Shavuot
6 Sivan 5780 / 28-30 May 2020
The following is based on an article I posted on The Day of Atonement years ago, but it is just as relevant Today as it was then—and in some ways even more so. Please read this with a heart to understand my views.
10 Tishrei 5766 / 12 October 2005
Day of Atonement
As I have grown closer to God in my walk with the LORD, He has changed my views on many different issues over the years. My beliefs about how to honor and celebrate the birth of Christ is one such issue. Some people, especially many Jewish folks, don’t believe that the true Messiah has even come into this world, but they do not yet know the Truth.
I used to celebrate the birth of Jesus the way most people do—by buying a bunch of presents, whether or not we could afford them; set up a tree and put up lights; and tell the kids Santa would bring them gifts if they were good. Then on that day, we would have a nice dinner and open presents.
Up until my third child, I was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and we would attend Mass and also watch the midnight Mass on television. I have such wonderful memories of past celebrations, but I have found that many of the customs and traditions that I learned as a child are not in accordance with the word of God, and what He requires of His people.
I Am beginning to realize that many things taught in the Catholic Church are contrary to the Holy Scriptures. I Am also starting to see clearly that it is not the “true Church” as handed down by the Apostles of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, after prayerfully considering what Jeremiah the Prophet wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Christmas tree and past traditions just did not have the same appeal that they used to have.
Jeremiah 10:2-4 says: “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of Heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
Based on Luke 1:26: “in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgins’ name was Mary.”
If Jesus was actually conceived soon after the appearance of God’s messenger, that means that the coming of the Messiah into the world (albeit a tiny seed), would have been on the High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, which is ten days after the blowing of the Trumpets of Rosh Hashanah. And for the select few who knew, it would have been very fitting to celebrate the arrival of the Saviour of the world, during the Feast of Tabernacles, a.k.a Sukkot.
The birth of Jesus was indeed a momentous event, but the exact day is not as explicitly revealed in the Holy Scriptures as the day that Jesus was crucified by Rome, and the religious leaders. In fact, Jesus specifically asked His disciples to remember His great sacrifice when they celebrate Passover.
I Corinthians 11:23-27 “For I have received of the LORD that which also I delivered unto you, That the LORD Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the LORD’S death till He come.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the LORD unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the LORD.”
Inconsistent with Roman Catholic dogma, I really do not believe that Jesus was born on December 25th. Have you ever wondered what shepherd would have their sheep grazing in the open fields during the dead of winter?
The one who prepared the way for the Lord Jesus—the True Light who was sent into this world to show us the way back to Heaven—was a Jewish man of the priestly line, by the name of John (the Baptist). He is the one who was likely born during the ninth Hebrew month of Kislev (December), during Hanukah, the Jewish Feast of Dedication, a.k.a. the Festival of Lights.
No doubt, there will always be much debate regarding the Messiah of Israel, but no matter when the “Anointed One” was born into this world, we should proclaim every day of the year: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men.” And as Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
We desperately need the LORD—the true Christ to be a part of our lives, especially in these very difficult and trying Times in which we live. This life can be so uncertain, and many people live in such great fear—justifiably so, but if you truly have the LORD in your life, He can give you the ability to courageously face any adversity that may come.
[I wrote this nearly fifteen years ago, and God’s Truth is as valid today, as it was yesterday, and will be worthy of praise and honor forever! Amen!]
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:14-21
The True Light is still in the world, and I just pray that if you have not yet met up with the true Messiah of Israel, that you will call upon the name of the LORD from a sincere and repentant heart, while there is still time.
It is my hope that all God’s people, Jew and Gentile, will be reconciled with the LORD God Almighty; and may the Prince of Peace, Yeshua HaMashiach, be with you and your loved ones during this Holy Season!
Scripture References:
Acts 1:1-11 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”
Acts 2:1-5 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:16-21 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28); And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!
A Note about Shavuot
This Jewish Holy Day is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals of the Bible. The word Shavuot means “weeks” and it marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer. Its date is directly linked to that of Passover, as is the resurrection of Jesus. Shavuot has a double significance, agricultural and spiritual. Agriculturally it marks the all-important wheat harvest in the Land of Israel (Exodus 34:22), and spiritually it commemorates when God gave His Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, as written by His own hand (Exodus 19-20).
In summary, it was on this very special Day of Pentecost / Shavuot, that God gave the Ten Commandments, when God poured out His Spirit upon those who were waiting for Him (Acts 2), in fulfillment of prophecy (Joel 2:28); and also, I believe, when the only begotten Son of God, was born into this dark and dying world to save us from our sin, our self, and Satan!
Praise the LORD God Almighty for the wondrous and most beautiful gifts of His Word, His Spirit, and His Son!
Page updated 31 May 2020 / 8 Sivan 5780
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