice and providing the beginning of their service was not initiated at the spiritual new year of Pesach or at the giving of the Torah during Shavuot (Which are also possibilities [even if this were the case the math still wouldn’t conclude a Sukkot birth]), then we would calculate that each of the 24 divisions would serve one week twice a year. If they performed their duties in order of selection, Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division would have performed its duties eighth, in the last week of Nisan and the last week of Cheshvan, with some anomalies caused by the lunar calendar this will have varied slightly. If we count from Nisan, the sixth month would be Tishrei. If this is the month of Messiah’s conception then He was born in the month of Sivan. If we count from Cheshvan we arrive at Iyar, which makes Messiah’s birth in the eleventh month of the Hebrew Calendar, Shevat. Neither date is even remotely close to Sukkot. However, the sixth month could also refer to the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar Elul, which is the month prior to Tishrei, which again leaves us with Iyar as a possible birth date for Messiah. Additionally because Luke is either a Greek proselyte or a Jew from the Greek Diaspora, he could also be referring to the sixth month of the Roman calendar. Regardless, any conclusion arrived at is pure conjecture. We have no definitive way of knowing when Yeshua was born. Some say, “But He was born dwell with us, and John 1:14 says that He became flesh and sukkot (dwelt) in our midst.” But the text of John 1:14 does not say that Messiah Sukkot with us, but that He Shakhan (from Mishkan) came as flesh, as a Tabernacle in our midst. Meaning, He was a human being Who was like the Tent of meeting (Mishkan) which once dwelt in the midst of Israel. Shakhan is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek Skaynoo. Both are verbs and NOT proper nouns. Sukkot is a proper noun that is unrelated to the Hebrew Shakhan. While it is true that Messiah dwells with us, it is not proof of the date or season of His birth. Messiah is also the Lamb of God, that doesn’t mean He was born at Passover. He is the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin, that doesn’t mean He was born during Yom Kippur. 6.The feasts of the Torah were specifically commanded by God but Christmas wasn’t. Therefore Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. It’s true, Christmas was not commanded by God: neither were Purim or Chanukah, and yet Yeshua venerated Chanukah and used it as a teaching platform—John 10:22-36. Therefore, based on the foolish logic of this objection, Yeshua sinned because He celebrated a festival that wasn’t specifically commanded by God. Utter nonsense! Some claim that Yeshua’s veneration of Chanukah is an exception because He is God with us, but Yeshua is not the exception, He is the Rule! He is the first-born among many brothers (Rom. 8:29). We are called to be like Him. David was not commanded by God to dance half naked before the Ark of the Covenant—which carried the tablets of stone upon which God had engraved His word—as he brought it into Jerusalem with music and rejoicing. His wife Michal criticized him for His shameless celebrating and as a result the Scripture says that she remained barren until her death. If David danced semi naked in celebration before the written word of God as it entered Jerusalem, how much more should we celebrate with great joy the entry into our world of the living Word Yeshua our Messiah, born of a virgin, born to save us from sin. Though we know not the day, we celebrate Him gladly, lest we become like those who begrudge others their joy and seek to imprison people in the bondage of the past! The warning is clear, we must not become like Michal: perhaps she was physiologically unable to conceive after this event? On the other hand perhaps her husband simply no longer approached her to be sexually intimate with her? Or worse still—and most likely—she may have continued to harden her heart until she no longer wanted to be around David. This is the dangerous road we walk when we neglect grace and follow rules born of the foolish arguments of human beings. When we harden our hearts through jealousy and false religion we become isolated and alone. Like Michal we might find our spiritual womb barren, not because we can’t conceive but rather because we have refused our Husband, whose name is Freedom and in turn have failed to be inseminated by His grace. Don’t let the misconceived theories of the pseudo-learned mislead you. 7.Shepherds in Israel don't tend their sheep in winter, therefore, the shepherds of the Christmas story can't have been tending their flocks in winter. Thus, a December date for Messiah's birth cannot be correct. In fact, Israel’s sheep are shepherded throughout the year including the winter months. Even more importantly, the shepherds of the Christmas story (approx. 3 C.E.) were no ordinary shepherds. It’s an historical fact that there was a tower in close proximity to Beit-lechem, called Eder (flock), around which were pastured the flocks destined for the Temple sacrifices. The group of shepherds in charge of these flocks held a position of great esteem in Israel and were led by a Priest whose role was to ensure the production of unblemished animals that would be offered at the Temple in nearby Yerushalayim. These sheep were needed year round for the Temple sacrifices. Therefore, a winter date for Messiah’s birth is quite possible. 8.Christmas trees are pagan. Are they? It’s true that pagan cultures have venerated trees and worshipped tree deities. However, these were living trees growing outside the home. Furthermore, those that did bring trees into the home or communal space, didn’t use them in the same way that Christmas trees are used today. For example, the yule tide log of the Norse culture was burned in the fire. These pagan examples do not equate to the cutting down of a tree for symbolic use during Christmas celebrations. Some decontextualize and mis-quote the following scripture from Jeremiah: How the Christmas tree objectors read it based on their presupposition: “3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.” What the full text actually says: “3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.” It is not speaking of anything remotely similar to Christmas trees. It is speaking of idols carved from trees and representing false gods. But I ask, “Who came first? The tree or the pagan?” The tree of course. God commands us not to worship objects of creation, he doesn’t tell us not to use them as reminders