WHEN
WAS
JESUS
CHRIST
BORN?
ON-LINE REV BIBLE
---
ON-LINE KJV BIBLE
---
BIBLE STUDY MENU
---
PRINTER VERSION
WHEN WAS JESUS CHRIST BORN?
Was Jesus born on December 25th or early September?
To listen to a teaching on Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Defining True
Greatness, visit here.
http://www.stfpodcast.com/File/nov2007_mary_the_mother_of_jesus.mp3
FAQ: I have heard a number of people say that Jesus Christ was not born
on December 25, the date that Christians celebrate as his birthday. Is
that true? If not, why do people celebrate on that date, and when was he
born?
'Merry Christmas!' Centuries old, those cheery words are still being
spoken each December by countless millions of people, some of whom do
not even believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God or the resurrected
Lord. As we write, the world is once again approaching 'the Holiday
Season,' when the name of Jesus Christ takes center stage for a few
weeks. Amidst the often crass commercialism of Christmas, familiar
carols and Christmas cards do herald the glad tidings of the babe born
to be the Savior of mankind. And, in perhaps unwitting concurrence with
our heavenly Father's unparalleled act of giving His only begotten Son,
even non-Christian families gather together in love and give gifts to
one another. For many people, 'Christmas' is their favorite time of
year.
We in Spirit & Truth Fellowship are glad that the birth of our Lord
Jesus Christ is recognized on the calendar each year. However, much of
the beauty of the events leading up to and including the birth of Jesus
as told in the Word of God has been obscured by the religious traditions
of men. In this brief answer to the above question, we hope to whet your
appetite to look deeper into these magnificent truths, including the
poignant and inspiring examples of those players in this real life drama
that forever changed the world.
You can get a panoramic yet detailed scriptural account in the two hour
video teaching titled:
The Birth of Christ, by John Schoenheit.
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=567
For specific astronomical documentation of the birth date of Christ, see
the book titled The Star That Astonished the World, by Ernest L. Martin.
We believe that when all the evidence is considered, it shows that Jesus
Christ was not born in December, but in September of 3 B.C.
Think for a moment about the significance of a birthday, say, your
birthday. Since the dawn of time, what happened on the day you were born
had never happened before, and will never happen again. You, the only
you who will ever draw breath, came into existence, with a 'clean slate'
set before you on which to write the story of your absolutely unique
life. And so it is for every human being ever born, including the man
whose sinless life earned him his current position of 'Lord' at the
right hand of God, His Father.
Knowing that Jesus was His only hope for the restoration of His
shattered dream of a family living forever on a perfect earth, God, the
Father, announced the impending birth of His only begotten Son in
Genesis 3:15. He told the Devil that the 'offspring' of a woman would
one day crush his head. For the next 4000 years God precisely and
meticulously worked to establish and preserve the bloodline from which
the Redeemer of man would be born. Throughout the Old Testament, Satan
tried in vain to destroy this bloodline, sometimes coming within a
hairsbreadth of succeeding, but God was always one step ahead of him,
and at last, the cries of a newborn babe in a manger split the air in
Bethlehem. The Promised Seed had arrived! The Plan of Redemption was
proceeding toward Paradise regained.
Why was Jesus crying?
(a) He was freezing.
(b) He felt sorry for the shivering sheep.
(c) He was too young to spend the gold brought by one of the three
wise men.
(d) Santa Claus had gotten stuck in the manger chimney.
(e) He was a baby.
Biblically speaking, the answer is (e). Babies cry. The other answer
choices point to the traditions of men that have made their way into the
beautiful account of the birth of the Savior of the world. Tradition
would have us believe that Jesus was born on December 25, when it is
very cold, and sometimes snowy, in Bethlehem. The truth is that Jesus
was born in September. Tradition would have us believe that there were
three wise men, and that they came to the manger. The truth is that
there were quite a number of those who came from the East, and that they
came to see Jesus when he was between 18 and 24 months old.
In this brief article, we cannot fully set forth the many pertinent
biblical details, but we will give you the important facts, and we
encourage you to pursue this via the avenues of study mentioned above.
It is important to note that the actual chronology of events regarding
the birth of Christ must be put together from what is recorded in
Matthew and Luke (with some overlapping in time), as follows: Luke
1:5-25; 1:26-38; 1:39-56; 1:57-80; Matthew 1:18-24; 1:25a; Luke 2:1-20;
Matt. 1:25b; Luke 2:21; 2:22-24; 2:25-35; 2:36-38; Matthew 2:1-12;
2:13-22; 2:23; Luke 2:39; 2:40; 2:41-50; 2:51 and 52.
Luke 1:5-25 is the record of the angel's announcement to Zecharias that
he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, whom they were to call
John. Verse 5 contains a little phrase that is one important key to
determining that Jesus was born in September, not December. It says that
Zechariah 'belonged to the priestly division [KJV: 'course'] of Abijah.'
