The document discusses the birth of Jesus Christ based on biblical references and Jewish traditions. It analyzes passages from the Gospel of Luke to determine that John the Baptist was born around Passover, while Jesus was conceived around the Festival of Lights in December and born around the Feast of Tabernacles in September or October. Jewish tradition holds that Elijah will announce the coming of the Messiah at Passover, which John fulfilled as coming in the spirit and power of Elijah.

1. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 (KJB)
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 1

2. Our Lord Jesus Christ
By Gary Stephen Crous
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 2

3. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 3

4. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 4

5. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 5

6. We will look extensively at
what the Holy Scriptures tell
us of the birth of our Lord
and Saviour Yahshua from
the Gospel according to
Saint Luke from 1:1 to 2:40
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 6

7. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 7
MONTH
PRE- / POST
EXILIC
OF YEAR
SACRED /
CIVIL
MODERN
EQUIVALENT
MONTHS
Abib / Nisan 1 / 7 March / April
Ziv / Iyar 2 /8 April / May
Sivan 3 / 9 May / June
Tammuz 4 / 10 June / July
Ab 5 / 11 July / August
Elul 6 / 12 August / September
Ethanim / Tishri 7 / 1 September / October
Bul / Heshvan 8 / 2 October / November
Kislev 9 / 3 November / December
Tevet 10 / 4 December / January
Shevat 11 / 5 January / February
Adar
12 / 6
February / March
Adar I
13
Leap Year

8. According to 1 Chronicles 24:1-19, the Levites were
commanded by YHWH (the LORD) to serve in the Temple
during a 24 course cycle. Further, in accordance with
Deuteronomy 16:16 ~ Three times in a year shall all thy males
appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall
choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of
weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not
appear before the LORD empty:
These three main feasts can be viewed in Leviticus 23.
Therefore, during a Hebrew year the priesthood would appear
before the LORD once in the first half of the year and once in
the second half the year in accordance with 1 Chronicles 24 . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 8

9. . . . and three times in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16.
Therefore, the Hebrew year consisted of 51 weeks which is
made up as follows:
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 9

10. . . . and three times in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16.
Therefore, the Hebrew year consisted of 51 weeks which is
made up as follows:
24 + 24 + 3 = 51
24 Courses multiplied by 2 Temple duties a year equals 48
weeks, plus the three pilgrimage weeks which totals 51 weeks.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 10

11. . . . and three times in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16.
Therefore, the Hebrew year consisted of 51 weeks which is
made up as follows:
24 + 24 + 3 = 51
24 Courses multiplied by 2 Temple duties a year equals 48
weeks, plus the three pilgrimage weeks which totals 51 weeks.
As the Hebrew calendar is a lunar/solar calendar based on a
30 day month, being a 360 day year, the 51 weeks times 7
days per week = 357 days per annum that fits within the 360
day year.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 11

12. The starting foundation to ascertain the nativity of the only
begotten Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is
found by the following historical event: A certain priest named
Zecharias of the course of Abia (Abijah)(Luke 1:5). The course
of Abia was the eighth course according to the Law written in 1
Chronicles 24:10, being week eight of the Hebrew calendar.
However, according to Deuteronomy 16:16 ~ The Law of the
Feasts:
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the
LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast
of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast
of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD
empty: LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 12

13. Therefore, all the priests had to appear together at these three
Jewish feasts to minister in the Temple.
According to Leviticus 23 we can find out when the feasts of
Deuteronomy 16:16 shall appear in the Hebrew Calendar.
Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated starting on
15th Nisan (see Leviticus 23:6-8); [Passover on 14th Nisan]
The Feast of Weeks [Shavuot (Pentecost)] fifty days
later after Unleavened Bread in “Sivan” (see Leviticus 23:15-
22); and
The Feast of Tabernacles starts on the 15th day of the
seventh month “Tishri” (see Leviticus 23:33-44).
As two of these three feasts are celebrated in the first half of
the year, Zechariah is found executing his priestly office of
burning incense at the altar of incense (see Luke 1:8-11) in
week ten of the Hebrew calendar, i.e. 8th course of Abijah +
two feasts (Unleavened Bread and Pentecost) = Week 10.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 13

