VIEW: 18-52: A Most Important Observance

VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number 18-52
A MOST IMPORTANT OBSERVANCE Week of 2018/12/24
As we come to the final days of the year 2018 we find the major
observation of importance to those of us in the Christian family of believers,
the Monday marking Christmas Eve. The event that has become, in my
opinion, far too commercialized with emphasis on parties, gifts, and other
diversions from the true 'reason for the season': the birth of a baby known
as "GOD with us", "King of Kings", or "Mankind personal savior" among
others. This was foretold beginning hundreds of years earlier by the
prophets in the Jewish "TORA" we call "The Old Testament".
Scripture tells that HE was born of a virgin named Mary of the lineage
of Aaron, brother of Moses and first 'High Priest' of the Jewish faith, who
was betrothed to a man Joseph, lineal descendent of the great King David.
These circumstances led to HIM to be considered 'High Priest and King of
Kings'. Working in ways never considered by men, GOD caused this
event to occur in the town of Bethlehem, known as the 'City of David'. The
couple were betrothed, to us engaged, living in a village called Nazareth.
Caesar Augustus had ordered a census of all those residing in the Roman
controlled World, with each male required to return to the ancestral home,
with family, to be registered.
Mary, we read, had been visited nine months earlier by the angel
Gabriel and told she would have a baby boy and to name him JESUS and
that he would be the 'Son of God' and the 'savior of all mankind'. She was
also told that 'your kinswoman, Elisabeth was in the sixth month of a
pregnancy in her old age'. Elisabeth was married to a Priest who had earlier
served as High Priest in Jerusalem. No man could be a priest unless he was
a direct male descendent of Aaron, older brother of Moses of the tribe of
Levi. No such man could marry outside of the mother, sister, widow, or
daughter of a priest. Thus the condition that Mary was a descendent of
Aaron and Jesus would be born to be a priest.
We were taught as children that three 'wise men' from the East came
to offer gifts and to worship the Baby Jesus while in the stable, but my
reading of the scriptures indicates that to be in error. It is written that they
first went to King Herod to pay respects and he questioned them of the
timing of the birth sending them on their way and charging them to return to
him with the location. They, warned by an angel, returned home by a
different way. But, from the timing, Herod determined that Jesus would be
about two years old and fearing Jesus would be a threat to his throne
proceeded to order the execution of ALL male children two and under in
that district. That indicated that it took them months to travel to worship
Jesus and the family were by then back in Nazareth. Joseph had already
taken Mary and Jesus to Egypt, being warned of the event, to return after
being assured that Herod and his lackeys were already dead.
It is written that Jesus began his ministry when he was about thirty
years old and made a promise to those who believe in Him that they
would be forgiven all sins past and future and assured an eternal life with
Him in Heaven. All that is necessary to truly believe, ask His forgiveness
and, as He assured the criminal crucified on his right who had just
professed his belief, "this very day you will be with me in Paradise".
Unfortunately, for those who refuse this promise the eternal life
following this work on Earth, the outlook is not at all pleasant. We are
taught that Hell is a real place, governed by 'the evil one' Satan. To
me it is better to not take the chance. We are ALL terminal cases, but
don't know when that terminal is, so should make the best of each day
we are left here.
END
Composed December 17, 2018
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. © 2018 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com