of Him, in fact God Himself commands the manufacture of Cherubim for the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:18), and these were symbols of His protection, not to be worshipped but to give a visual understanding to His worshippers. Are trees good or evil? They are neither. Once again, if the use of a thing by pagans makes it sinful then we should also discontinue using oxygen—this might be a good idea for some. I repeat, the misuse of a thing does not define it! Conclusion So we see that for many and varied illegitimate reasons, a number of modern Christians (Hebrew Roots movement) and Messianics (a term that is now so loosely applied that it is unable to identify any one group), have decided not to celebrate Christ-mas (Messiah is sent). This on its own would be of little consequence if they simply chose to celebrate His birth at another time, however in the aftermath of the establishment of this foolish pseudo-learned doctrinal decision, they have ceased celebrating the birth of our Messiah altogether. Like the Separatists of the late 18th &19th centuries, they have become so convinced of their own separation from the Ecclesia [Community of faith] (Viewing themselves as the so called “called out” pure Church/Bride), that they have, in seeking purity through their own actions, become subject again to bondage; forgetting that in Messiah we are not keepers of the Torah but rather we are kept by the Living Torah, Ha-d’var Emet (The Word of Truth) Yeshua, Who, if not for His birth into time and space, could not have been crucified and resurrected, thus leaving us without hope. Therefore, let us celebrate His birth, which illuminates His purpose in being sent, that we might also hope in the future glory purchased for us through His death and resurrection. This year our congregation will once again delight ourselves in remembering the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, each one practicing the Biblical remembrance of Christmas (Messiah is sent) utilizing the symbolism and positive traditions that affirm their own convictions regarding this celebration. We are reminded that every Shabbat we light the candles of Sh’mor (Observance) and Zakhor (Remembrance), therefore we observe the holy day, remembering that Yeshua was born for the purpose of our Salvation (Yeshua). We remember what God has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do, in Messiah, The Hope of Glory. “One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.” –Romans 14:5-6 TLV As I’ve said before, we are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory. An Afterthought All our Jewish celebrations and festivals fall into one of two categories. Either they celebrate God’s provision for us or they commemorate His delivering us from our enemies. Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest provision and the commemoration of the beginning of our eternal deliverance. Thus it qualifies as one of the most important Jewish celebrations of all time. If it were possible to be dull in the Olam Haba (World to come), I’m inclined to believe that those who argue against the celebration of Christmas will be wandering around the new Jerusalem debating whether we should celebrate Messiah’s return. After all, it’s not commanded in the Torah. Wake up sleeper! Sources: [a.] Vermaseren, M. J. (1951). "The miraculous Birth of Mithras". In Gerevich, László (ed.). Studia Archaeologica. Brill. pp. 93–109. Retrieved 4 October 2011. [b.] https://www.ancient.eu/Mithra/ [c.] Ulansey, David (1991). The origins of the Mithraic mysteries. p. 6. ISBN 9780195067880. [d.]https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/#:~:text=The%20elder%20Horus%20is%20one,the%20creation%20of%20the%20world.&text=In%20another%20version%20of%20the,wife%2C%20and%20daughter%20of%20Horus. New York Folklore Society (1973). "New York folklore quarterly". 29. Cornell University Press. p. 294. Ian Shaw (2003). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-815034-3. Piotr O. Scholz (2001). Eunuchs and castrati: a cultural history. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-55876-201-5. Roy G. Willis (1993). World Mythology. Macmillan. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8050-2701-3. [e.] https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/ [f.] https://strangenotions.com/horus-manure/ [g.]https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/dionysus/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20origin%20given,his%20true%20form%20to%20her.&text=A%20few%20months%20later%2C%20Dionysus%20was%20born%20from%20Zeus's%20thigh. [h.] https://www.greekboston.com/culture/mythology/dionysus/ [i.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dionysus [j.] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ambrosius-Theodosius-Macrobius [k.] https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/december-25th-day-christ-was-born-8-arguments [l.] https://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_2.html NB: In combination with this article, please also consider the articles I’ve written on Luke chapters 1 and 2, and the previous articles I’ve written regarding Christmas: Christmas: An Open Letter to the Haters http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/christmas-an-open-letter-to-the-haters This Jew Boy will be Celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/this-jew-boy-will-be-celebrating-christmas-on-the-25th-of-december Isaiah 9: For unto us a Child is Born http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/isaiah-91-2-6-7-for-unto-us-a-boy-is-born Luke 1:1-38: Choosing Between Disbelief and Wonder http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-11-38-choosing-between-disbelief-wonder Luke 1:39-80: From Generation to Generation http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-139-80-ldor-vdor-from-generation-to-generation Luke 2:1-24: G-d’s Plan is not World Peace, it is Peace for the World http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-21-24-g-ds-plan-is-not-world-peace-its-peace-for-the-world Luke 2:25-52: Hearing About Grace and Favour http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-225-52-hearing-about-grace-favour © Yaakov Brown 2020 We are called to redeem the days, not to pass judgement on their use This year the 25th of Kislev 5777 (First day of Chanukah) and the 25th of December (Christmas day) coincide. Jews and Christians throughout the world will be celebrating God’s light in different and contextually appropriate ways. We are worshiping together, as a symbolic prophetic practice representing our future unity in Messiah.
