I interviewed William J. Federer regarding his book on Santa Claus.
You should listen, there's more to the story than you may know.
How is Christmas different from fables and frauds and myths?
First off, let’s settle that The Jewish nation and people and particularly their religious text were seen as something special, and unusual and worthy of note.
the fact that they even came back from captivity in Babylon to be a nation again was and is noteworthy.
Just like their coming back from 2000 years of exile to be a nation again in 1948.
This is literally unheard of. So there is something special going on there.
And their religious text, the Old Testament, with it’s numerous prophecies, many of which were seen to be fulfilled, became almost required reading for any well-read person back in their day.
Just as the Bible is today.
Here's some stuff that their book talked about.
- The Messiah would be the seed/offspring of a woman and would crush the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15).
- He would come from the seed/offspring of Abraham and would bless all the nations on earth (Genesis 12:3).
- He would be a “prophet like Moses” to whom God said we must listen (Deuteronomy 18:15).
- He would be born in Bethlehem of Judah (Micah 5:2).
- He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).
- He would have a throne, a kingdom and a dynasty, or house, starting with King David, that will last forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
- He would be called “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father,” “Prince of Peace,” and would possess an everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7).
- He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, righteous and having salvation, coming with gentleness (Zechariah 9:9-10).
- He would be pierced for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).
- His crucifixion was described in Psalm 22! Almost to the smallest detail.
- He would die among the wicked ones but be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy Jew, gave this condemned prisoner his grave, or rather lent it to him. Because he knew Jesus would only need it for three days.
- He would be resurrected from the grave, for God would not allow His Holy One to suffer decay (Psalm 16:10).
- He would come again from the clouds of heaven as the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14).
- He would be the “Sun of Righteousness” for all who revere Him and look for His coming again (Malachi 4:2).
- He is the One whom Israel will one day recognize as the One they pierced, causing bitter grief (Zechariah 12:10).
One thing that people typically miss in that list is the prophecy of Daniel:
9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
9:25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One,{“Anointed One” can also be translated “Messiah” (same as “Christ”).} the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
9:26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and its end shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined.
9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out on the desolate.
What does this have to do with Christmas? This prophecy tells us when he will arrive!
And many knew it. The “Three Wise Men” knew it. They had read the prophecies of Daniel, like any other scholar would have. Then they saw this celestial apparition, this bright star that signaled something, and since it was near the appointed time, they headed for Israel, to seek a King.
Some say this star was prophesied in Numbers 17 written presumably by Moses.
“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”
The wise men did not follow the Star to Bethlehem, they followed the Word of God.
They knew enough to head to Israel.
Then they asked Herod where they should look, and the priests pointed them to Bethlehem, where the prophet Micah said He could be found. And they found Him.
The Shepherds were presumably the Temple Shepherds whose job was to inspect the sacrificial lambs, explaining why they were out in the fields in December. If the nativity was in December. And Jesus was THE sacrificial lamb.
There may be good reason to believe that Jesus was born on Hanukkah/Festival of Lights/Feast of Dedication (of the Temple).
The 9th Tebheth is marked as a fast day, and it is added, that the reason for this is not stated. Now, Jewish chronologists have fixed on that day as that of Christ's birth, and it is remarkable that, between the years 500 and 816 A.D. the 25th of December fell no less than twelve times on the 9th Tebheth.
Fulfillment of prophecy on Jewish feast days is a regular thing.
The Angels announced his birth filling the sky with light.
He became the Living Temple of God, thus the Feast of Dedication is appropriate.
John 10:22And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Was He there to celebrate His birthday? :)