14. Zechariah had his vision while serving in the eighth course of
Abijah, which fell in the tenth week of the year, calculating
from the beginning of the sacred year in the month Nisan. In
Luke 1:23,24 we read that as soon as the days of his
ministration were accomplished he finds himself at home and
after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived. This could
possibly have taken place in the next four weeks. Firstly, as
with the manner of women, let us add two weeks to comply
with the purity laws (Leviticus 15:19,25) for soon thereafter
Elisabeth would be fertile, and secondly this would then bring
about the conception of John in or about the 12th-14th week of
that year in late Sivan / early Tammuz. If John was born about
thirty-nine weeks (nine months) later (for we are not sure . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 14

15. . . . of the exact date of conception calculated at about 39
weeks from Elisabeth’s last menstruation cycle) that would
bring us to the birth of John the Baptist in or about the
Passover festival.
The calculation looks as follows:
8th Course (Abijah) 1 Chronicles 24:10 8
+ Two Festivals (Unleavened Bread and Pentecost) 2
+ Four weeks (manner of women and conception) 4
+ Elisabeth’s pregnancy of nine months (39 weeks) 39
Total Weeks 53
According to Jewish tradition this is when Elijah is expected to
appear as we will see later at the Passover seder table.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 15

16. Now when Elisabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy (see
Luke 1:24-26), the angel Gabriel is sent by God “To a virgin
espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.”(v.27). Mary is told,
“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth
a son, and shalt call his name JESUS [YAHSHUA].”(v.31). In
verse 36 we are told that when Mary conceives, her cousin
would be already six months with child, as we read: “And,
behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in
her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was
called barren.” YHWH’s only begotten Son Jesus was
conceived by the Holy Spirit six months (about 26 weeks) after
John the Baptist’s conception. This means the Christ child was
conceived about the 38th week of the year around the festival
Hanukkah, late Kislev (i.e. early December). This festival is not
recorded in Leviticus 23. However, there is significance in that
the Light of the world [see John 1:9] was conceived during . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 16

17. . . . the festival of lights! Conceived, not born in flesh entering
into the world, as the Xmas holiday dictates – there is a huge
difference here!
We are told that Mary arose in those days (Luke 1:39) and
went and visited her cousin Elisabeth, “And Mary abode with
her about three months, and returned to her own house.”
(Luke 1:56). Therefore, Elisabeth’s six months pregnancy plus
the three months of Mary’s visitation results in Luke 1:57 “Now
Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and
she brought forth a son.” This is in fulfilment of what is
expected by Jewish tradition and also the fulfilment of the
prophet Malachi’s prophecy, as it is written:
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming
of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6And he shall turn
the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse. ~ Malachi 4:5,6
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 17

18. On the Seder plate is:
•zro’ah (Shank bone) symbolizes the lamb that was sacrificed in ancient days
•beitzah (Roasted Egg) represents the Passover offering of ancient days as well as the wholeness and continuing
cycle of life
•maror (Bitter herbs, horseradish or romaine lettuce) reminds us of the bitter lives of the Hebrew slaves
•Charoset (the mixture of apples, nuts, sweet wine/grape juice, cinnamon and sugar in the Ashkenazic fashion or
dates, nuts and sweet wine/grape juice in the Sephardic tradition), reminds us of the bricks and mortar made by
the Hebrew slaves
•karpas (Greens) symbolizes the springtime of the year when Passover takes place
Also placed on the table:
•Three matzot (pl. of matzah), on a plate with a cloth or napkin cover
•Salt water, a reminder of the tears shed by the Hebrew slaves
•Cup of Elijah—Kos Eliyahu
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 18

19. The Jewish tradition during the Passover feast has a chair left
open and a wine goblet set at Elijah’s place at the seder table
each year awaiting his arrival.
The word seder is:
Hebrew for “set order”; the ritual Passover meal that is
observed in specific order. (Christ in the Passover, Ceil &
Moishe Rosen, Moody Publishers, Chicago, page 10 under
definitions)
A quote from the book titled Christ in the Passover will also
set out the setting of a traditional Jewish Passover seder table:
“Also at the seder table, beside each place setting are small
wine goblets – small because four times they will be filled . . . ”
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 19