In Messiah Yeshua we are called to a ministry of reconciliation, a ministry of redemption. We are called to redeem the days, not to pass judgement on their use. The days are subject to the creator of days and regardless of how they have been misused by others they must now be used for the worship of God and His Messiah. We were once imprisoned by the delusion that the Torah was a punitive law. We are now set free by the understanding that the Torah is a guide that points to Messiah Yeshua. It is for freedom He has set us free, so we stand firm in that freedom, and refuse to return to bondage. Chag Chanukah sameach v’chag ha-molad sameach b’shem Mashiyach Yeshua l’k’vod HaShem! Have a Chanukah holy day of joy and a Messiah is sent Holiday of Joy in the name of Yeshua, to the glory of God! All our Jewish celebrations and festivals fall into one of two categories. Either they celebrate God’s provision for us or they commemorate His delivering us from our enemies. Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest provision and the commemoration of the beginning of our eternal deliverance. Thus it qualifies as one of the most important Jewish celebrations of all time. Introduction:
At this time of year the inevitable Messianic Gentile objections to Christmas rear their ugly heads. One of the beautiful ironies at work to refute this year’s tirade, is that at least one of the most common objections to the celebration of Christmas is made impotent by the date of the Jewish observance of Chanukah (Rededication), which begins on Christmas day, the 25th of December. This year the lunar Calendar of Israel coincides with the Gregorian calendar so that the 25th of Kislev and the 25th of December become the same day. The primary reason that I continue to speak out against the demonizing of Christmas, is the demoralizing effect that anti-Christmas sentiment has had on the community of believers. I come across this message of bondage far too frequently among the wandering masses of Christianity, who, disillusioned with the shallow nature of their own faith, seek depth at the feet of pseudo-learned lay people, many of whom dine on a steady diet of conspiracy theory, YouTube Bible teaching and conjecture. My hope is that this article will help to equip you for the practise of freedom in Messiah. A key aspect of the faith that has been sadly neglected by the parachurch swing back to bondage on the rebound from hyper-grace. I am consistently told by certain Messianic extremists that I should not celebrate Christmas, worship on Sundays, use the name “Jesus,” etc. Though it must be said they are entirely misinformed regarding Christmas and the use of the name Jesus and fail to understand that all days belong to God; the more poignant issue is, that they are so busy telling others what they shouldn’t do, that they are unable to articulate the freedom, wonders and depth of faith found in a Messiah centred Messianic Jewish Tradition. When we define ourselves by what we are not, we are repeating the error of our forebears both Jewish and Christian. Those we seek as converts to our way of thinking are instantly disillusioned, in our zeal we turn them away from the beauty and traditions we might otherwise have positively offered them. Often our fierce words of rebuke are based on poor historical knowledge, misinterpretation of Scripture, inaccuracies and myth; passed on by lazy teachers and blinded guides. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Mattitiyahu/Matthew 23:14-16 This is not who we are, it is who we were, before we met Messiah, but now, in Him, we are to be a light to the nations. It is time to stem the flow of darkness that is issuing from our mouths. We are, “A royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to G-d. That we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Kefa/Peter 2:9 If we continually define ourselves by what we are not, we will inevitably forget who we are. Refuting Common Objections to Christmas First, let me make it clear that Jews do not object to Christians celebrating Christmas because for the most part Jews do not accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah. Therefore, Christmas is simply the religious practice of the Gentile Western world. So who are these people who are objecting to the celebration of Christmas? They are for the most part, disillusioned Christians, who, with great pride, claim to be Messianic. They are not Jews but they are Judaizers and because of their devote observance of human rules, consider themselves more righteous than the so called, “Apostate Church”. As a Jew I find this extremely offensive because they are not only misrepresenting the message of the Messiah but they are also pretending to observe Jewish practices and thus often appear to be representing the Jewish view. They do not represent the Jewish view, nor do they represent the Messianic Jewish view. They simply represent themselves and their own confused attempts to earn God. A Response to Some of the Most Common Objections to Christmas 1. Christmas is Pagan. In fact Christmas is the name of a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. Christ comes from the Greek Khristos and means anointed one, it was intended by the Jewish New Testament writers to convey the Hebrew title Mashiyach, which is often translated Messiah, both titles represent the anointed one of God who would be born into time to deliver His people Israel. So I guess you could say the first part of the name Christmas is pretty much Jewish. Next comes the word mass: the English term mass comes from the Anglo-Saxon word maesse, which came from the Latin missa, which is a form of the verb mittere, which means "to send." In Hebrew we would use the term neshlach—to send. Therefore the meaning of Christmas is, “Christ is sent,” or Mishiyach neshlach—Messiah is sent. In truth, the two concepts of anointing and sending are rooted deeply in Judaism and help make Christmas—in my opinion—as much a Jewish Holiday as Purim and Chanukah. So, is Christmas Pagan? Well, the name certainly isn’t. I wish you a hearty, “Chag Sameach v Mishiyach neshlach Sameach!” and a, “Chag Ha-molad Sameach!” 2. Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Messiah’s birth because birthday celebration is pagan. Really? Ancient Pagans celebrated weddings too, should I no longer celebrate weddings? I’m also told that I shouldn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December because a number of pagan gods were born on or worshiped on the same date. Is there a day in the year when some other deity was not born or worshiped? I know for example that Amun Ra was worshiped morning and evening every day in Egypt long before Israel received its moadim—holy convocations/festivals. Does this mean that the commanded feasts of G-d are also pagan? Am I to assume then that there are no days that can be used for worshiping the one true G-d of Israel? What nonsense. The Creator of Days owns the days, they are all purposed for His use—December 25th included. 3. The feasts of the Torah were specifically commanded by G-d but Christmas wasn’t. Therefore Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. It’s true, Christmas was not commanded by God: neither were Purim or Chanukah, and yet Yeshua venerated Chanukah and used it as a teaching platform—John 10:22-36. David was not commanded by God to dance half naked before the Ark of the Covenant—which carried the tablets of stone upon which G-d had engraved His word—as he brought it into Jerusalem with music and rejoicing. His wife Michal criticized him for His shameless celebrating and as a result the Scripture says that she remained barren until her death. If David danced semi naked in celebration before the written word of G-d as it entered Jerusalem, how much more should we celebrate with great joy the entry into our world of the living Word Yeshua our Messiah, born of a virgin, born to save us from sin. Though we know not the day, we celebrate Him gladly, lest we become like those who begrudge others their joy and seek to imprison people in the bondage of the past! The warning is clear, we must not become like Michal: perhaps she was physiologically unable to conceive after this event? On the other hand perhaps her husband simply no longer approached her to be sexually intimate with her? Or worse still—and most likely—she may have continued to harden her heart until she no longer wanted to be around David. This is the dangerous road we walk when we neglect grace and follow rules born of the foolish arguments of human beings. When we harden our hearts through jealousy and false religion we become isolated and alone. Like Michal we might find our spiritual womb barren, not because we can’t conceive but rather because we have refused our Husband, whose name is Freedom and in turn have failed to be inseminated by His grace. Don’t let the misconceived theories of the pseudo-learned mislead you. 4. Christmas trees are pagan. Are they? It’s true that pagan cultures have venerated trees and worshipped tree deities but I ask, “Who came first? The tree or the pagan?” The tree of course. G-d commands us not to worship objects of creation, he doesn’t tell us not to use them as reminders of Him, in fact G-d Himself commands the manufacture of Cherubim for the arc of the covenant, and these were symbols of His protection, not to be worshipped but to give a visual understanding to His worshippers. Are trees good or evil? They are neither. If the use of a thing by pagans makes it sinful then we should also discontinue using oxygen—this might be a good idea for some. 5. The Messiah was born at Sukkot, not in winter. No, there isn’t any conclusive way to determine the day or season of Messiah’s birth. We simply don’t have historical information that enables us to make an accurate assessment concerning the time of His birth. Those who presume to know are reliant on conjecture born from theological niceties and presumption. Am I saying Messiah was born on the 25th of December? Certainly not. Does it matter which day He was born on? Given the lack of Biblical evidence citing exact dates and times for His birth I would hazard a guess that G-d doesn't want us to know the date or season of His Son’s birth. He probably has a very good reason for this. Learn to embrace the mystery of G-d, you don’t need to know everything, knowledge puffs up but love builds up. With regard to the “Sukkot birth” claim, the census recorded in Luke 2:1-4 was the first of two, taken between 1 C.E. and 7 C.E. (It’s the latter of the two that is referred to in Acts 5:37). While Quirinius was not physically governing in Syria until 6 C.E., he was responsible for the oversight of its operations and defence under Varus, during Herod’s reign. It’s important to remember that for the people of Israel, a census was considered an affront to God. The taking of a census denoted