Chapters 17 & 18

JESUS’ BIRTH - REDEMPTION

THE CYCLE OF REDEMPTION

Redemption Begins Where God Begins

Throughout Scripture, a consistent pattern emerges: what God accomplishes through redemption, He initiates at the beginning He Himself established.

That beginning is Nisan.

     God did not merely choose a month for Israel’s calendar—He redefined time itself around redemption.

Nisan 1 as the Beginning of the Biblical Year

The biblical foundation is explicit:

“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”
— Exodus 12:2¹

Nisan (also called Abib) was established as the first month of the year, marking the start of Israel’s sacred calendar. This instruction was given on the eve of redemption from Egypt, tying time itself to deliverance.

Civil and Sacred Time

Jewish tradition recognizes two distinct “New Years”:

• Tishri (Rosh Hashanah) — the civil new year, associated with kingship, judgment,      and creation
• Nisan 1 — the sacred new year, used for counting months and ordering God’s redemptive festivals²

This distinction is crucial. While Tishri governs civic life, Nisan governs redemption.

Jesus and the Beginning of the New Creation

The New Testament presents Jesus using language that echoes beginnings:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17³

Paul further describes Jesus as:

• “The firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15)
• “The beginning” (Colossians 1:18)

These titles do not suggest that Christ was created. They affirm His role as the inaugurator of a new order of life—a restored creation grounded in redemption.

Theological Convergence

When viewed together, a coherent pattern emerges:

• Nisan 1 marks the beginning of God’s redemptive calendar
• Passover, in Nisan, marks deliverance through sacrificial blood
• Jesus, crucified and resurrected in Nisan, inaugurates new creation
• New life begins where God declared beginnings would occur

The alignment of the sacred calendar with Christ’s redemptive work is not presented as proof of a date, but as theological coherence—a pattern consistent with how God acts throughout Scripture.

A Recognized Interpretive Framework

This perspective is shared within various Christian traditions, including Messianic Jewish, Hebrew Roots, and evangelical scholarship, which emphasize the prophetic and theological significance of the biblical calendar.

While not universally held, the framework rests on explicit Scripture rather than speculation and seeks to honor God’s appointed times as meaningful markers of His redemptive work.

Conclusion

God begins redemption at the beginning.
Nisan marks that beginning.
Jesus fulfills it.

From Exodus to resurrection, Scripture presents redemption not as random, but as ordered—moving according to divine appointment.

The cycle is consistent.
The pattern is intentional.
The beginning is clear.

References — Chapter 17

1. Exodus 12:2

2. Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah 1:1

3. 2 Corinthians 5:17

4. Colossians 1:15, 18

JESUS’ BAPTISM

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
The Beginning of His Ministry

The Public Beginning of the Messiah

All four Gospels record the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist as the moment His public ministry began.

“It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
— Mark 1:9¹

Unlike His birth, which was witnessed quietly by shepherds and later by Magi, Jesus’ baptism marks the first public unveiling of His identity and mission.

Baptized by Water and the Holy Spirit

The Gospel accounts describe a theophany—God visibly and audibly revealing Himself:

• Jesus emerges from the water
• The heavens open
• The Holy Spirit descends like a dove
• The Father’s voice declares His pleasure

“You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
— Mark 1:11²

This moment serves as:

• divine affirmation of Jesus’ identity
• divine authorization of His mission
• the formal inauguration of His ministry

From this point forward, Jesus teaches, heals, calls disciples, and proclaims the Kingdom of God.

A Beginning Aligned With God’s Pattern

Some interpretations propose that Jesus’ baptism occurred on Nisan 1, the first day of the biblical year. While Scripture does not state this explicitly, the proposal rests on theological and typological alignment rather than chronological certainty.

Nisan 1 consistently represents:

• new beginnings
• consecration
• the start of God’s redemptive work

Throughout Scripture, God initiates major acts of redemption at appointed beginnings.

The Tabernacle Pattern Revisited

A significant Old Testament parallel appears in Exodus:

“On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.”
— Exodus 40:2³

On that same day:

“The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”
— Exodus 40:34⁴

God’s presence visibly descended, marking the Tabernacle’s dedication as the place where He would dwell among His redeemed people.

The New Testament deliberately echoes this imagery:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
— John 1:14⁵

At Jesus’ baptism:

• the Spirit descends
• the Father speaks
• heaven and earth intersect

According to this typological reading, Jesus is revealed as the true and living Tabernacle—God dwelling among humanity, not in a tent made with hands, but in flesh.

Prophetic Time and the Ministry of Jesus

Some scholars connect the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to the prophetic timeline described in Daniel’s seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24–27).⁶ Within this framework:

• Jesus’ ministry begins around AD 29
• His crucifixion occurs “in the middle of the week”
• The timing aligns with Passover  

This interpretation is not universally held, but it is widely discussed within biblical scholarship and provides a structured framework for understanding the duration and purpose of Jesus’ ministry.

Baptism as Consecration

In the Old Testament, priests and sacred objects were washed and anointed before entering service. Jesus’ baptism reflects this pattern:

• water signifies cleansing
• the Spirit signifies anointing
• the Father’s voice signifies approval

Jesus does not repent at baptism—He consecrates Himself.

From that moment, He moves toward the cross with intention.

Symbolism Without Overstatement

The proposal that Jesus’ baptism occurred on Nisan 1 is symbolic and interpretive, not dogmatic. Scripture does not require it, but Scripture allows it.

What matters most is not the date, but the pattern:

• God begins redemption at appointed times
• God marks beginnings with His presence
• God reveals His Son publicly before sending Him sacrificially

Conclusion

Jesus’ baptism marks the start of His mission.
His birth marks God entering the world.
His death marks redemption accomplished.
His resurrection marks new creation begun.

From beginning to fulfillment, the story unfolds with intention.

God does not rush.
God does not improvise.
God redeems according to His appointed time.

The cycle is complete.
The pattern is revealed.
The work is finished.

References — Chapter 18

1. Mark 1:9

2. Mark 1:11

3. Exodus 40:2

4. Exodus 40:34

5. John 1:14

6. Daniel 9:24–27

7. Matthew 3:16–17; John 1:32–34