20. “ . . . with sweet, red Passover wine during the seder. The
custom of drinking four cups dates back to ancient Temple
times. The Mishnah [Hebrew for the collection of oral law that
forms the basis of the Talmud; compiled by Judah ha-Nasi (c.
AD 135 to 220) – page 9 under definitions] teaches that,
according to two authorities, Rabbi Yohanon and Rabbi
Benayah, these four cups correspond to the four verbs in
Exodus 6:6-7, describing God’s redemption: I will bring you
out; I will free you; I will redeem you; I will take you to be My
people.
“Two of the wine goblets at the table are usually larger and
more ornate than the rest. They have silver, intricate pictures
of the Bible history crafted into the metal. One of these goblets
sits at the head of the table for the ruler of the feast; the other
occupies a prominent place at the foot of the table, before an
empty chair. It awaits the lips of Elijah, who, according to
Malachi 4:5, is to announce the coming of the Messiah. . . . ”
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 20

21. “ . . . The prophet is the invited guest of honor at every seder,
for, should he come, it would indeed be the most festive of
Passovers! The Messianic hope prevails more strongly at
Passover than at any other time, for Midrashic tradition says:
“Nisan is the month of redemption; in Nisan Israel was
redeemed from Egypt; in Nisan Israel will again be redeemed”
(Exodus Rabbah 15:12 Cf. chap. 6, 64-66) (Christ in the
Passover, Ceil & Moishe Rosen, Moody Publishers, Chicago,
pages 82-83)
During the Passover traditions, a child goes and opens the
house door to see if Elijah has “arrived”, to accept the
invitation to come inside and announce the coming of the
Messiah, and as he is not outside the door, tradition has it that
the Jewish Passover celebrators keep his place open awaiting
the “arrival” possibly next year! This goes on year after year.
Now let us read what Scripture says about John the Baptist
coming in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 21

22. At the transfiguration of Christ, Moses and Elijah appeared to
Jesus Christ and His disciples Peter, James and John. And this
is recorded in Matthew 17:10-13 ~
10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the
scribes that Elias must first come? 11And Jesus answered and
said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all
things. 12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already
[see Matthew 11:13,14], and they knew him not, but have done
unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of
man suffer of them. 13Then the disciples understood that
he spake unto them of John the Baptist. [See also Mark
9:10-13 and Luke 9:33][my emphasis in bold and throughout]
In the Gospel according to John 1:19-23 we also read ~
19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests
and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And
he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 22

23. . . . Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou
Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he
answered, No. 22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that
we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou
of thyself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the
prophet Esaias. [Isaiah 40:3]. ~ John 1:19-23 *Lord = kurios (LORD / YHWH)
As YHWH sent His messenger John the Baptist, so too was the
birth of His Only Begotten Son precisely when God chose for
His Son to enter this world – on time to the last detail, as we
read:
4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his
Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ~ Galatians 4:4
Six months after John’s birth at the Passover feast in the
month of Nisan, the Jewish Messiah came to tabernacle . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 23

24. . . . at the autumn (fall) Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in the
month Tishri (i.e. September/October). God gives us a
Revelation of when He revealed Himself as His Son, conceived
of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin and entered into this world
as the Divine God-Man? – “And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John
1:14) – “Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”
(see Matthew 1:23).
We will now confirm the Historical account giving further
evidences why our Great God, Lord of lords, King of kings and
God above all gods was born at the Feast of Tabernacles
(Sukkot) on the third feast in the latter half of the year in
accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16. Let the TRUTH be
known.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 24

25. This all points towards the Festival of Sukkot as we examine
the Biblical Historical account:
Bethlehem was “booked out.” This was a combination of
two aspects – firstly, the taxing (or enrolment) that Caesar
Augustus decreed:
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was
governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into
his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
David:) ~ Luke 2:1-4
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 25

26. And secondly, every Jew was required to come to
Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16)
and this would also have had the effect of Jerusalem being
“booked out” where the Temple was situated as well as
Bethlehem just five miles away. Therefore, it would be
understandable that there was no room in the inn. But, we also
must remember that Jews attending the Feast of Sukkot would
be residing in booths for the duration of the festival according
to the Jewish law. (See Leviticus 23:33-44)
We also read in Genesis 33:17 ~
17And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house,
and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place
is called Succoth*. [*That is Booths]
The word “booth” in this verse is the Hebrew word in the
Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance [5521 sukkâh,
sook-kaw’: feminine of 5520; a hut or lair – booth, cottage, . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 26

27. . . . covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent. A feminine singular noun
meaning a booth, a thicket. This term is used for temporary
shelters used to cover animals (Ge 33:17); warriors (2Sa 11:11);
and the prophet Jonah (Jnh 4:5). It is used poetically to refer
to the clouds (Job 36:29; Ps 18:11). A specialized usage is
employed for booths constructed for the fall harvest festival
(Le 23:42,43). The festival was known as the chag
hassukkôwth (2282), the Feast of Booths (Dt 16:13,16). This
was to remind the Israelites that they lived in booths when the
Lord brought them up from Egypt (Le 23:43).]
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 27

28. If Jesus was born on the first day of Sukkot, “. . . The fifteenth
day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for
seven days unto the LORD” (Leviticus 23:34), then He would
have been circumcised on the “eighth great day” a festival
following Sukkot. Shemini Atseret (“Eighth Day of Solemn
Assembly”) is a festival observed immediately after Sukkot
(Tabernacles), i.e. on 22nd Tishri (i.e. the seventh month), . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 28

29. . . . as laid down in the Pentateuch: “On the eighth day you
shall observe a holy occasion . . . it is a solemn gathering
(Atseret); you shall not work at your occupations” (Lev. 23:36;
cf. Num. 29:35). The term Atseret (lit. “concluding festival”) is
also applied to the last day of Passover (Deut. 16:8) and, by the
rabbis, to Shavu’Ot (RH 1:2; Shev. 1:1). This day was the
original “Simchat Torah” (Rejoicing of the Law) {n. Judaism A
festival celebrating the Law of Moses and the completion of
the year’s cycle and subsequent new beginning, observed on
the 22nd or 23rd day of Tishri (September/October) – which is
now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. [Hebrew
śimhat tôrâ, rejoicing in the Torah, Simchat Torah: śimhâ, joy
(from śāmēah, to rejoice) + tôrâ, torah.]}
(www.answers.com/topics/shemini-atseret).
Sukkot is symbolic of God dwelling in a “tabernacle” (body)
with us. John 1:14 reads ~
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 29

30. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth.
The word “dwelt” is recorded in the Strong’s Complete Word
Study Concordance as [4637 – skēnoō from 4636; to tent or
encamp, i.e. (figurative) to occupy (as a mansion) or (special)
to reside (as God in the tabernacle of old, a symbol of
protection and communion):- dwell].
See also Hebrews 9:11 that Christ is our tabernacle ~
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building;
In this Hebrews’ verse the word “tabernacle” is recorded in the
Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance as the Greek
word [4633 – skēnē, skay-nay’; apparently akin to 4632 and
4639; a tent or cloth hut (literal or figurative): - habitation,
tabernacle. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 30

31. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ~ Luke 2:8
The word “abiding” is the only time that this word is used with
the Greek word agrauleō in the Strong’s Complete Word Study
Concordance [63 – agrauleō from 68 and 832 (in the sense
of 833); to camp out – abide in the field.] The shepherds were
camping out which would not be the case if they were in the
month of December. Winter would have set in and the latter
rainy season would have commenced from late October and it
would be unlikely that the shepherds would have their flocks
out in the fields at night. When the rainy season started in the
late fall, where temperatures would also be freezing, the
shepherds would have already brought their sheep in from the
fields and sheltered them.LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 31

32. From the Adam Clark Commentary, Volume 5, page 347, we
learn “[i]t was an ancient custom among the Jews of those
days to send their sheep to the fields and deserts about
Passover (early spring) and bring them home at
commencement of the first rain.” The authority continues,
“during the time they were out, the shepherds watched them
night and day, as . . . the first rains began early in the month of
Heshvan, which answers to part of our October and November
(begins mid October), we find that the sheep were kept out in
the open country during the whole summer, and as these
shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a
presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced,
and consequently, our Lord was not born on the 25th of
December, when no flocks were out in the fields by night. On
this very ground, the nativity in December should be given
up.”
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 32