a lack of trust in God’s provision. This census therefore, was something they were forced to participate in under an oppressive Roman occupation. (See Exodus 30:12; 2 Samuel 24). Beit-lechem (Bethlehem) is approximately 8 kilometres from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and approximately 136 kilometres from Natzeret (Nazareth) in the Galil (Galilee). Given that a majority of governors over the province of Philistia (Israel) were keen to avoid further uprisings and the causes for them, it is unlikely that a census would have been called during an Aliyah (going up) festival of Israel (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot). In addition, a Jew could not be both in his ancestral town and in Yerushalayim at the same time. While Beit-lechem was close to Yerushalayim, the majority of Israel’s outer communities were more than two days journey from Yerushalayim, where the Temple stood. This is just one of many reasons why a Sukkot birth for Messiah is extremely unlikely. Conclusion So we see that for many and varied illegitimate reasons, a number of modern Christians (Hebrew Roots movement) and Messianics (a term that is now so loosely applied that it is unable to identify any one group), have decided not to celebrate Christ-mas (Messiah is sent). This on its own would be of little consequence if they simply chose to celebrate His birth at another time, however in the aftermath of the establishment of this foolish pseudo-learned doctrinal decision, they have ceased celebrating the birth of our Messiah altogether. Like the Separatists of the late 19th century, they have become so convinced of their own separation from the Ecclesia [Community of faith] (Viewing themselves as the so called “called out” pure Church/Bride), that they have, in seeking purity through their own actions, become subject again to bondage; forgetting that in Messiah we are not keepers of the Torah but rather we are kept by the Living Torah, Ha-d’var Emet (The Word of Truth) Yeshua, Who, if not for His birth into time and space, could not have been crucified and resurrected, thus leaving us without hope. Therefore, let us celebrate His birth, which illuminates His purpose in being sent, that we might also hope in the future glory purchased for us through His death and resurrection. This year (5777: 2016) our congregation will once again delight ourselves in remembering the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, each one practicing the Biblical remembrance of Christmas (Messiah is sent) utilizing the symbolism and positive traditions that affirm their own convictions regarding this celebration. We are reminded that every Shabbat we light the candles of Sh’mor (Observance) and Zakhor (Remembrance), therefore we observe the holy day, remembering that Yeshua was born for the purpose of our Salvation (Yeshua). We remember what God has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do, in Messiah, The Hope of Glory. As I’ve said before, we are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory. An Afterthought All our Jewish celebrations and festivals fall into one of two categories. Either they celebrate God’s provision for us or they commemorate His delivering us from our enemies. Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest provision and the commemoration of the beginning of our eternal deliverance. Thus it qualifies as one of the most important Jewish celebrations of all time. If it were possible to be dull in the Olam Haba (World to come), I’m inclined to believe that those who argue against the celebration of Christmas will be wandering around the new Jerusalem debating whether we should celebrate Messiah’s return. After all, it’s not commanded in the Torah. Wake up sleeper! In combination with this article, please also consider the articles I’ve written on Luke chapters 1 and 2, and the previous articles I’ve written regarding Christmas: Christmas: An Open Letter to the Haters http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/christmas-an-open-letter-to-the-haters This Jew Boy will be Celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/this-jew-boy-will-be-celebrating-christmas-on-the-25th-of-december Isaiah 9: For unto us a Child is Born http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/isaiah-91-2-6-7-for-unto-us-a-boy-is-born Luke 1:1-38: Choosing Between Disbelief and Wonder http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-11-38-choosing-between-disbelief-wonder Luke 1:39-80: From Generation to Generation http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-139-80-ldor-vdor-from-generation-to-generation Luke 2:1-24: G-d’s Plan is not World Peace, it is Peace for the World http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-21-24-g-ds-plan-is-not-world-peace-its-peace-for-the-world Luke 2:25-52: Hearing About Grace and Favour http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-225-52-hearing-about-grace-favour © 2016 Yaakov Brown With the exception of Avi’ad, the names here are not composites like, “Shmuel (Samuel), Avimelech, Avraham etc. To the contrary they are precise descriptions of the very nature of this child. Where the composite names common to the Tanakh (OT) reflect G-d’s functional purpose for the individual, these names describe G-d with us (Emmanuel). Meaning that this child is G-d, Yeshua, the fully G-d and fully man Messiah of Israel. An examination of Isaiah 9:1 (2) – 6 (7).
