Rosh Hashanah: Day of Atonement: Feast of Tabernacles:

And Jesus's Baptism

This study will deal with historical relevance of how this season and sequence of holidays ties into the life of Christ. This may "get confusing"; because in the "sequel chapter", it will deal with "book ended events" that have almost 2000 years between them.

29 A.D.

John appeared in the wilderness, correlated with the commencement of the reign of the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. (Luke 3:1) The Romans record a solar eclipse that correlated with that event. There's a coin that was minted in 30 AD that has Tiberius "in eclipse" on one side and the Jewish temple in Jerusalem on the other.

There also was an earthquake in 29 AD that correlated with damage that happened to the temple. The court of the Sanhedrin was damaged, (was deemed unusable). The weakening of a wall / walkway that later caused the collapse of the Tower of Shalom. This is recorded in Luke 13:4.

One of the doors of the temple got stuck open, as the earthquake set the doors ajar. (Josephus records this.) So if a person was standing on the Mt. of Olives looking west; you could actually see into the temple. This correlates with passages that state the Roman soldiers witnessed the tearing of the veil. This would have meant that somewhere in the vicinity of the red heifer alter was Golgotha. (Matthew 27:54)

Now what day this earthquake actually happened is up for some debate. Roman records say it correlated with a total solar eclipse. They state that solar eclipse commenced the day Tiberius Caesar began his 15th year. According to Roman records, Augustus died on August 19th in 14 AD. This commenced the beginning of Tiberius's reign. 4 days prior to that was a new moon.

Skip to 29 AD; the closest new moon was August 29. This was Av 1 of the Jewish calendar. This is the month before Tishri; which Tishri 1 is Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah was the commencement of the call of the people to repentance. (Leviticus 23:23-25) It is also the civil new year. (Ezekiel 40:1) What was John doing in the wilderness? (Calling people to repentance.) John's baptism is called "the baptism of repentance". (Mark 1:4)

The Day of Atonement was the day the high priest went into the holy of holies.

(Leviticus 16:1-34)

Irrelevant side note here: It is only of post 1st century Jewish legend that a rope was tied around the high priest on the day of atonement that if he died, they could pull him out. That practice is not written of in Scripture, apocryphal writings, Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, any other pre-1st century secular writing, the Mishnah or any church fathers. It's not even in the Talmud. It's stated by Jews to be an "ancient practice" but there is no written historical (or archeological) evidence that this was ever practiced.

Hebrews 5:5 "So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee."

John the Baptist at the baptism of Jesus: The Father states: "This is my beloved Son, whom I'm well pleased; hear him." The Spirit descends in the form of a dove and lands on Jesus. Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35

Day of Atonement - Jewish tradition states that "sins cast into the sea". (Mica 7:19 talks about "sins cast into the sea".) There's no specific reference to Day of Atonement with "sins cast into the sea" that I have found, that matches. Although Jesus is baptized in the Jordan river. This is the river that "crossed" Old Testament to Promised Land. There were stones left in the bottom of the Jordan; for the waters of the Jordan were "cut off from before the ark" as they crossed. (Joshua 4:6-7) (The Jordan parted just as the Red (Reed?) sea had.

Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12 = "Buried with him in baptism unto death." The trumpet of jubilee was to sound on the Day of Atonement. (Leviticus 25:9) God spoke on the day Jesus was baptized.

Leviticus 16; part of the duties of the high priest when he went into the holy of holies had to do with the two goats; the "sin offering" goat and the "scape goat". The scape goat is driven into the wilderness with the sin of God's people on it.

The English text says that immediately after Jesus is baptized he's driven into the wilderness. Mark 1:12

The word "immediately" there though is in the "perfect tense"; which means it was part of a process of a series of things that would come to be complete at some point in time. And since John was "in the wilderness" baptizing; Jesus was already "in the wilderness" at that point that he was baptized.

The next question is; when did all the sequence of these things begin to unfold?

Now if John appeared in the wilderness on the first new moon commencing the dawn of Tiberius's 15th year (Scripture is pretty specific about this. It was the dawning of the 15th year of Tiberius's reign.) Interestingly 39 days later was the Day of Atonement. (That fell on a Thursday.) The 40th day would have been Friday.

