Tuesday, December 1, 2009

A No Christmas December

"Do not learn the way of the Gentiles... For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest... they decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple." Jeremiah 10:1-4

This blog is a little bit unique. You won't find tips on unwinding your tree lights or hanging your wreath here. We won't read a post about my outrage at the word "holiday" being substituted for "Christmas" all over the place. Why? Because Jesus isn't the reason for the season. It's yet another clever ploy by the enemy to get us all focused on something other than what God has for us. I think the first clue that I had was that world celebrates this holiday in a big way. Anything that world is doing, we know is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

Here is an excerpt from a post written by my husband for Femininity in a Feminist World last year:

"In returning to the faith of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Hamashiach) and his disciples, what we do or what we don't do is solely determined by what God says. Regarding Christmas, He says nothing. There is no Christmas story in the Bible. "What!?" You say, "What about the story of the gospels about Jesus' birth and the wise men and the shepherds..."

That event wasn't on "Christmas", but it was on a holiday, or should I say Holy Day. Long before the time of Jesus' birth, God had revealed His Holy Days to the brand new nation of Israel. He said they were His days, and He was showing these days to them. (Leviticus 23:2-4,37,44) It just so happens that each and every one of them points to our Messiah and what he did, and what he will do:

He was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. John 1:14 ("dwelt"; literally "tabernacled"); Revelations 21:3 (speaking of Christ as the "tabernacle of God") For an in depth study on why we believe Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, go here.

He was circumcised on the Eighth day (Luke 2:21)

He was crucified on Passover. (Not Easter!) (Exodus 12:11, 1 Corinthians 5:7)

He was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (Exodus 23:16, 1 Corinthians 5:7,8)

He was resurrected on Firstfruits. (Exodus 23:16, 1 Corinthians 15: 20-23, James 1:18, Revelations 4:4)

He baptized the new church on Pentecost. (Mark 1:8, Acts 2:4)

He will return as King and resurrect the dead on Feast of Trumpets. (Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

He will judge the world on the Day of Atonement (Acts 10:42, 17:31 "appointed day", Romans 2:16, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:1 and 8, Revelations 19:11

He will live as King on Earth beginning at Feast of Tabernacles (2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelations 21:3)

And he will create a new heaven and a new Earth on the eighth day. (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelations 21:1)

So, every feast day revealed by God reveals the person and work of His Son, Yeshua the Messiah.

God tells us to remember His holy days and this is why. It just so happens Yeshua was born on one of them, but that was God's plan all along! So we don't celebrate Christmas, be we recognize, remember and celebrate God's holy days, and it just so happens Yeshua was born on one! A coincidence? You decide!"

Remember the enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) Don't let it be that he succeeds in destroying God's will for your holiday.

3 comments:

Aubrey said...

Thank you for posting on this subject. It is just this time of the year that I begin to lonely. I don't know but a hand full of people that agree with me on this subject and most of them live in other states.

Roan said...

Thank you for this post. We don't celebrate Christmas as Christ's birthday either. Like you said, it is not commanded in the Bible. However, we do celebrate Christmas as a family holiday....a time to give presents to our loved ones to show our love....we just place no religious signicance on it whatsoever. We do the same with Easter....not a "religious" holiday for us.

Anonymous said...

Ah my thoughts exactly!

I was *just* looking this up (timeline of Sukkot) tonight. Just by chance, wasn't really even looking for it. There is such a profound symbolism in all of it. I stand in awe of our Elohim!

Shabbat Shalom!