Introduction: In the Hebrew Tanakh (OT), this passage begins with the verse which describes a specific people (Ha-am: the people) living in darkness. The phrase, “Ha-am” is synonymous with the people of Israel. Making this verse the ultimate verse of this chapter is a correct distribution of contextual markers (chapter & verse) because the prophet Isaiah is recording a new creation in these poetic and prophetic words concerning the Messiah’s entry into time and space as a new born male child, and this new creation correlates to the New Covenant promised to the house of Israel (Yisra: overcome, in El: G-d) and the house of Judah (Praise) [Jeremiah 31:31]. Thus through the boy (Yeshua) we overcome in G-d and are redeemed that we might praise the G-d of love and reconciliation. While the context is understood to be in the wake of the Assyrian invasion of the north (734 and 732 BC, 2 Kings 15:29), which resulted in Naphtali suffering greatly, we are wise to measure our conclusions regarding who this past tense prophecy of Isaiah applies to. While this type of prophecy usually seeks to correlate a future fulfilment with a past persona or event, this particular prophecy is the subject of much futile conjecture. The key to understanding it is in verse 6(7): “In order to increase the government and bring peace, (wholeness, completion and soundness) without end to the throne and kingdom of David (Beloved of G-d), to secure it and sustain it through mishpat (judgement) and tz’dakah (righteousness) from this time forth and eternally (v’ad) forever (olam).” What this section of the text makes clear is that the kingdom being spoken of is an eternal one, therefore no kingdom prior to Isaiah’s writing, or any kingdom since (with the exception of the inception of Messiah’s kingdom) qualifies. This text can only be understood in light of future fulfilment. Additionally this kingdom must be connected to the throne of David, which is a figurative form that is synonymous with the Messiah’s reign. This portion of Isaiah is one of Israel’s oldest Messianic prophecies, much disputed by certain rabbinical scholars and anti-evangelists, but affirmed by both the Messiah Himself and the New Testament writers. It is a glimpse into the wonderful meta-narrative of G-d’s redemptive story, a drawing together of the first creation and the future re-creation. During the festival of lights, we are wise to rededicate (Chanukah) the temples of our bodies, both plural and singular, allowing the Light of the world (Yeshua) to illuminate the darkness that seeks to blind us to the Holy home that the Father and the Son have prepared for each of us. The Text: 1 (2) The people (ha-am: people of Israel) whose walking's (Haholchim) are in darkness (Choshek: Genesis 1:2)have seen, (perceived and understood) great light (Or gadol: Genesis 1:3-5); those living (dwelling, remaining) in the land (B’eretz: Land of Israel) that lies in the shadow of death, light has enlightened (rested upon) them. The Hebrew text opens with, “ha-am”, the people/tribe, and refers, as indicated by the remainder of the text of Isaiah 9, to Israel [verse 2(3) uses ha-goy: the nation, also synonymous with Israel]. It is therefore Israel whose walking’s (way of life, actions) are in darkness and Israel that has seen the great light. This is affirmed by the phrase, “B’eretz” (in the land), which refers specifically to the land of Israel. It is the land (where the Jewish people live), that lies in the shadow of death, meaning that a shadow is being cast over the entire nation by darkness itself. They have been in danger of death both physical and spiritual. However, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). We should note that the Hebrew, “Ha-holchim” is from the root, “Halakh”, meaning, “to go, walk”, from which we get the common rabbinical term Halakhah (the way we walk), which in turn refers to the way we live out our theological belief. Remembering of course that in ancient Jewish religious thought there is no separation of theology and action. Therefore we’re able to conclude that Israel (ha-am: the nation) where both living and working out their spirituality in darkness (a metaphor for evil). This prophecy links the creation to the nation of Israel. “Or gadol”, is the great light of Genesis 1:3-5, which is spoken (D’var/Kol) from the mouth of G-d, this light is not subject to the sun or moon, or to the limitation of the 24 hour day, but is the light of G-d’s revelation that illuminates all things. 2 (3) Who (The light) enlarged the nation (ha-goy: singular, meaning Israel) not growing in joy; they rejoice in (the presence of) your face as if rejoicing at harvest time, the way men rejoice when dividing up plunder (rejoicing over a victory won). It is G-d, as light, Who enlarges the nation of Israel even while she is in darkness. The phrase, “not growing in joy” finds its poetic double in the former phrase, “living in darkness”. Whereas the phrase, “they rejoice at (seeing) Your face” finds its poetic double in the former phrase, “have seen great light”. In other words G-d’s face is a great light to the people of Israel. The people of Israel rejoice over the victory won on their behalf by G-d’s light, like those who understand that the harvest has been secure and that there will be ample food for the coming days. Their enemies have been overcome and all the plunder taken from Israel in the past has been returned to them. This is of course an allegory for the Gospel of Messiah and can be applied as a drash (illuminated spiritual teaching) to both ethnic Israel and those among the nations who have received the light of the Messiah. 