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Called Advent, most of us know it as Christmas. Advent means 'beginning' or change, an alternation, preparing the world for a renewal of beliefs, that is, to change yourself.
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What is the change? What is the change for us today? Regretfully, in ancient times, much after the time of Moses and Mount Sinai, the waywardness of the Israelite and the golden calf caused a falling away as Moses was slowly removed from the congregation of Israel as they grew to prefer Aaron, the brother of Moses, all the more. Because of this rebellion, the altar burning became necessary for the so called sinner to understand penance. The meats, odors, and prayers sent a sutler, mental message telling Israel's foes that Jehovah was forgiving them that their God was with them. GOD, at the foundations of the world made a way to walk with HIM, but because of freewill we are the ones who chose our own life course. Again not seeing The Messiah was at hand, Israel choose to repent through those animal sacrifices. And it became the fashion to pronounce that the time for a messiah would one day be at hand and Christmas delivered that day. Today, this very important change mark in history became an empirical siren for nations to see the continuous adoration to a renowned GOD...but, importantly, a GOD that couldn't be seen or heard unless delivered by HIS personal unknown son. This GOD has lived forever in the minds of man by this simple change in a worldwide religious structure.
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-The Preparation...John's conception, birth and purpose
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"Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord." John, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth, became the first true Baptist. A preacher from Syria, John taught the ancient ways of the Hebrews who had long sense stopped teaching in the land of Israel. John bathed, blessed, and prepared all who cane to see him baptize including Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus himself followed in the teachings of John and being baptized today through the blessings of the Nazareth Christ Child is to be cleansed through this ancient Syrian preacher.
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Joseph and Mary of Nazareth...the parents of Jesus Christ Messiah
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Matthew 1:18 says that Joseph was a righteous man. And, Numbers: 6, the Nazarite Order, may possibly have given Joseph some reasonable amount of authority with in the Jewish (then Zoroastrianism) temples. Because of the ephod Joseph wore and later throw off while in flight to escape King Herod suggest that the father of the baby Jesus was a high priest, or a righteous man of God. Mary, his wife, was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, one of four biblical Archangels and most likely seen as a female deity. Mary herself, descendant of David, was a virgin girl who was highly favored by GOD became the betrothed of Joseph. The story foretells that Mary was living in among thieves, haters, and sinners yet she relinquished any doubt and agreed to the proclaim and welcome the coming of Jesus through a single blessed birth (Luke 1:38.)
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On the way to a required national census in Bethlehem, Joseph the righteous man and Mary now fully married to Joseph, may have stopped at the shearing tents to purchase a lamb for the Feast of Thanksgivings, a religious event during that time of the year. Or, they simply stopped to purchase a peace offering animal for sacrifice so he and Mary could to enter into this strange new town without trouble. And, again; or, devoted in his love for Mary, he may have wanted to offer a sacrifice in Bethlehem for their safe arrival as Mary's pregnancy was near its end. All possible reasons to be at the succah (stables) during a census year. What ever the reason for Joseph's selection of a remote village inn, it lead to a birth in a stable and a manager as a bed.
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Finally, Joseph and Mary took their firstborn child to the temple to dedicate Him to the service of GOD according to the Law of Moses (Ex 13:2-13). New Testament describes this worldly preparation in the Book of Luke.
Luke 2: 22-24
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23. just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” 24. and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.-
Thus, the baby Jesus was consecrated soon after birth as a first born son; furthermore, making an obligation of Him to study the Mosaic laws in the service of an Israelite temples. It was from there that the worldwide One GOD plan of forgiveness through the advent of a righteous Christ and the One GOD of forgiveness after the disobedience at Mount Sinai during the time of Moses had finally began.
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December became the month for the worldwide national holiday of forgiveness, peace, and festivals. Nearly every religion in the entire world has some kind of festival that is centered around peace and love. That is truly amazing! As refreshing believers, we can see a Living GOD who served HIS children well when every religion in the world proclaims the word so that the children of GOD will know HE is there...righteous!
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Pray now...
Keep us warm, safe, and happy. To justify, add peace, and salvation is the reason for a god-like, first born son on earth. In Jesus' name we say, "Pray for me, carry me home...it is through You that the eyes of GOD may know that I am here waiting". Amen.
