The Christmas story has much more to it than shepherds, wise men and a manger. We all know the birth of Christ and the amazing moment of time not only for the earth but all creation. Emmanuel, God is with us. But what lead up to this moment most don’t know and the spiritual activity we assume was normal when it was far from it. During this time:
Prior to Christ birth there was the 400 silent years The Jews returned from Babylonia captivity. Israel did give up their mixture but didn’t spend the time in preparation for the Messiah to come. Aaron’s priesthood was restored but the temple was neglected and so was the teachings of God to the people. Because of this the people stopped tithing, began to mistreat their wives and married pagans.
The language shifted from Hebrew to Aramaic and Greek. Along with this some of the customs were adopted as well. Antiochus the Great captured Israel and sold the priesthood which Desecrated the Holy of Holies.
Then the Maccabees Revolution BY Judas Maccabeus came in 165 BC. Called the “hammer” of Maccabee it was to break the walls of darkness and restore light back to temple practices. But 1oo years later in 63 BC Rome gained control of Israel. Pompey entered the Holy of Holies and desecrated it.
From here the new priesthood would become politically motivated and 2 groups were formed. The Sadducees who were liberal and practiced Greek ideas. They did hold to the Torah – first 5 books. The other group the Pharisees were conservative, and long with scribes made laws without regard to the effect upon the people. Multiple synagogues were erected for worship and social activity. Religious and civil matters governed by Sanhedrin who was the Chief priest with 70 lesser priests.
The Daniel 8:14 prophecy of desecration of the temple was fulfilled over 2400 days. All of these events caused the bulk of the Jews to doubt a messiah was coming and felt abandoned by God. They never pursued what Malachi had instructed them.
In this state Jesus is birthed.
Jesus’ birth was one of great events the earth had seen. Born of a virgin, God incarnate. The supernatural was unleashed upon the earth in a new dimension. Suddenly the silence broke. God was speaking and speaking with great signs and wonders. Spiritual dreams, signs in the sky, prophecy, angelic visitation and supernatural conception all showed a new season had come to the earth. A supernatural season. A new birth of freedom was upon all.
We have Joseph and Mary, but we also have Elizabeth with John the Baptist in her womb. Whose spirit communicated with Jesus before birth causing Elizabeth to feel the supernatural excitement. We have wise men who came to Jesus following a supernatural sign. They believed when a new star appeared a new king was born.
Zacharias who was a priest in the temple who had been believing for the Messiah just happened to be in the temple and the angle of God spoke to him. Incense was offered one time a year as it symbolized the prayers of the nation. That’s why it said he was waiting for his moment. Who was given the privilege to offer the incense was by casting lots and you were only allowed one time in your life this privilege. So, this is his only time in his entire life to do this! ALL EYES ARE ON HIM. During this time a large number of people are praying at times of incense. He had an angelic visitation from Gabriel like Mary did and He lost his ability to speak because he doubted God but gained it back at the birth of John.
There is also Simeon who the Holy Spirit was upon him as well and he was waiting for the Messiah. He had the highest title of honor being a Rabbi. He also was a great Sanhedrin and the president of a college. Along with Anna, a prophet who was an intercessor serving God in prayer and fasting, she was a widow of 44 years who spoke of the coming messiah. She was 84 years old, which was very special to live that long, but what she knew in her spirit of the coming Messiah was keeping her alive.
Elizabeth who brought forth John went into hiding for 5 months, the number of grace. It was the hiding of God like the 400 silent years before the revealing of God. John was birthed before Jesus. The prophet before the Apostle. The prophet pointing to the next office. John’s name means Jehovah has graced. The word birth means genesis! Both john and Jesus were “genesised” coming from the origin point. John was in the lineage of priesthood so later in the wilderness he would be seen as a prophet priest.
The Angel Gabriel comes to Mary in the 6th month, representing the month of humanity and mankind. Luke 1:26. She is told she is highly favored. It is not the angels opinion but Gods, which the angel is convey the message to her. Mary has to wrestle with this message. It is a new identity she has to receive. She has fear and the angel comes back and says fear not. She was fearing being an outcast and possibly stoning being pregnant out of marriage. But when she accepts the angels’ words she has found favor (past tense) she then conceives! She conceives after she has accepted her identity.
Now Mary brings forth the savior. But also brings forth the Chief Apostle and High priest of a new order of priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. Our savior is born. Our apostle is born. Our high Priest is born.
So, what am I saying? There was so much symbolism, so much supernatural activity, so much God intervention, angelic activity, signs and wonders in this moment of time. Yes Jesus was born with all of heaven invading the earth. A new course was being set for us today. A new and living way had life surrounding it.