DeeGeesLifeBlog ~ Life as Art ~ Or is it Heart?

Jesus the reason for the season..

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ~ Luke 2: 8-10

Back in 2003, in an article titled ‘Christmas, Why Jesus Came’, Billye Brim wrote the following in the Christmas Edition of her own publication Glory Watch (link to her ministry website provided below):

Christmas is a joy to me. Especially since the day when I saw a single silver imitation icicle lying on the window casement of a Russian home where we were holding an underground church service in January 1981. The incriminating icicle had been missed in the cleaning up of evidence that Christmas was celebrated there. For celebrating Christmas carried an automatic five year prison term.

Since that day I make it a point to enjoy to the fullest the bright lights and tinsel so freely exhibited in honor of His birth. (That’s easy in Branson where we celebrate Ozark Christmas from November 1st!)

When Jesus Came

Even merchants of gloom who stress that December 25 is a pagan holiday and should not be celebrated can’t have my joy. For I believe that December 25 is a valid holy day (holiday).

First, Leviticus 23 is the “Sacred Calendar of the History of Redemption.” Its moeds (appointed times) were markers in Jesus’ life. He was the Passover Lamb. He sent His followers to Jerusalem to await the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Shavuot or Pentecost. I also believe at His Second Advent – not the Rapture – He will set up the Kingdom on the joyous feast when the harvest is all in, the Feast of Tabernacles. Why then would His birth not have been on a moed? [end]

To which she then goes into E.W.Bullinger’s scholarly study in his Companion Bible, Appendix 179.

Bullinger in his discourse, states that Jesus was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and thus it appears that the day assigned to the Birth of the Lord – (ie December 25) – was the day on which He was ‘begotten of the Holy Ghost’ (following the Angel’s visit to Mary) and His birth duly took place on the 15th of Tisri, (ie September 29 in the English calendar) in the year following. This makes beautifully clear the meaning of John 1:14: “The Word became flesh” on 1st Tebeth (December 25, 5 B.C.) “and tabernacled with us,” on the 15th of Ethanim (or Tisri) September 29, 4 B.C. – nine months later.

The 15th of Tisri (September 29, 4 B.C.) was the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The circumcision took place on the eighth day of the feast, so that these two momentous events fall into their proper place and order, and the real reason is made clear why the 25th of December is associated with our Lord, and was set apart by the Apostolic Church to commemorate the stupendous event of the “Word becoming flesh” and not, as we have so long been led to suppose, the commemoration of a pagan festival.

Bullinger has many convincing reasons, too long to go into here, for his conclusions. However, we cannot be dogmatic about this. The fact is that when Christ came, He perfectly fit God’s timetable. More importantly, the ‘why’ of why He came is of utmost significance.

Why Jesus Came

Considering why He came could fill volumes, but herein we will consider only one reason – the all-encompassing primary reason for which Jesus said He came.

The seductive force fueling Satan’s temptations of Jesus in the wilderness was to reveal Himself as Messiah through abnormally quick supernatural manifestations. For the Jews were anticipating a Messiah King who would overthrow Rome and establish His Kingdom. Bullinger states that Jesus was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Nay, He will not take (Satan’s) short road, as if God’s way were too long .. It is He of whom it is written in the volume of the book, “Lo, I come to do Thy will O God .. I delight to do Thy will .. (Psalm 40:7-8). Thus He is here simply ‘subject’, and subject in satisfaction and delight, to the will of Another. He has, for His whole course on earth, no other motive….

There is but one motive – the will of God .. ”Lo, I come to do Thy will” is the principle of His life (Hebrews 10:7). He left us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 1:2, 2:21). This principle of His life must be, then, the principle of our own lives. If with Him the governing motive was to do the will of God – if He rejected every motive that could be urged from His own necessities – how simple is it that, for us also, the will of God must be our motive for action; apart from this there is no right motive possible.

If “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God doth man live” (Matthew 4:4), then what a sustenance of the true life within us to be thus, day by day, receiving the messages of His will, guided by that wondrous Voice, learning continually more the tenderness of His love for us: “He wakeneth morning by morning; He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learner” (Isaiah 50:4). This is the utterance prophetically of the Lord Himself: how blessed to be able to make it our own, and thus to have fulfillment of those words: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8). He who, walking with God waits upon God, what shall ensnare him? What enemy shall prevail against Him?

So there you have it, in as succinct a way as is humanly possible. The ‘how’s’ and ‘why’s’ of when Jesus came, and for what purpose. May you all have a wonderful Christmas as you contemplate the magnificence of God’s intrusion into ‘our world’ through His Son Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Shalom!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2: 11-14

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See also source link: Billye Brim Ministries

References to narrative:
i) The Companion Bible, Kregle Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, Appendix 179, pp.198-199.
ii) The Numerical Bible, Loizeaux Brothers, 19 West 21st St. NY, NY, First Edition 1897, Sixth printing

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Soli Deo Gloria!