Jesus, Hanukkah & Christmas!

I love Christmas! From the time that I was a child, Christmas has always been my favorite season of the year. The lights, the carols, the presents and the intentional time spent with family and friends... all of it creates the perfect recipe for a wonderful season of celebration!

In recent years, though, many Christians have also begun discovering the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah and its meaning to the Christian faith. But where did Christmas acquire its meaning and significance from? Is December 25th truly the day that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? The Bible actually gives us a clear understanding to this question and offers a beautiful connection of Christmas and Hanukkah.

When was Jesus born?

Luke's account of Jesus' birth is one of the most read versions of the Christmas story in the Bible. However, despite its attention detail, there are a few overlooked and undervalued details in this chapter. One of these 'discoveries' is found in Luke where Luke intentionally tells us that Zachariah served in the Priestly Course of 'Abia' (Abijah - 1 Chronicles 24:10).

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth." Luke 1:5

The priesthood was divided into 24 different 'courses' for the sake of scheduling their times of service in the temple related to the weekly Sabbaths and annual Festivals. Luke intentionally mentions the 'priestly course' because it identifies Zachariah’s Levitical connection, which further identifies which festival is being celebrated in this passage. According to rabbinic historical record, the priestly course of Abia was scheduled to serve in the Temple during the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost), which typically occurs in the beginning of June. Then, Luke proceeds to inform us that while serving in the Temple at that Festival of Pentecost, Gabriel, the messenger angel of Heaven, appeared to Zachariah and promised a son (John) to he and his wife, Elisabeth.

Why is this story about John's birth so important to the birth of Jesus? Because the conception of John (the Baptist) is the anchor-point for identifying the timeframe for the birth of Jesus! 

Check this out...

The First Chapter of the Gospel of Luke tells us about Zachariah’s angelic encounter. But then the storyline immediately jumps to Gabriel's appearing to the young virgin girl, Mary, where he promised to her the birth the Christ-child named Jesus. After this shocking and intimate exchange between Gabriel and Mary, Luke goes on to give us another specific detail.

"And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her..." Luke 1:36

This detail calendars the fact that Elisabeth's conception was six months prior to Mary's immaculate conception. Because of Luke's attention to detail, we now have a timeline that reveals the season of the year when Jesus was born. Follow the progression...

• Elisabeth conceived John at the Festival of Pentecost - early June
• Mary conceived and then went to visit Elisabeth, who was already six months pregnant; placing Mary's conception six months later than Elisabeth's - December (Luke 1:36)
• Elisabeth birthed John at Passover (Pesach); which is in the Spring (March-April)
• Mary would then give birth six months after Elisabeth... placing Jesus' birth in the midst of the Fall Festivals (September-October)

NOTE: MANY more biblical and cultural facts support this timeline; i.e. Shepherds were visited by a host of angels while watching sheep in the fields (Luke 2:8-9), but sheep weren't tended in the fields after the month of October. Thus, a December birth wouldn't be accurate to the culture and seasons in Israel.

WHAT?! Jesus wasn't born in December? Are you serious?

After discovering the Scriptural account about the birth of Christ, many Christians have asked, "Then, why should Christians celebrate Christmas?" and "What does a Jewish Holiday (Hanukkah) have to do with me as a Believer in Jesus?" Here is my response....

As for my Christian home, we celebrate BOTH Christmas and Hanukkah and find them linked together in purpose. Christmas is our celebration of the holy conception of Jesus - the Light of the World - coming to the earth to save humanity from her sins. Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration of God's miraculous involvement in the sanctification and rededication of the Temple via the lighting of the Hanukkiah (9-branched candelabra).  Interestingly, Hanukkah is also referred to in Judaism as the "Festival of Lights."

As a Christian, these two celebrations - Christmas & Hanukkah - enjoy the most natural connection! For Christmas, I celebrate the arrival of Jesus, the Hope and Savior of the world (Christmas); for Hanukkah, I celebrate the sanctifying and rededicating of my life (temple - 1 Cor. 6:19) back to the True "Light of the World" (John 8:12).

We've been lighting Christmas lights and Hanukkah candles in my home for years... which has only proven to more deeply focus our attention and hearts towards Christ in this wonderful time of the year! ...maybe next year you will also consider lighting Christmas lights and Hanukkah candles in your home, too!

Happy (late) Hanukkah, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!