“After centuries of using a lunar calendar, which failed to accurately keep pace with the seasons, in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar switched over to a solar calendar. The new calendar would last 365 days with a 366th coming once every four years. And on January 1st, 45 B.C., New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1st for the 1st time.”  triviatoday.com

I enjoy challenging myself with the trivia questions from triviatoday.com. I read this paragraph about New Year’s Day and wished I had read it a year ago.

I was having dinner with a well-educated lady I respect and admire. At one point in the conversation, we were talking about the term, “B.C.” I said it stood for “Before Christ.” She corrected me, “No, it’s for ‘Before Calendar.’ “

Hmm.

They followed the lunar calendar until 46 B.C. In 45 B.C. Julius Caesar switched to using a solar calendar. How can “B.C.” stand for “Before Calendar,” if it marked the year of the switch from one calendar to another?

I debated contacting my friend but didn’t. Sometimes, it is not what you say, but how you say it.

• Jesus spoke with faith. John 11:4, “…It will become an occasion to show God’s glory…” The Message
• Thomas spoke sarcastically with unbelief. John 11:16, “…Come along. We might as well die with him.” The Message (Sometimes sarcasm covers fear. They called Thomas “the twin” because he looked like Jesus but he didn’t sound like Him!)
• Martha repeated what she learned. John 11:24,  “…I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection…” The Message (Repeating something, does not mean we believe it.)
• Then Martha stated facts. John 11:39, “…’Master, by this time there’s a stench. He’s been dead for four days!’ ” The Message (Truth trumps fact. It’s a fact humans cannot fly. But the truth is they fly in planes all the time.)
• The Pharisees spoke out of fear. John 11:48, “…the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.” The Message (What is my motivation?)
• Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, spoke prophetically. John 11:51, “He didn’t say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied….” The Message (God can speak through anyone!)

I don’t have to speak at all. Words will never change an opinion, only the Holy Spirit can do that. Today’s verse confirms “B.C.” stands for “Before Christ.”

Luke 17:37, “Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, ‘Master, where?’ He told them, ‘Watch for the circling of the vultures. They’ll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body.’ ” The Message

B.C. is Before Christ’s birth, A.D. is Anno Domini, Latin for “in the year of the Lord.” There is no year zero,…A.D. 1 immediately follows 1 B.C. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything!

“God wins his greatest victories through apparent defeats.” “Streams in the Desert” by L. B. Cowman

©2009-2018 frugalfish.org. All Rights Reserved.