Part 5 – Why Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Differently? This is a five part series looking at the Celebrations of the Birth of a God in December.
Part 1 – Who is Celebrating? Who is being Celebrated?
Part 2 – What are the Traditions?
Part 3 – When Did Things Change?
Part 4 – Where is The Good News in the Old Testament?
Part 5 – Why Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Differently?
Why Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Differently?
The most accurate and quick answer would be: Because YHWH/God said to. God said to be set-apart. He said he doesn’t want what is given to other gods. He gave us ways of celebrating and worshipping him.
Sometimes the most appropriate question doesn’t start with can or could, but instead starts with should. Can I rob a bank? Yes. Should? No. Can I drink pop all day long? Yes. Should? Probably not. Can Christians celebrate Easter and Christmas? Yes. Should? Isn’t that the question? Do Christians have to learn about God’s Sabbaths? No. Should? Probably should. Jesus did, the disciples did, Paul did, the early church father’s did, the church did up until at least the late fourth century.
So why not? Why would Christians want to be the only god worshippers who are willing to change how they celebrate YHWH and Jesus because the government and a bishop said to? Why would Christians want to be the only ones who changed their date, abandon YHWH’s ways, and adopt those of other god worshippers? Do they fear their gods more than Christians fear theirs?
What is the Good News God Gave?
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
Hebrews 4 NIV (Emphasis added)
“Faith and obeyed.” This implies there was an expected action in addition to having faith.
This may take a bit to digest, don’t try and take it all in at once. Take it section by section, look at each element separately. God designed this so through the Holy Spirit, it would be easy to understand and comprehend. Scripture references are left off in most cases – test everything – look them up. Enough of the words are used you can easily google them and find the scriptures. You may be surprised at other treasures you will turn up, if you are seeking knowledge and wisdom, your mind will be blown at least once!
God tells the good news of Jesus through observance of his Sabbaths (appointed times). He also tells it through his Tabernacle which was a copy and shadow of what is in heaven (where God is). He designed them as a testimony for his followers to live out and be set apart from the rest of the world. Don’t skip over this scripture we all think we know, take time to read it.
10 Yeshua answered him, “You’re a teacher of Israel and you do not understand these things? 11 Amen, amen I tell you, We speak about what We know and testify about what We have seen. Yet you all do not receive Our testimony! 12 If you do not believe the earthly things I told you, how will you believe when I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has gone up into heaven except the One who came down from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,[c] so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life!
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not put his trust in the name of the one and only Ben-Elohim.
19 “Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light,[d] because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be made known that his deeds have been accomplished in God.”
John 3 (TLV)
Passover (Pesach)*
Accept Jesus’s Sacrifice
Called Out of Captivity: As we observe this appointed time of YHWH/God’s, we are to remember we were once captives to lawlessness (sin), separated from God, just like the Israelites were in the land of Egypt. In order to get back in right relationship with God, there must be a sacrifice made because the law of sin requires a death. We are to remember he chose to bring us out of captivity through the sacrifice of his son, Jesus and set us free from lawlessness (sin). On this day, we remember his crucifixion, the original Good Friday.
Unleavened Bread (Festival of Matzot)*
Confess, Repent, and Be Baptized
Called into Righteousness: As we observe this appointed time of God’s, we are to remember God provides for us. We are to clean out all the lawlessness (sin) in our houses. Just as he prepared a way through the wilderness into the promised land for the Israelites, he has prepared a way into righteousness and the Holy Place through his son, Jesus. Jesus has paid the ransom for those have faith in him and obey. On this day we remember his triumphant descent – the original Holy Saturday.
*Passover and Unleavened Bread are one appointed time
See the detailed testimony of God through Passover and Unleavened bread here …
First Fruits (Bikkurim, Firstfruits, Harvest)
Surrender All to Jesus
Become a Disciple: As we observe this appointed time, we are to remember what Jesus has done for us. Without him going first, and making the way, we would not be able to follow. He was offered up first so the rest of the harvest that follows can also be accepted. As his disciples we surrender our lives and walk in his ways. On this day we remember his resurrection – the original Easter.
See the detailed testimony of God through First Fruits here …
Pentecost (Feast of Weeks, Shavuot)
Testify and Be Baptized
Receive Jesus’s Testimony and Baptism: On this day we remember the free gift given to both Jew and Gentile. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’s baptism(Acts 2:38) and his witness testifying to the whole earth. The Spirit writes his commands on our hearts. The Spirit baptizes in the Name (the essence) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the original Pentecost.
See the detailed testimony of God through Pentecost here …
Feast of Trumpets (Yom Truach, Day of Blasting)
Be the Light of the World
Become One Who Disciples: On this day we remember while Jesus was in this world he was the light, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light in them. Jesus said his disciples are the light of the world and should not be hidden. We remember when we walk in his ways and let our light shine we have fellowship together. Shout for joy because Jesus has destroyed death, brought life and immortality to light through the good news. One day he is returning and will reign forever and ever! A day to remember to keep watch for one day he is returning – the original Advent.
See the detailed testimony of God through the Feast of Trumpets here …
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Seek Forgiveness
Forgive as You are Forgiven: During the time between Trumpets and Day of Atonement is a time to consider our ways and make correction as needed. Just as the priests were ordained and consecrated by the atonement sacrifice, so Jesus has been our atoning sacrifice. We are the one who deserves death but instead we will be set free because Jesus takes our place. Forgive others, just as Jesus forgave those who persecuted him. The original Ash Wednesday/Lent.
See the detailed testimony of God through the Day of Atonement here …
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, Booths, Ingathering, Feast of the Lord)
Complete Unity
All are One: During this time we remember, Jesus said a prayer for those who have faith in him. He said, “Just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, so also may they be one in Us, so the world may believe that You sent Me.” God tabernacled among his people in a temporary dwelling place. And Jesus temporarily tabernacled among us in flesh. And now our body is a tabernacle to the Holy Spirit. Jesus has went to prepare our forever home and one day, we will once again be with Immanuel – God with Us when he returns to reign forever and ever. ““Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” – the original Christmas
See detailed testimony of God through the Feast of Tabernacles here …
Weekly Sabbath Day (Shabbat)
Have Faith and Obey
Testing in Resting: The weekly Sabbath is a day to rest and reflect. It’s a time to remember God has provided all we need. He sent his son, Jesus to become our sacrifice and our high priest – all we have to do is have faith in him and he will do the rest. Our reconciliation is promised through our faith. However, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my Torah.” He specifically talks about the “Torah” and keeping the smallest marks in it. As we seek to understand more fully, we learn there are laws to keep, ordinances dependent on circumstances, recommendations for getting the best out of life, and right-rulings for making judgements. We don’t keep them because we have to, we keep them because we want to obey. All throughout God Sabbaths/appointed times has referenced or alluded to having faith and obeying him – the original day of worship.
See the detailed testimony of God through the Weekly Sabbath here …
10“Because this is the covenant that I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws in their mind, and I shall write them on their hearts, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
11“And they shall by no means teach each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know יהוה,’ because they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
12“Because I shall forgive their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall no longer remember.”
13By saying, ‘renewed,’ He has made the first old. Now what becomes old and growing aged is near disappearing.
Hebrews 8 TS2009