The Sixth Month, part 2

Now in the sixth month

the angel Gabriel was sent by God

to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,

of the house of David.

The virgin's name was Mary.

Luke 1:26

Is there any kind of spiritual benefit to studying out the when and where of Scripture, in particular the birth of Jesus Christ? I'm sure there are some who would say no, that if God had wanted us to know the when of Jesus' birth, He would just have inspired the gospel writers to say so. For me, finding the little clues left us in Scripture absolutely fascinates me, and seeing how even the tiniest details fit into the eternal flow of God's plan serves to reinforce my faith in the Word of God.

John the Baptist was conceived around the Feast of Pentecost, a one day celebration in late spring on the Jewish calendar, June 1, 4 BC, by our reckoning, and the angel's promise to Zacharias was that John would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. The significance of a Pentecostal conception for this prophet is tied to the birth of the church three decades later. The universal outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon all believers occurred at Pentecost, which is a celebration of the harvest. That Pentecost in Acts 2 signaled the beginning of the great harvest of souls to which John had been a forerunner. John the Baptist was also the one who prophesied that the Messiah would baptize His people with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

The sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy would be late fall, November, 4 BC, and apparently around the time of Hanukkah. Hanukkah was a festival instituted only a century and a half before, a Feast of Dedication and Festival of Lights that commemorated God's miraculous power in delivering the Jews from the oppression of the Syrians. At the time of their victory over the Syrian army in Jerusalem, the family of priests named Maccabeus cleansed the temple and lit the seven-branched candlestick in the Holy Place. They only had enough oil for one day, but miraculously the lamp burned for eight days while new oil was prepared. During this time of year, special candles were lit and special prayers were prayed, while people's hearts were focused on personal dedication and thanksgiving to God for His supernatural work in the salvation of His people. It was during this season, very likely right during the celebration of Hanukkah that the angel visited Mary.

Even though Hanukkah is not one of the Biblical feasts, think about the significance. In a feast that celebrated miracles, the greatest miracle of all took place in the virgin womb of a young Jewish girl. In a festival that celebrated God's salvation and deliverance, the great savior and deliverer of all mankind became flesh. In the celebration of lights, the God's eternal light came into a sin-darkened world.

Let me skip ahead just a bit. Mary went to her cousin Elizabeth's house following Hanukkah, remaining there for three months. She might have even been there for the birth of John, which occurred at, or right before, the Feast of Passover, which would fulfill another prophetic connection. Of John it had been said that he would come in the spirit and power of Elijah the prophet to turn the hearts of children to their fathers, and the hearts of fathers back to their children. The Jews have long connected Passover to the return of Elijah, going so far as to set an empty place for him at the table, an upside-down cup which he will explain, and a child is sent to the open door to look for Elijah the prophet. John was that prophet!

And six months further removed from Passover is Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets and the Jewish New Year celebrating the creation of the world and of Adam and looking forward to the resurrection day when the gates of heaven will be opened for the worshipers to enter in. The Messianic connections to the Feast of Trumpets are too lengthy to go into here, but Jesus was likely born on the 1st of Tishri, September 11, 3 BC.