ridicule, Marys response was, See the female servant of Yahweh! Let it be to me according to your word (Luke 1:38).

She viewed God as her Master and she was His servant. Whatever He called her to do, she would do. With that acquiescence to Yahwehs will for her life, Mary made Christmas. JOSEPH Joseph found out that the woman he loved and was pledged to be his wife was pregnant. He knew that he was not the father. And so we read: And Joseph her husband, being righteous, and not wishing to make a show of her, had in mind to put her away secretly. (Matthew 1:19) As Joseph was a righteous man, he knew that Gods word called for Mary to be stoned to death, if in fact she had committed adultery (i.e., Deuteronomy 22:20-21). However, because he loved her so much, he was intending to divorce her and send her away quietly. As he was faced with this very difficult decision, Yahweh stepped in and sent an angel to him saying: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is in her was brought forth from the Holy Spirit. And she shall give birth to a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:20, 21) Many young men enjoy having premarital relations with their girlfriends. However, if she gets pregnant, most encourage her to get an abortion. Very few take responsibility for their actions and become a real father to the child. However, Joseph had done nothing wrong. But now he knew that Mary had done nothing wrong either. And so we read, Joseph did as the angel of Yahweh commanded him and took his wife (Matthew 1:24). With obedience to Yahwehs will, Joseph made Christmas. CAESAR AUGUSTUS This particular Roman Emperor is only mentioned once in Scripture where we read: Now it occurred in those days, that a decree came out from Caesar Augustus that the entire inhabited earth register. This first registration occurred when Quirinius is governing Syria. (Luke 2:1, 2)

Two thousand years ago, the majority of the world missed Christmas. Things have not changed in two millennia; most people continue to miss Christmas. With the National Retail Federation forecasting that $474,500,000,000 will be spent this holiday season, you may think Im crazy about people missing Christmas. But as we look at the first Christmas, you will understand better what I mean. MARY We will begin with an angel appearing to a virgin in the city of Nazareth saying: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And see, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall give birth to a Son, and call His name Jesus (Yahushua) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And Yahweh God shall give Him the throne of His father David. (Luke 1:30-32) No one has ever faced the decision that Mary had to make. Millions of young women get pregnant outside of marriage every year, but they have sinned in doing so. Many compound their sin by putting the baby to death by abortion. However, Mary was a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. She had done nothing wrong; in fact, she must have been a godly woman for Yahweh to select her to be the mother of the Messiah. She could have been stoned to death for adultery (see Joseph). Even though she was not, she was still an object of reproach. Thirty years later, the religious leaders were calling Jesus a Samaritan (John 8:58; i.e., a race of people, who resulted from the intermarriage of Israelites and Gentiles brought in by Assyria). The leaders were probably inferring that Mary had an affair with a Gentile resulting in her pregnancy with Jesus. Despite the fact that she faced death or

Augustus was born Gaius Octavius in 63 BC, the grandnephew of Julius Caesar. In 43 BC, Octavian became part of a military dictatorship with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus. The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC resulting in a civil war. Octavian defeated the forces of Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC at the Battle of Actium. Chased to Alexandria, they committed suicide in 30 BC. In 27 BC, the Roman Senate granted Octavian the name Augustus and gave him power over religious, civil and military affairs making him Romes first emperor. In An Answer to the Jews, Tertullian wrote, in the 41st year of the empire of Augustus, when he has been reigning for 28 years after the death of Cleopatra, the Christ is born (i.e., 2 BC [Augustus Silver Jubilee]). The Senate named him Father of the Country. The Luke 2 registration is associated with a call to allegiance. In Antiquities of the Jews (AOJ, 17.2.4), Josephus wrote about this time when all the people of the Jews gave assurance of their good-will to Caesar. In Seven Books of History against the Pagans, Orosius indicates that the census, which he dates in 752 AUC (2 BC), was a public acknowledgment that marked Caesar as the first of all men (6.22.7). This census was not primarily about taxation as is often portrayed, but a self-declaration by Augustus that he was the supreme human in the known world. Such a declaration is consistent with an inscription found: Divine Augustus Caesar, Son of a god, Imperator of Land & Sea, Benefactor & Savior of the Whole World He was viewed as a divine savior, who had brought peace to the world, after years of civil war. Did he or any human deserve these titles? No, we are all lost sinners, none better than the other when it comes to our standing before God. However, Jesus is a whole different story. Gabriel told Mary that He was the Son of the Most High. In accordance with the prophecy of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), He is Immanu-El or God with us (Matthew 1:23). In accordance with Isaiah 9:6, He is the Prince of peace, of the increase of His rule and peace there is no end. Augustus died 15 short years later in AD 14, bringing his rule and peace to an end. The angel on the night of His birth said, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all people. Because there was born to you today in the city of David a Savior, who is Messiah, Yahweh. While the man Augustus exalted himself to be a god, the true Son of God and Savior of the world humbled Himself to become a man:

Messiah Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a matter to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and came to be in the likeness of men. And having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, death even of a cross. God, therefore, has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Messiah is Yahweh, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11) Caesars pride was used by God to set in motion events that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, so that the Messiah would be born where it had been foretold 600 years previously by the prophet Micah (5:2). However, due to his arrogance and ignorance of the true God, Augustus missed Christmas. THE INNKEEPER The Christmas story continues: And all were going to be registered, each one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, who was engaged to him being pregnant. And it came to be, that while they were there, the days were filled for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born Son, and wrapped Him up, and laid Him down in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in a lodging place. (Luke 2:3-7) As there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn, there must have been an innkeeper. In Listening to Christmas Music in October, we see that Jesus was likely born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. During the three major feasts (Unleavened Bread, Weeks & Tabernacles), all males were required to travel to Jerusalem (Exodus 23:17). This meant that a city that generally had a population of 100,000 swelled to 1-2 million people during the festivals. People often had to stay in bedroom communities like Bethlehem, being only 5 miles from Jerusalem. Under normal circumstances, a woman near the end of her pregnancy would not have traveled to the Feast of Tabernacles. However, Augustus registration

would explain why Joseph took Mary with him. It does not explain why Bethlehem was overfilled during the registration, because just as many people would have to leave Bethlehem to go to the cities of their ancestors, as people had to come to Bethlehem. However, it is the Festival that explains the reason Bethlehem was overflowing and the inn had no room for Jesus. While Caesar missed Christmas because of arrogance and ignorance, the innkeeper missed Christmas because he was too busy. This time of year many people are too busy presents to buy, cards to send, cookies to bake, decorations to put up, parties to attend, family to visit. However, in the midst of it all, there is no room for the One for Whose birthday is being celebrated. THE SHEPHERDS Luke continues the Christmas story: In the same country there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. An angel of Yahweh said to them, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all people. Because there was born to you today in the city of David a Savior, who is Messiah, Yahweh. (Luke 2:8-11) Shepherds were considered unclean because they had daily contact with carcasses of animals and came into contact with all sorts of unclean animals in the course of their work. As their work kept them away from the temple for long periods of time, they could not make the required sacrifices to be restored to ceremonial cleanness. It is to these men that God proclaims that the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), has been born. Luke tells us their response: The shepherds said to each other, Indeed, let us go to Bethlehem and see this matter that has taken place, which Yahweh has made known to us. (Luke 2:15) By obeying God, the shepherds made Christmas. Not only did they go, but also they made known to everyone the things they saw and heard (2:17). KING HEROD We now turn to the gospel of Matthew: And Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of Herod the king, see, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the

Jews? For we saw His star in the East and have come to do reverence to Him. And Herod the king, having heard, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. (2:1-4) Who was Herod the king? This was the individual who was known as Herod the Great, the second son of Antipater (an Idumean) and a Nabataean noblewoman. Herod was not Jewish. Antipater was an official under the Jewish king/high priest, Hyrancus II. Hycranus was deposed by his brother Aristobulus II. Through the intervention of the Romans, Hyrancus was eventually restored as high priest. However, Julius Caesar made Antipater procurator of Judea. Antipater made his son Herod governor of Galilee. Shortly after in 40 BC, Antigonus (son of Aristobulus II), with the help of the Parthians, was installed in Jerusalem as high priest/king. Hyrcanus was captured, but Herod escaped to Rome. According to Josephus (AOJ 14.4.4), Herod went to Antony for help. Antony wanted to help Herod for three reasons: (1) past help that Antipater had given to Rome; (2) money Herod was offering him to be made king; and, (3) the hopes that Herod could regain Judea for Rome from the Parthians. Augustus was also in favor of helping Herod and recommended to the senate that they make Herod king. Herod was proclaimed King of the Jews. By 37 BC, Herod took Jerusalem and had Antigonus put to death. It is no wonder that when Magi arrived asking about a newborn King of the Jews, that Herod was greatly agitated. Although not Jewish, he knew enough about their religion to ask the chief priests and scribes about the birthplace of their Messiah. He had gone through much to gain that title and he wasnt about to surrender it to some newborn Messiah. And so, he didnt mind killing boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem in attempt to eliminate Jesus. As Matthew 2 indicates, Joseph, being warned by God, took Mary and Jesus to Egypt until Herod died. Josephus tells that Herod died soon after a lunar eclipse (AOJ, 17.6.4 & 17.9.3) and before Passover. The Passovers after Jesus birth were on April 6, 1 BC and March 27, AD 1. The only lunar eclipses visible in Jerusalem during this time frame were on January 9 and December 29, 1 BC. The first of these dates is only 120 days after the birth of Jesus.

What happened during this period? On the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21). According to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12:2-4), a woman is unclean for 40 days after childbirth at which time she must bring a sacrifice, generally, a lamb and a turtledove (12:6). However, if the lamb could not be afforded, two turtledoves could be offered (12:8). Mary offered two turtledoves (Luke 2:24), indicating that they were poor and that the Magi had not yet visited with their lavish gifts. Luke then tells us: And when they had accomplished all matters according to the Law of Yahweh, they returned to Galilee, to their city Nazareth. (Luke 2:39) This passage is ignored by most. It tells us that the shepherds and Magi not only didnt visit the same night, but also not during the same trip to Bethlehem by Joseph and Mary. Jesus family must have returned at another time to Bethlehem, possibly at Passover in 1 BC. It is also possible that, after returning to Nazareth (when Jesus was 40 days old), they moved back to Bethlehem. Matthew writes after Herods death: And rising up, he (Joseph) took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaos was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he departed to the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. (Matthew 2:21-23) This would seem to imply they were living in Bethlehem, because Joseph considered moving back into Judea instead of Galilee. It is very unlikely that during a period of 80 days (i.e., 120 40) that: (1) Joseph and Mary would travel back to Nazareth; (2) Joseph and Mary would travel back to Bethlehem; (3) the Magi would visit; (4) Joseph and Mary would escape to Egypt; and, (5) Herod would become sick. Therefore, it is likely that the eclipse that marked Herods death was the one on December 29, 1 BC. Jewish tradition places the death of Herod on Shebat 2. In AD 1, this would have been on January 14. Augustus missed Christmas because of ignorance and arrogance. The innkeeper was too busy. Herod missed Christmas because of jealousy and hatred. He knew about the Messiah, but saw Him as a threat. Many people today hate Jesus, he is merely a swear word to them. He loves them and proved it by dying in their place, but they hate Him, saying,

we do not want this man to reign over us (Luke 19:14). THE MAGI We now come to the three kings of the orient. The only problem is that there probably were not three of them, they were not kings, and they were not from the orient; otherwise, that title is completely accurate. We read again these words: And Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of Herod the sovereign, see, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and have come to do reverence to Him. (Matthew 2:12) What are Magi? They were part of priestly class in Babylon, Persia, and at the time of Herod, Parthia. The Greek word translated Magi is magos and it is found in the Septuagint (LXX, the Greek translation of the Old Testament) in the Book of Daniel. It is used in the following passage where King Belshazzar was being reminded about a man who had served his grandfather King Nebuchadnezzar, namely Daniel the prophet: There is a man in your reign in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar your father, made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and diviners, because an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding, interpreting dreams, and explaining riddles, and solving difficult problems were found in this Daniel Now let Daniel be called, and let him show the interpretation. (Daniel 5:11-12) Magos is the word translated astrologers. We learn hear that Daniel was the chief of the magi. As such, we would anticipate that he exposed those under him to Gods word. Daniel was given the following prophecy from Gabriel: Seventy heptads are decreed for your people and for your holy city, to put an end to the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to cover crookedness, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know, then, and understand: from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem

until Messiah the Prince is 7 heptads and 62 heptads. (Daniel 9:24-25a) The prophecy concerns 70 heptads or sevens of years or 490 years. In particular, the time between the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the Messiah, would be 69 weeks (62+7) or 483 years. Isaiah prophesied nearly 200 years beforehand who would make the decree to rebuild Jerusalem: Thus said Yahweh, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb, I am Yahweh who is saying of Koresh (Cyrus), He is My shepherd, and he completes all My pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, Let her be built, and to the Temple, Let her foundation be laid. (44:24-28) According to Josephus (AOJ, 11.1.2), Cyrus was shown the prophecy, which spurred him on to fulfill it. The actual decree is recorded in Ezra: And in the 1st year of Koresh king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Koresh king of Persia, to proclaim throughout all his reign, Yahweh God of the heavens has given me all the reigns of the earth. And He has commanded me to build Him a house in Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? His God be with him! And let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the House of Yahweh God of Israel He is God which is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-3) The present day dating of the Persian period of history is based on the work of Ptolemy. However, many other ancient historians disagree with it, so it is difficult to put a date on the decree based on secular history. The following chronological info is taken from Scripture: 1. Adam Abrahams 99th Birthday (Abrahamic Covenant [Circumcision]): 2,107 yrs (Genesis 5 & 11, Acts 7:4); 2. Abrahams 99th Birthday Exodus: 430 yrs (Galatians 3:14-19); 3. Exodus Solomons Temple (4th Yr of his reign): 480 yrs (1 Kings 6:1); 4. Solomons Temple End of Solomons Reign: 36 yrs (1 Kings 11:42); 5. End of Solomons Reign Babylonian Captivity: 394 yrs (19 kings of Judah

following Solomon Zedekiah]);

[Rehoboam

to

6. Babylonian Captivity Cyrus Decree 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11; Daniel 9:2); and, 7. Cyrus Decree Baptism of Messiah 483 years (Daniel 9:25, Luke 3:1 [15th Year of Tiberius Caesar])

When these are added up, we come up with exactly 4,000 years between creation and the Messiah Jesus beginning His ministry. It seems highly unlikely that this is a coincidence. With a date of AD 29 for the baptism of Jesus, we come up with a date of 455 BC for Cyrus decree compared to a date of 537 BC by Ptolemy. With this prophecy, the Magi would have known that the time for the birth of the Messiah was near. Why were they tipped off by a star? They were astrologers, who studied the stars to determine, among other things, who should be king (i.e., they were not kings, but king-makers). There is a Messianic Scripture that may have caused them to believe Israels Messiahs birth would be heralded by a star: I see Him, but not now; I observe Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. (Numbers 24:17) Magi were from Parthia, not the Orient, an enemy empire to Rome. Herod had fought this empire to take control of Jerusalem. It is highly unlikely that 3 men would have come alone into a hostile environment; they probably had an army with them (Scripture mentions three gifts, not three men). Parthian king makers with an army looking for the newborn King of the Jews and we can better understand Herods concern. The most important thing we can say about these individuals is found in this passage: And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And coming into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and did reverence to Him, and opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11) The Magi made Christmas because they acted on the revelation they had from God and worshipped the newborn King.

CHIEF PRIESTS & SCRIBES We have come to the last people that we will study: And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judah, for thus it has been written by the prophet, But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you shall come a Ruler who shall shepherd My people Israel. (Matthew 2:4-6) These religious leaders could quote a verse from a book most people will never read in their lives. However, there is no indication that they took the time to walk 5 miles to see their Messiah. Why? We can only guess by how they treated Him during His ministry. They were His biggest enemies and in the end they were the ones, from a human perspective, who put Him to death. When it really came down to it, they did not believe they needed a Savior because they were not sinners. Jesus told a parable about a Jewish religious leader and a tax collector that shows us their attitude: And He also spoke this parable to some who relied on themselves that they were righteous, and looking down on others: Two men went up to the Holy Place to pray the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and began to pray with himself this way, God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:9-12) The chief priests became rich from the temple. They forced people to buy sacrificial animals from them at high prices. If that wasnt bad enough, they forced people to exchange their money at an unfavorable rate for temple money to purchase the animals. It was Jesus addressing of this situation, which finally caused them to want to put Him to death: Jesus entering into the Holy Place began to drive out those who bought and sold in the Holy Place, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves. And He did not allow anyone to carry a vessel through the Holy Place. And He was teaching, saying to them, Has it not been written, My House shall be called a house of

prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers. And the scribes and the chief priests heard it and they were seeking how to destroy Him. (Mark 11:15-18) The chief priests and scribes missed Christmas because of two things: religion and greed. They thought because they did certain ritualistic activities that they were in right standing with God. And in the long run, they really didnt love God; they loved money. The rituals were merely show to impress others. Many people miss Christmas because they merely go through empty rituals and do not have a relationship with the living God. Others miss Christmas because it is merely a time to get a lot of presents and spurn Gods indescribable gift, His Son. The $475 billion that will be spent with little thought about the Person it is all about is a testament to the fact that there is a lot of money in religion. SUMMARY In summary, the people who made Christmas (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi) did so because they worshipped God by obeying Him. The people who missed Christmas (Augustus, innkeeper, Herod, chief priests and scribes) did so because they were lovers of self rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Dont let arrogance, ignorance, jealousy, hatred, bustle, religion or greed keep you from the love God showed you by sending His only Son to die for your sins. God Bless.

Merry Christmas In Jesus Love, Donald