Leviticus 23:34-43;
Revelation 21:3-6
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
(JOHN 1:14)
As a Jew who has placed his faith in Jesus the Jewish Messiah, I have come to love Christmas. The story of Christmas is such a Jewish one. The Old Testament Jewish prophets told Israel hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus exactly what would take place: Messiah to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); Messiah to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); Messiah to be born of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10); Messiah to be born from the lineage of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
And as we look at the last of God's appointed times on the yearly Hebrew calendar, we see the Feast of Tabernacles as the perfect "picture" of that little Jewish baby, born of Jewish parents, who would "tabernacle" among His people. "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
All the Jewish prophecies were fulfilled in one person: Jesus the Jewish Messiah, God incarnate who came to save His people from their sins. This is the greatest story ever told, and a Jewish one at that!
INSIGHT
"THE SON OF GOD BECAME A MAN TO ENABLE MEN TO BECOME SONS OF GOD."
(C.S. LEWIS)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Habakkuk 1-3
Proverbs 25
Revelation 6-7
Leviticus 23:34-43
New International Version (NIV)
34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.
37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and[a] in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)
39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”
Footnotes:
a. Leviticus 23:38 Or These festivals are in addition to the Lord’s Sabbaths, and these offerings are
Revelation 21:3-6
New International Version (NIV)
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
THE MESSIAH HAS COME
with David Suchet
Shephards left there flocks to see Him. Magi followed a star to find Him. And Herod sent an army to kill Him. Who is this boy who was born in Bethlehem? His name is Jesus – Immanuel.
No comments:
Post a Comment