33. From the Mede’s Works, 1679, Discourse xlvii we read: “It is
evidenced that Jesus was not born during the middle of winter,
for at the time of His birth, the shepherds were living out in
the fields with their flocks. As the bible says: “There were in
the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). As is well known
the shepherds in Palestine do not “abide in the fields” during
the winter season because of the extreme, cold temperatures.
The shepherds always bring their flocks in from the mountain
slopes and fields no later than October 15th!”
Another quoted source reads: “Israeli meteorologists tracked
December weather patterns for many years and concluded that
the climate in Israel has been essentially constant for at least
the last 2,000 years . . . broadly speaking, weather phenomena
and climatic conditions as pictured in the Bible correspond
with conditions as observed today” ~ The Interpreter’s
Dictionary of the Bible (R.B.Y. Scott, Vol. 3, Abingdon Press,
Nashville, 1962, p.625). LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 33

34. The Bible also states that winter is a rainy month:
11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; ~ Song
of Solomon 2:11
and
9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered
themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was
the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all
the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling
because of this matter, and for the great rain. . . . 13But the
people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not
able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two:
for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. ~ Ezra
10:9,13
The ninth month referred to in the preceding verses is the
month Kislev (November / December) according to the sacred
Jewish calendar. It is also worth noting the “clothing” that . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 34

35. . . . the baby Jesus was wrapped in at the time of His birth
which would not be appropriate for the middle of winter. We
read the account pertaining to the swaddling clothes ~
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them
in the inn. ~ Luke 2:6,7
The word “swaddling” is in the Greek [4683 – sparganoō
from sparganon (a strip from a derivative of the base of 4682
meaning to strip or wrap with strips); to swathe (an infant
after the Oriental custom): - wrap in swaddling clothes.] We
can see that Joseph and Mary were not only poor by the
offering that they offered at the Temple, “. . . a pair of turtle
doves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24 and see Leviticus
12:6-8), but the clothes were also strips of wrap.
From the evidence provided dispels a December winter birth.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 35

36. We need to consult the Scriptures in Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18 to
see the correct events as they happened. When the wise men
came from the east to Jerusalem after seeing “his star in the
east” (Matthew 2:2) the baby Jesus had already been born.
The wise men saw the appearing of the star and then set out to
come and worship the King Jesus. Once they saw the star and
set out on their journey from the land they found themselves
in, it must have taken them many months, for when they
arrived in Jerusalem, they asked where is he that is born King
of the Jews. When king Herod heard this – in order to fulfil
Scriptures – “he demanded of them where Christ should be
born” (Matthew 2:4b).
Herod then diligently enquired of the wise men at what time
the star appeared (see Matthew 2:7) and when they had . . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 36

37. . . . told him they went to see the Christ. Now we must put into
perspective the visit by the wise men when we see that the
shepherds of Bethlehem were visited by angels telling them,
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying
in a manger. ~ Luke 2:11,12
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us
now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And
they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a manger. ~ Luke 2:15,16
The shepherds were the first to see the baby Jesus lying in a
manger and they broadcast the good news (see Luke 2:17,18) –
the first evangelists!
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 37

38. The word for “babe” is recorded in the Strong’s Complete
Word Study Concordance as the Greek word 1025 brephos,
bref’-os; of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly unborn)
literal or figurative:- babe, (young) child, infant.
However, when we read the account of the wise men meeting
Jesus, He is a “young child in a house” and the Greek word for
“child” in Matthew 2:11 is 3813 paidion, pahee—dee’-on;
neuter diminutive of 3816; a childling (of either sex), i.e.
(properly) an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl;
figurative an immature Christian:- (little, young) child,
damsel.
We know that at least two years must have elapsed from the
time the star first appeared to the wise men, and them
informing king Herod, for when Herod saw that he was
“mocked” by the wise men who did not report back to him, he
fulfilled an ancient prophecy recorded in Jeremiah 31:15 when
he killed the children, as we read:
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 38

39. 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof,
from two years old and under, according to the time which he
had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled
that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18In
Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and
great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would
not be comforted, because they are not. ~ Matthew 2:16-18
The other thing to remember is that when these wise men
travelled they had large caravans (of camels) with many people
travelling together and because three gifts are named which
were presented to Jesus when they worshipped Him, being
“gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” from their “treasures”
(see Matthew 2:11), the number of the men cannot be limited
to three. No Scripture confirms the number of wise men in the
party. This is the account of Scripture and not the heresy
depicted at Xmas time. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 39

