The Word Became Flesh
Today, we are talking about Christmas, but most likely not the Christmas lesson you are expecting. Let’s examine the true meaning of the season we celebrate and how this is only part one of a Christmas season yet to come!
We know that Jesus’s ancestry/lineage/bloodline is discussed in Matthew and Luke. However, for the purposes of today’s study, we are examining His Godhood and what that means in the context of Christmas.
John 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”
Jesus Christ is 100% God. He claimed to be God, and if anyone tries to persuade you otherwise, they are horribly mistaken.
We know that Jesus is God. We know that God is Jesus, but what does it mean about Christmas? God, who is infinite and boundless, added on. How does one do such a thing? Mathematics is the simplest way to do this: use the infinity symbol, place an addition sign, and a one. God became more. Yet, we can examine the Hebrew and see something remarkable is at work.
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word, being Jesus, became flesh and dwelt among us. The word “Dwelt” is the Greek word Skenoo, which is a direct translation of the Hebrew word Tabernacle. Allow me the opportunity to lay out a few interesting things before going to my final point of today's post.
We have to examine the ancient tax season to get a clue. Luke 2:1-6 “And it came to pass in those days [that] a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.” Caesar never would have people move across the empire during the winter months. This would have been too dangerous and defeated the purpose of why the census was happening. This was being done for taxes. The best time in ancient times to do taxes was at the end of the harvest, when sales had just occurred and the year's labor was at an end.
We also know it was in early fall or late summer, based on the shepherd’s location. Luke 2:8-16 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “And this [will be] the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” If it were during the winter months, they would not have the animals in the elements in the rainy season, but they would have been packed into the manger. The shepherds are in the fields, and the weather is still rather pleasant. This also provides clues for us in understanding the time.
We also know that nine months prior is about the time of the Feast of Dedication, or what we know as Hanukkah. Now, how ironic is it that the Feast of Lights is when the light of the world would show up? Nevertheless, Feast of Tabernacles I believe provides us the best arguement for a time frame of Jesus coming to earth. For this, we need to go to Leviticus 23:34-36: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the Feast of Tabernacles [for] seven days to the LORD. 35 ‘On the first day [there shall be] a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work [on it.] 36 ‘[For] seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It [is] a sacred assembly, [and] you shall do no customary work [on it.]” When you cross-compare this to John 1:14, you see a remarkable clue in the words that Jesus “Dwelt” among us. I would make an argument that Jesus was born on or during the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, what does this mean for the reason of the season? It means all the more we should celebrate what Christmas is! It is Immanuel, God with us. It is an incredible moment for us to proclaim the workings of God doing what we all thought was impossible for those who did not deserve it.
Should we celebrate Christmas in late September? Yes! And also celebrate it on December 25th? YES! I am reminded of the Feast of Hanukkah and that it was not one of the written feasts given to Israel in the Torah. And yet Jesus observed it. God is not without observing blessings when we try. Salvation is through Christ alone and His work, but post-salvation, we should be doing everything we can to please and honor Him. Christmas is that time of the year. God is an incredible God; Christmas is a time for us to recognize what He did and the foreshadowing of His ultimate Tabernacle when He reigns for 1,000 years, as described in Revelation 20. If this has not intrigued you enough, I would encourage you to examine two classic Christmas songs, “Joy To The World” and “Oh Come Oh Come Immanuel”. Both are very responsive to the post today, revealing truths of what Christ will do one day. Christmas is a time of celebration, but Christmas is only part of the festival; we still have to have Jesus dwell among us again!
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL