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How would you feel if your friends and family celebrated your birthday at the wrong time each year? Well, though the world recognizes December 25th as the birth date of the Messiah, the Bible actually alludes to His birth taking place in the fall. The Scriptures and historical records do clearly indicate that the Savior was most likely born during the Festival of Tabernacles, which occurs in September or October.
The Festival of Tabernacles, called "Sukkot" in Hebrew, recalls the wilderness voyage of the Israelites towards the Promised Land. For forty years the Hebrew people dwelt in tents and were fed heavenly manna. To remember the exodus journey, the Israelites were instructed in Leviticus 23 to hold an annual seven day celebration. "You shall dwell in tents seven days, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt," Leviticus 23:42-43.
The story of John the Baptist proves that the birth of the Savior took place during Sukkot. Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Y'shua conceived (Luke 1:24-36). John's father was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Nine months from the temple service would have been about the month of March for the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages) brings us to the end of September as the most likely time of the virgin birth.
Y'shua the Redeemer was born in the town of Bethlehem, in order to fulfill a prophecy found in Micah 5:1-2. This Bethlehem birth occurred because of a Roman census that was taking place. For tax purposes, King Herod and the Romans were known to take their censuses according to the prevailing customs of the occupied territories. Each Hebrew male journeyed to Jerusalem three times a year, at Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The towns around Jerusalem (like Bethlehem) would fill to capacity as the observant Hebrews made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There was no room at the inn because the vacancies were filled by the travelers.
John the Baptist was born at Passover and Messiah was born 6 months later during Sukkot. He was given the circumcised and then given the Hebrew name "Y'shua" on the eighth day. The puzzle of the Messiah's birth date comes together with the knowledge of this festival. The birth of the Savior was not an independent event that could have occurred on any date. The Sukkot birth was a prophetic picture of "Emmanu-el" or "god with us." John 1:14 says that the "word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Greek term for "dwelt" in the oldest manuscripts is the exact same Greek word used to reference the Old Testament "tabernacle." So, this verse could actually read - "the word became flesh and tabernacle among us." The manifest presence of the Creator was the message of Sukkot during the times of Moses, the birth of Y'shua, and today.
With just a little investigation, the Feast of Tabernacles can be established as the time that the Messiah was born of a virgin. Y'shua celebrated Sukkot in John 7, thus putting His stamp of approval upon this feast day. Sukkot is not a "Jewish holiday," but rather a Biblical festival given to all believers for joy and spiritual growth. Happy birthday Y'shua!
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