3 (4) That the yoke of burden, the rod across their shoulders, the sceptre of oppression is shattered in the day of Midyan (literally: strife and figuratively: overcoming idolatry and the pollution of a nation, Numbers 31) The yoke is a Hebrew euphemism meaning both rule and teaching. If the yoke is a burden then it is an oppressive rule, one that emulates Israel’s slavery in Egypt and ultimately represents Israel’s slavery to sin. This oppressive rule over the hearts, minds and souls of Israel has and will yet be shattered. This will be done again at a time in the future when Israel is in strife (Midyan) under an oppressive rule. The joy of deliverance will echo throughout Judea and Israel, just as it echoed throughout the borders of the land when Israel conquered the Midianites (Numbers 31). We can also link the victory over Midyan to Gideon’s victory recorded in Judges 7:22-25, although I believe Isaiah (at the inspiration of G-d) intended the former victory recorded in the book of B’midbar (Numbers: Wilderness). The victory over Midyan (strife) was a victory over Idolatry, sexual immorality and oppression. The Midianites, due to the influence of the false prophet Baalam, had sought to entice Israel into idolatry. The victory over them, commanded by G-d through Moses, included warrior priests, who decimated the Midianite peoples. This is the kind of victory we are reading of here, victory over darkness, idolatry and sin: freedom from slavery to sin and idolatry. The oppressive yoke is spoken of again as being destroyed in Isaiah 10:26-27, where it refers to the defeat of the Assyrians which was to take place in 701 BC. This is yet another reason why we are unwise to make presumptions based on the past tense used in the Hebrew text. With regard to prophecy the past tense is just as likely to strengthen future fulfilment as it is to refer to past events alone. 4 (5) For all the boots of soldiers marching and every cloak rolled in blood is destined for burning, fuel for the fire (that is the armies who come against G-d and His people). The meaning is clear. All those who had once oppressed and marched against Israel and her G-d, be they physical or spiritual entities, will be destroyed. There are numerous correlations to this throughout the Bible as a whole. 5 (6) For a boy (yeled) is born to us, a son (ben) is given to us; all government (Misra: not just earthly government but all forms of government) will rest on His shoulders, and He will be called by the name (Shem: not just a proper noun but an indication of the functional nature of soul or character), Pele-Yo‘etz El Gibbor Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom (Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty G-d, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace), Where there was once a burden of oppression on Israel, the boy that is born as a gift to Israel will rest all government on His shoulders. This is the counterpoint to the doublet of verses 3 & 4. In Hebrew a person’s name usually describes G-d’s prophetic purpose for their lives. This text follows the same understanding. However, with the exception of Avi’ad, the names here are not composites like, “Shmuel (Samuel), Avimelech, Avraham etc. To the contrary they are precise descriptions of the very nature of this child. Where the composite names common to the Tanakh (OT) reflect G-d’s functional purpose for the individual, these names describe G-d with us (Emmanuel). Meaning that this child is G-d, Yeshua, the fully G-d and fully man Messiah of Israel. The names are in fact one long description of the attributes of G-d with us (Yeshua). “Pele-Yo‘etz El Gibbor Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom (Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty G-d, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace), Some Anti-evangelists, using Targums (ancient commentaries on the Scriptural texts), claim that the names listed describing the child belong to G-d rather than to the Child, and yet G-d is not mentioned in the context of this passage until He is mentioned as being the boy born to us. Even a simple general understanding of grammar tells us that the subject must be presented in the text in order to be named. The subject of these names is the boy. The irony of the anti-evangelist argument is that they have a portion but not all of the truth: the names belong to both G-d and the child, Who is G-d with us (Emmanuel), Yeshua the Mashiyach. In order to pursue the false reading of the anti-evangelists, one must ignore basic Hebrew grammar. The Hebrew “Sh’mo” (his name) indicates that the names that follow belong to the boy described in the preceding verses. Any other reading is at very least dishonest and at worst, worthy of curse, a defiling of the Scripture. The motivation for this is desperate and contrary to Messiah, it is also misspent energy given that there are numerous other passages