If Jesus's fast and trial involving Satan, commenced with John's appearance in the wilderness; We have a specific correlation to the Day of Atonement.

Now the eclipse / earthquake that damaged the temple? Did that happen on Rosh Hashanah or did it happen the month before? (Signs in the sun moon and stars…; earthquakes…)

The historical records are a little fuzzy, because there's more than one date recorded among different sources. But; a correlation between the eclipse and Rosh Hashanah would make sense related to the coin the Romans minted starting 30 AD. The scribes and pharisees came down from Jerusalem to hear John. Which likely something happened that drew their attention to this obscure prophet in the wilderness.

Also Rosh Hashanah would make sense for a solar eclipse; because the moon would be between the sun and the earth. (Can't have a solar eclipse on a full moon; which would make the "darkening of the sun" due to a solar eclipse during the crucifixion impossible.)

BUT! Was this earthquake / solar eclipse actually on Rosh Hashanah or the month before? If we go by the literal beginning of Tiberius's reign, it would have to be the month before. There is no record of an eclipse in Palestine the month after. So assuming the Roman records of these correlating events are both accurately recorded and accurately relayed to us; the solar eclipse / earthquake would have commenced Jesus's fast. This makes sense too as on the other end of Jesus's ministry (his death) we have another darkening of the sun and earthquake too.

We know John was the forerunner to the announcement of Christ. The Day of Atonement was to "announce the presence of God". The trumpets were to sound to tell the people that they should come to hear the words of God.

Exodus; Moses comes down from Sinai and the people are gathered for the reading of the law. Jesus is the embodiment of the law and prophets; his baptism commences his announcement to humanity from the Father.

Jewish tradition believes Adam was created on "the first of the year". Not sure where they get that from, because clearly in Genesis Adam and Eve were created on the 6th day. The commencement of the "year" of creation would have been day 1. Christ rose from the dead on the 1st day of the week. The "latter harvest" (wheat) was to come in that time of the year. Jesus was "the last Adam". He was the "seed" that had to fall into the ground in order for the Kingdom on earth to emerge. (Redemption) That happened on the resurrection; which was the "first fruits harvest".

Now is there some correlation to Judgement Day and this "latter harvest" feast? The "sabbath month" yada yada yada?

I don't know the answer to that? Just as Passover was a foreshadow to Judgement Day; could this Rosh Hashanah, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles season be related to Judgement Day; despite the "primary fulfillment" as related to Christ is the fulfillment of all the law and prophets; has to do with Jesus's baptism.

Revelation declares that Judgement Day comes "as was declared unto His servants the prophets" which would indicate that information related to Judgement Day is buried somewhere in Scripture. What or where that would be; I have no idea? but it doesn't appear (at least on the surface) to be related to Old Testament Jewish festivals.

Now here's a few more interesting pieces of information:

If the preaching of John commences with the eclipse related to Tiberius. The text is clear that John appeared with the commencement of Tiberius's 15th reign. (Making an assumption John appeared on the new moon; as well as the commencement of the announcement of Tiberius's 15th year.) Also with the earthquake and the eclipse; would have put John's appearance the month before Rosh Hashanah.

Now if Jesus commenced the fast correlated with John's appearance in the wilderness; The 40 days would have ended the day after Yom Kipper.

The English translation of the 40 days in the wilderness is a bit confusing. One passage says after the 40 days. Another says immediately after the baptism the Spirit drives him into the wilderness. Yet "immediately" means "upon the laying down of" and "drive" is "perfect tense" which means the process of a whole event. John was in the wilderness; so Jesus obviously was in the wilderness to be baptized. Immediately after Jesus is baptized; John is arrested. And it says that upon Jesus's return, he hears John is arrested.

So if we are commencing the 40 day 40 night fast / temptation from the advent of John's declaration; the 40th day would have fallen the day after the Day of Atonement. Jesus rested on the Sabbath and would have appeared in public on Sunday. Which it would make sense that POST the 40 day trial in the wilderness, the Father would announce that He is well pleased.