40. “Finally, in connection with the customs of the “Christ-mas”
season, we will mention the Xmas tree. An old Babylonish
fable went like this: Semiramis, the mother of Tammuz,
claimed that overnight an evergreen tree sprang up from a
dead tree stump. The dead stump supposedly symbolized her
dead husband Nimrod; the new evergreen tree was the symbol
that Nimrod had come to life again in the person of Tammuz!
“This idea spread and developed to such a degree that the
various nations all have had their legends about sacred trees!
Among the Druids, the oak was sacred; among the Egyptians,
it was the palm; and in Rome, it was the fir, which was
decorated with red berries during the Saturnalia! [Curiosities
of Popular Customs, p.242]. Among the Scandinavians, the fir
tree was sacred to their god Odin.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 40

41. “The Scandinavian god Woden or Odin was believed to bestow
special gifts at Yuletide to those who honored him by
approaching his sacred FIR TREE.” [Festivals, Holy Days, and
Saints' Days, p.222]. And even as other rites of the Yuletide
season were absorbed into “Christianity”, so also is the wide-spread
use of the tree at this season a carry over of an ancient
practice!
“The Xmas tree recapitulates the idea of tree worship, with the
gilded nuts and balls symbolizing the sun. The festivities of the
pagan winter solstice have been absorbed into the celebration
of Xmas. The use of holly and mistletoe come from the pagan,
Druidic ceremonies, the use of the Xmas tree from the worship
paid to Odin’s sacred fir.” [Ibid, p.238].
“In at least ten Biblical references, the “green” tree is
associated with idolatry and false worship. [Deuteronomy
12:2; I Kings 14:23; II Kings 16:4, 17:10; Ezekiel 6:13].
The “green” tree refers to trees that are green all year round, . .
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 41

42. . . . since; of course, all trees are green at one time or another.
So the “green” trees that the scriptures are talking about are
the evergreen trees or trees within that family! Taking all of
this into consideration, it is interesting to notice the reading of
Jeremiah 10:1-5 and compare it with today’s custom of
decorating a tree:
1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O
house of Israel: 2Thus 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. 3For 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. 4They deck it
with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with
hammers, that it move not. 5They are upright as the palm tree,
but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot
go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also
is it in them to do good. ~ Jeremiah 10:1-5
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 42

43. “The customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of
the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.”
“They fasten it with nails and hammers. They deck it with
silver and with gold.”
“Now of course the people in the days of Jeremiah, as the
context goes on to show, were actually making an idol out of
the tree. We are not inferring that people today who put trees
in their homes during the Xmas season are worshipping the
tree, but that the use of the tree is plainly and totally a carry
over from paganism. Whatever the difference may be between
the ancient use of the tree as compared with present day
customs, no one can deny that these things of which we have
been speaking are customs of men. And God says: “The
customs of the people are vain” (Jeremiah 10:3) – and “the
temple of idols have nothing in common with the temple of
God.” (II Corinthians 6:16)” (Mede's Works, 1679. Discourse
xlvii).
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 43

44. Now that you know the TRUTH, what are you going to do with
this knowledge? I suggest DO NOT bring strange fire before
God as we read in Leviticus 10:1 ~
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them
his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and
offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded
them not.
Numbers 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered
strange fire before the LORD.
Use the “silly season” to not be a part of the pagan heathenism
traditions, but Go and preach the Gospel of our Saviour the
Lord Jesus Christ. Will you ~
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 44

45. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 45
TRUTH
ACCORDING TO
GOD’s HOLY WORD
DECEPTION
ACCORDING TO MAN’S
CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS (MARK 7:7-9)
THE LIE THREE
MONTHS LATER
ON DEC. 25

46. LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 46

47. We haven’t even dealt with Satan Claus who has the same attributes as YHWH – he
appears to be all knowing, he knows when children are good and bad, but he also
rewards the bad ones! He appears to be all present for he visits all the homes in one
night! And when parents teach their children that they get gifts from “Father
Christmas” he is a father figure who rewards as God rewards His children. And there
are many other satanic teachings about Satan Claus. The world are deceived by this
tradition and sadly so are many “Christians”! We read in 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 ~
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty.
LUKE 9:23 EVANGELISM 47