A study will show that from the time of David, Jewish priests were
organized into 24 'courses,' named after the heads of the priestly
families. These courses of service in the Temple started on Nisan 1
(which corresponds to March or April on our calendar) and spanned the
calendar year. Because the Hebrews used a lunar calendar and we use a
solar calendar, Nisan 1 changes on our calendar each year. The course of
Abijah was the eighth course, and, like each course, occurred twice
during the year. In 4 B.C., the year prior to Christ's birth, the first
of those two courses took place during the last week of our month of
May.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were quite elderly, and had no children, and the
angel gave them the wonderful news that they would have a son, to be
named John. Verses 23 and 24 tell us that when Zechariah finished his
service in the Temple, he returned home (which would have been in early
June). Upon his return, Elizabeth became pregnant. Verse 26 then says
that in her sixth month of pregnancy (December), the angel Gabriel came
to Mary to tell her that she was about to become pregnant with the Son
of God. Nine months later would have been September.
How else do we know that Jesus was not born in the Winter? Luke 2:8
speaks about the shepherds near Bethlehem who were in the fields,
watching their flocks at night. Shepherds in that region did not keep
their sheep out at night during the Winter because it was cold and
sometimes even snowy, but they did keep them in the fields during the
Fall, after the end-of-Summer harvest. At that time, the sheep could eat
the stalks of grain left over after the harvest, and they would then
fertilize the ground prior to the late Fall planting.
Also, Luke 2:1 says that when Mary was just about to give birth to
Jesus, she and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to fulfill their obligation
to be counted in a Roman census. They did not travel in the Winter
because it would have been much too hard. Rather, people traveled in the
Fall, between the heat of Summer and the cold of Winter. And at that
time of year the grain, and also some fruit, were ripe, and travelers
were allowed to eat some of the 'gleanings' {Lev. 23:22) as they passed
by.
A study of the now computerized data by which we can very accurately
determine astronomical events of that time gives us the last piece of
the puzzle to dating the birth of Christ in September of 3 B.C. In
particular, the very noticeable celestial activity of Jupiter, Mars,
Mercury, Regulus (the King star), and Venus (the Queen star), and their
various combinations of conjunctions in Leo during the nine months
leading up to Christ's birth are vital signs to determine the September
birth date of our Lord Jesus. And we believe that research shows that he
was born on September 11 (Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar), on which day
the sun was in Virgo, as per the prophecy in Revelation 12:1 of 'a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet' (Rev. 12:1). [1]
So then how did December 25 come to be the date that most all Christians
recognize as the birth date of Christ? We quote from Jesus Christ Our
Promised Seed:
'In 274 A.D., the Romans designated December 25 as the birthday of
the unconquered sun, being the time when the sun begins noticeably to
show an increase in light, resulting in longer daylight hours. By 336
A.D., the church in Rome was adapting this festival, spiritualizing its
significance as a reference to Jesus Christ and calling it the 'Feast of
the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.' Attempting to Christianize
and incorporate the pagan traditions of antiquity, the church in Rome
adopted this midwinter holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god as
one of its own observances, somewhat changing its significance, but
retaining many customs of the pagan festival. As the Roman church spread
its influence religiously and militarily, this holiday of December 25
became the most popular date in Christendom to celebrate the birth of
Jesus Christ. A special mass was established for Christ, hence, the
name, 'Christmass,' abbreviated 'Christmas.'
What about the 'three wise men'? First, the Bible never says there were
three. It says that they brought three gifts: 'gold, frankincense, and
myrrh.' In that time, three men with such precious treasure traveling
such a great distance, some of it through the land of their country's
enemies, would have been easy prey for enemy soldiers or the many
robbers who prowled the roads. It is therefore almost certain that they
would have traveled in a much larger group, with adequate protection.
Who were those men who took note of the many astronomical phenomena
heralding the birth of Christ in Judea, and then traveled to find him,
arriving when he was about 18 months old? Scripture calls them 'Magi,'
and they were scholarly men from Persia well versed in astronomy,
history, and religion. It is most significant that their ancestors were
those over whom King Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Daniel in what was
then called Babylon (Dan. 2:28 and 5:11 says he was appointed 'master of
the magicians [Magi]').
It is very significant that there were some religious sects in Persia,
including Zoroastrianism, who looked forward to a coming Redeemer, a
prophet to be sent by God to save mankind. And that is why they would
have been most interested in learning from Daniel about Judaism's
hallmark prophecies of a coming Messiah, especially as these prophecies
related to the celestial motions of the planets, something they studied
diligently.