in the Tanakh that reveal the deity of the coming Messiah (Yeshua), not to mention the literal claims made by Yeshua Himself as to His deity. As followers of Yeshua we understand that anyone who denies that Yeshua is G-d with us is speaking from a spirit of anti-Messiah (anti-Christ). The Rav Shaul/Paul says: “But even if we or an angel (messenger) from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” –Galatians 1:8-9 6 (7) In order to increase the government and bring peace, (wholeness, completion and soundness) without end to the throne and kingdom of David (Beloved of G-d), to secure it and sustain it through mishpat (judgement) and tz’dakah (righteousness) from this time forth and forever. Following the couplet of verses 3 & 5, the opening phrase here confirms Israel’s journey from oppression to the Messianic rule of freedom under G-d. While the Hebrew text is in the past tense, it is a known prophetic form that notes certain past events and places a future fulfilment upon them. We know this because it speaks of David’s kingdom as being an eternal one as a result of the boy Who would become king. In order for this kingdom to have been established already, Israel would need to have a current Davidic king ruling over it, a king born thousands of years ago. Therefore we know that the prophet intended a future fulfilment, one that will happen in stages: 1.) A child will be born to rule Israel 2.) He will break the oppression of the yoke that is on Israel’s back 3.) He will establish the kingdom of the beloved of G-d (David) as an eternal kingdom and will rule over it
Yeshua will secure His kingdom through mishpat (Judgement: The Day of The L-rd) and tz’dakah (righteousness: the redeemed of the L-rd). The zeal (like that of a jealous husband) of Adonai-Tzva’ot (YHVH of heavens armies) will accomplish this. It is not just zeal, but the zeal of a jealous husband, that HaShem exhibits in accomplishing these things. G-d is jealous for those He has chosen, both Jew and Gentile. He will not allow idolatrous spiritual adultery to stain His bride. A Brief Word on Christmas: This passage from Isaiah prophecies the birth of our Messiah, sent into time and space to redeem us from sin and death. Therefore I feel compelled to speak briefly on the subject of Christmas (Messiah is sent) celebration. For many and varied illegitimate reasons, a number of modern Christians (Hebrew Roots movement) and Messianics (a term that is now so loosely applied that it has become unable to properly identify any group), have decided not to celebrate Christ-mas (Messiah is sent). This on its own would be of no consequence if they had chosen to celebrate His birth at another time, however in the aftermath of this foolish pseudo-learned decision, they have ceased celebrating the birth of our Messiah altogether. Like the Separatists of the late 19th century, they have become so convinced of their own separation from the Ecclesia (Viewing themselves as the so called “called out” pure Church/Bride), that they have, in seeking purity through their own actions, become subject again to bondage; forgetting that in Messiah we are not keepers of the Torah but rather we are kept by the Living Torah, Ha-d’var Emet (The Word of Truth) Yeshua, Who, if not for His birth into time and space, could not have been crucified and resurrected, thus leaving us without hope. Therefore, let us celebrate His birth, which illuminates His purpose in being sent, that we might also hope in the future glory purchased for us in His death and resurrection. This year (5776: 2015) our congregation will once again delight ourselves in remembering the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, each one practicing the Biblical remembrance of Christmas (Messiah is sent) utilizing the symbolism and positive traditions that affirm their own convictions regarding this celebration. We are reminded that every Shabbat we light the candles of Sh’mor (Observance) and Zakhor (Remembrance), therefore we observe the holy day, remembering that Yeshua was born for the purpose of our Salvation (yeshua). We remember what G-d has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do, in Messiah, The Hope of Glory. My prayer is that the illumination of the text of Isaiah 9 will aid our joy (Simchataynu) during this season of Chanukah (dedication) and Mashiyach Neshlach (Messiah is sent). In combination with this study please also consider the articles I’ve written on Luke chapters 1 and 2: Luke 1:1-38: Choosing Between Disbelief and Wonder http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-11-38-choosing-between-disbelief-wonder Luke 1:39-80: From Generation to Generation http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-139-80-ldor-vdor-from-generation-to-generation Luke 2:1-24: G-d’s Plan is not World Peace, it is Peace for the World http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-21-24-g-ds-plan-is-not-world-peace-its-peace-for-the-world Luke 2:25-52: Hearing About Grace and Favour http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-225-52-hearing-about-grace-favour © 2015 Yaakov Brown |
Yaakov BrownFounder of the Beth Melekh International Messiah Following Jewish Community, Archives
February 2024
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