The birth of Jesus

1. Prophecies and background of Jesus’ birth

·      Isaiah 7: 14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

·      Isaiah 9: 6-7 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder…”

·      Isaiah 40: 3-5 – “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord… and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”

·      Psalm 132: 13-14 – “For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: ‘This is my resting place forever.’”

·      Micah 5: 2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

·      Matthew 1: 23 – “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

·      Matthew 2: 1-6 – “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem…”

·      Luke 2: 4-7 – “And Joseph also went up from Galilee…to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”

·      John 1: 14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

2. The Census Decree by Caesar Augustus

·      Luke 2: 1-3 – “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.”

3. The Priestly Division of Abijah

·      Luke 1: 5 – “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah.”

·      1 Chronicles 24: 7-19 – The division of Abijah is the eighth of 24 priestly courses.

·      Luke 1: 23-24 – “And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden.”

·      Luke 1: 36 – “And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.”

·      NOTE: The priestly service of Zechariah corresponds to the eighth division, typically in late May or early June. After Zechariah completed his service and returned home, Elizabeth conceived. John the Baptist would therefore be born around March, nine months later. Jesus, conceived six months after John, would be born around September, aligning with the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-43).

4. The Timing of the Shepherds in the Fields

·      Luke 2: 8 – “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

·      NOTE: Flocks were normally kept in folds or sheepfolds to protect them (Numbers 32:16, Zephaniah 2:6, John 10:1).  In a snowy Israeli winter, it would be impractical for the shepherds to be in the field tending sheep.  They would have kept them confined for food, warmth and safety (Exodus 22:5).  The priestly division of Abijah gives us the timing of Jesus’ birth and the shepherds being in the field confirms Jesus was not born in December.

5. The Star and the Magi’s Journey

·      Matthew 2: 1-2 – “Now AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

·      Matthew 2: 9-11 – “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

·      Matthew 2: 16: “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

·      Numbers 24: 17 – “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

·      Psalm 19: 1-4 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”

·      The Magi were guided by a celestial phenomenon, described as a star. This event could correspond with a significant astronomical event, such as particular star passing through a constellation only at one moment in the universe. (Genesis 1: 14 speaks of the heavenly bodies marking signs and seasons).

6. Jesus’ Age at the Time of Herod’s Death

·      Matthew 2: 13-15 – “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’”

·      Matthew 2: 16 – “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

·      Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.”

7. Symbolism of Jesus’ Birth Timing

·      John 1: 14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

·      Leviticus 23: 34-36 – “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord.”

·      Zechariah 14: 16 – “Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.”

·      Revelation 21: 3 – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’”