In any case, the striking celestial activity told them of the birth of
that promised Redeemer, and they set out to find him. Matthew 2:11 tells
us that they came to 'the house,' not a manger, and saw 'the child' (the
Greek word paidion), not a 'newborn babe' (the Greek word brephos). As
the NIV Study Bible says regarding that verse: 'Contrary to tradition,
the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth as
did the shepherds. They first came to Jerusalem, apparently thinking
that in the capital city of Israel they should be able to find out where
the king had been born. After King Herod told them he had been born in
Bethlehem, they went there and found him as a 'child' in his 'house.'
That explains why Herod, who had consulted with the Magi as to the time
when they saw the star (Matt. 2:7), determined to kill all the Israeli
boys under two years old. He knew that Jesus was no longer an infant,
and set two years as a safe limit to how old he would have been, which
we believe was about 18 months.
We believe that the evidence shows that Jesus Christ was born in
September, 3 B.C., [2] and that the local shepherds were the only ones
who came to the manger to see him at the manger. It is significant that
in that culture, shepherds were generally considered extremely faithful
and trustworthy men, and certainly those particular ones were, because
they immediately acted on what the angel told them, and after they had
found the Savior, they 'spread the word' concerning what the angel had
told them. You might want to take a moment, put yourself in their place,
and let the magnitude of their experience sink into your heart.
It is safe to say that the two primary heroes in this scintillating saga
were a man and woman (probably in her mid-to-late teens) who suddenly
found themselves thrust into starring roles on the stage of history.
Think first about Mary, a young Hebrew woman chosen by God to bear His
Son. Words fail to adequately describe what it must have been like for
her when the angel of the Lord appeared to her and made his amazing
announcement. She fearlessly asked the angel a very good question, which
did not imply doubt, but was simply a request for more information. And
when she got the answer, she uttered one of the most faith-filled
statements ever spoken: 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me
according to your word.' What a woman!
And think about Joseph, who discovered that his beloved bride was
pregnant. How heartrending, and what a man of character he was, first
not to make public their situation, and then to endure the public
ridicule he must have gotten as the father of an illegitimate child.
Imagine, as Joseph wrestled with this incredibly weighty issue, how his
heart must have leapt for joy when the angel told him that the woman he
had chosen as his wife and the mother of his children was also the woman
God had chosen to be the mother of His Son. And think of his love for
her, and his steadfast discipline not to sexually consummate their union
until after she had given birth to Jesus (Matt. 1:25). Joseph was a
man's man, and a true hero of the faith.
No, we are not advocating a worldwide campaign to change the celebration
we know as 'Christmas' from December 25 to September 11 (See Endnote 2
above) which has already become a most significant date here in the USA.
But we ourselves do at least pause on that latter date to thank God for
His Son and to thank the Lord for living and dying for us. Nor are we
suggesting that you take it upon yourself to re-arrange the manger scene
in your town square by kidnapping the three wise men. And we do not
believe it is a sin to have a Christmas tree, 200,000 lights on your
house, stockings hung by the chimney with care, etc., because no verse
of Scripture says that. Just don't worship the tree.
But how sad it is that so many people on earth associate the birth of
Jesus Christ with a fictitious being called 'Santa Claus,' who has come
to be known as the Giver of good gifts. As we rudely learn at an early
age, there is no Santa Claus. But there most certainly is a loving
heavenly Father whose heart of love for all mankind overflowed in the
greatest gift ever given, His only begotten Son. Furthermore, God's Word
says that 'He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all, will, along with him, graciously give us all things' (Rom. 8:32). The
Christmas season is a golden opportunity to do just what those shepherds
of long ago did - spread the word about Jesus Christ. Now that's something
to rejoice about!
Ho! Ho! Ho!
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
May you, and all those you love,
be so blessed and fortunate
as to stand approved before God,
unashamed of your workmanship.
May God Always Bless You and Yours As
You Stand Steadfast on His Word Of Truth!
^BACK To TOP^
For those of you who Want More FUN - Visit The Shangy Fun List! Variety is the
spice of life! The Shangy Fun List is an ezine packed full of Poems, Inspirational and
Heart Warming Stories. Jokes from G to slightly R, and Anything else that just
might make you SMILE! Join In The Free FUN!! ... :)
Yes! Click Here To GO TO THE ARCHIVES!-
Like This Page?
-To SHANGRALA-
Copyright © 1996 Netscape Communications Corporation. Mozilla is
a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.
Note: This is an Unofficial God, Jesus Christ, Family, & Cartoon Fan Site.
© All graphics representing Disney characters are copyrighted by Disney.
Likewise all other graphics & music Copyright © by their own Individual Artists.
I do not own any graphics on this site. If you do, please notify me
and I'll give
you proper credit, a link, or remove it immediately according to your wishes.
~*~ Copyright © 1997-2013 Elrhea M. Bigham ~*~