Interesting; does that mean the wedding in Canna on that Sunday?

On the surface, it doesn't appear that would have been the case because it says the disciples were at the wedding. Now obviously maybe not all 12 of them. John the Baptist was collecting followers who later went to Jesus. Could that have been a part of this 40 days and 40 nights and were the "angels" (messengers) who ministered to Jesus, been these first disciples that had been John's? It's plausible? John obviously knew Jesus was the Messiah. Assuming too that if Jesus's fast had started at the point John appeared in the wilderness; John would have been aware of that.

Now what related to that series of feasts would have prompted the commencement of these actions to be the month prior to?

40 days and 40 nights it rains - Noah = Judgement

40 days and 40 nights Moses is on Sinai. Moses is said to have "eaten no bread" and "drank no water" while recording the law. Moses talks about pleading with God not to destroy the people. (OMG - Passover would have preceded Mt. Sinai by 6 months.) Rosh Hashanah / Day of Atonement / Feast of Tabernacles correlates with Sinai! Thus the 40 years follows Sinai! (Jesus would have "fulfilled the law" by the commencement of his 40 day fast / trial.)

Goliath comes to the battle field for 40 days before encountering David. (Satan / Jesus)

Elijah fleeing Jezebel 40 days journey to Mt. Horeb. Horeb is where the water came out of the rock. (The water represents the preaching of the gospel. Jesus commenced his 3.5 year "preaching tour" following the trial.)

Ezekiel lays on one side for 40 days; (sin of Judah) Each day equals a year. (Moses 40 years in wilderness. Jesus almost 40 years old when he dies.)

40 days Nineveh will be overthrown. - Jonah's journey to Nineveh. When Jonah gets to Nineveh he preaches repentance. (John the Baptist preaches repentance for 40 days before Jesus commences the preaching of the gospel. God showed mercy upon Nineveh because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Yet comes to "Nineveh" (the world); one greater than Jonah. Christ brings mercy to the world; as opposed to destruction because he is the propitiation for sin.)

Jesus is seen of many 40 days post resurrection. He ascends to heaven on that 40th day. 10 days later is Pentecost. Are there a literal 10 days between the commencement of Judgement Day and the recreation of the new heavens and new earth? (I've asked that question before.)

So 40 days and 40 nights is both judgement and proof of God having satisfied that judgement.

Of all the trials; the relief comes at the end of the 40 days.

Back to Day of Atonement:

He's pleased the Father. He's proved his human obedience; thus entering the next phase which was to proclaim the redemption plan. That proclamation is followed by the atonement. Thus makes sense that he'd be baptized on the "Day of Atonement".

So was the public ministry the "fulfillment of the prophets" because the law had already been fulfilled (as it applied to his human obedience)? He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Assuming the commencement of that obedience to the law begins at 12 when Jesus shows up in the temple. It's 24 years between 12 years old and John appearing in the wilderness. (Jesus is 36 years old.)

24 years?

Interesting (and rather comical) parallel here:

Only reference to 24 years is Baasha (to stink) son of Ahijah (brother of Lord) rules over all of Israel from Tirzah (place of affection / place of favor). And does wickedly in the sight of God.

Correlation of "brother of the Lord" (other than Jesus's literal brother) is Moses and Aaron. God says to Moses that in relation to Pharaoh, Moses is "a god" and Aaron is his prophet.

So, in a very real way; "God" to Israel had become the law and the (pharisee system), the "stinky son of the brother of the prophet of the law" (because the true prophets of God testify of the Messiah). The system actually is the proverbial "stinky son of the prophet's (actually illegitimate) brother". Paul talks about the parallel in a different context. He uses the son of promise, as opposed to the son of the bond woman. (Galatians 4) One is legitimately "Israel" and the other isn't. (The proverbial parallel fits in the same venue as Paul's does.) So for 24 years the Messiah deals with the "brother of the law's stinky son".

God, You have an interesting sense of humor!

Next chapter; (alas my chapters doth grow long). We'll look at more information on Old Testament ceremonial practices and possibilities of how the fulfillment of the law unfolds into the New Testament era.