WHEN IS THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

Posted by writer on October 16th, 2008 at 08:21pm

According to the World Book encyclopedia, “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25^th. On this day many attend church services,and take part in special religious activities.”

 

The encyclopedia also states that, “The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in AD 336 in an early Roman calendar which indicates December 25^th as the day of observance. This celebration was probably influenced by pagan [unchristian] festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans honored Saturn their harvest god, and Mithras the god of light at the end of the year. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid December to celebrate the end of the harvest season”

 

Is the notion that no one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth true?

Does this give anyone the license to connect the name of Jesus Christ, to the worship of pagan gods?

 

One of the instructions the Lord gave the children of Israel when they left Egypt was this; “I am the Lord your God. The doings of the land of Egypt where you came from; and the doings of the land of Canaan where you are going, you should not practice. Their ordinances you should not follow. You shall pay regards to my judgments and observe my ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. If a man observe my statutes and judgments, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. 18:2-5).

 

We are reminded in the New Testament that, “God is Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and truth.” Therefore, is there any veracity in celebrating December 25^th as the date of Christ’s birth?

 

If the saying that, “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth” is true, then this must be a conspiracy to conceal his true identity, and to deny him of his honor and reverence.

 

The gospel of John chapter seven verses twenty five to twenty seven tends to suggest something of this nature. Because on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles when Jesus spoke openly in the temple, knowing that they were plotting to kill him: some of the people who heard him spoke said, “Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.”

 

This seems to suggest that the notion, “When the Christ appears, no one will know where he [Christ] comes from” has gain acceptance and credibility through the world.

 

But according to the scriptures, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God who was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us was well known by the authorities, the affirmed this by saying, “Yet we know where this man comes from” and so the whole details of his date of birth was not a secret.

 

On the exact day on which Christ was born we are told that, “In the region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day [today] in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In a manger you will find a baby lying, and wrapped in swaddling clothes; this will be your sign.2:8-12).

 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

 

As soon as the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.Without wasting any time, they left and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they [widely]made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them”(Lk.2:13-18).

 

Was the birth of Christ a secret?

 

How could such a remarkable day and event which was widely made known not be recorded in history: If it is not through a conspiracy to conceal it?

 

At the end of eight days, we are told that he was circumcised, and was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Lk.2:21).

 

When the days of Mary’s purification was completed, which according to the law; thirty three [33] days for a male child, Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord [as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord].

A Just and devout man who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was in Jerusalem during this time, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

through the inspiration of the Spirit he went to the temple. When Simeon saw the child who was brought to the temple by his parents, according to the custom of the law, he took hin in his arms and blessed God and said, " Your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, to bring a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel my eyes have now seen. Now Lord let your servant depart in peace, according to your word.2:25-32).

 

How could such a remarkable day, in the life of such a remarkable individual not be recorded in history!

 

Some people make excuses by saying that, the date of Christ’s birth is not that important, hence the reason why his date of birth is not known.

 

The irony of truth is; if Jesus Christ was not born on the day on which he was born, we would not have had a Savior, and we would still be in our sins. What further proof and declaration one needs apart from the angel's appearance, and his pronouncement saying, "For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord,"And the presence of the multitude of the heavenly host who praised God and said, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and towards men good will!”

 

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST INAUGURATED HIM AS THE KING OF KINGS

 

The prophet Isaiah prophesying about the birth and reign of the Prince of peace wrote, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, Prince of peace.” ‘Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. It will be done through the eagerness of the Lord of hosts.9:6-7).

 

When the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem seeking for Jesus, they did not say “Where is he who is born to be the king of the Jews?Instead, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.They felt down and worshiped the young child when the saw him with his mother mary in the house. As King ,God, and Man, when they opened their treasures, they presented to him gold, frankincense and myrrh.Jesus Christ became King from birth.

 

During his earthly trial before Pilate, Pilate called him and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not for this time. My servants would fight, if my kingdom was of this world, in order that I should not be handed over to the Jews, but my kingdom is not from here.Therefore said Pilate to him, Are you a King then?"You rightly say that I am a King," Jesus replied. hence the reason I was born: and for this purpose I have entered the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (Jn.18:33-37).

 

FEAST OF TABERNACLES IS THE FEAST OF THE LORD

 

In the book of Leviticus chapter twenty three, verse thirty nine states the following; “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep [not a feast unto the Lord] but the feast of the Lord seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.”

 

This festival of the Lord is so vitally important that, in the millennium when God’s kingdom will be established on earth, “Every one that survives of all 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 Tabernacles. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the lord of hosts, there will be no rain upon them. If the family of Egypt refuse to present themselves before the Lord during the Feast of Tabernacles, the same plague which will afflict the other nations, will afflict them also. This will be the punishment of Egypt and of the nations who will not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.14:16-19).

 

To the Israelites and their succeeding generations, this festival is a reminder to remind them

That; “God made the people of Israel dwell in booths when he brought them out of the land of Egypt:’ and that the lord is their God” (Lev.23:43).

 

Today, this festival commemorates the day on which the Word became flesh and tabernacle among us, and we all received our permanent dwelling in him, for in him we live, and move and have our being. He is the vine and we are the branches. Our everlasting life can only be built on this one foundation.

 

THE EIGHTH DAY

The eight day commemorates the circumcision of Jesus Christ, by which we all may become heirs to the promise which God made to Abraham. Because of the circumcision of Christ, when we put away the body of sin of the flesh, we also become circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.2:11).

According to the covenant God made with Abraham, every male child must be circumcised in the foreskins of his flesh, as an everlasting covenant between God and Abraham. At eight days old, every male who is born in your house, or bought from a stranger who is not your descendant; must be circumcised and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.17:10-13).

 

THE DAY OF CHRIST’S DEATH LEADS TO THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH

 

It is generally accepted according to the book of Luke that, “Jesus himself began his ministry at about thirty years of age.He ministered for three and a half years .He died on the fourteenth day of the first month, six months before the expiration of his thirty fourth birthday, and pointing to the fifteenth day of the seventh month as the date of his birth. The months are based according to the Jewish sacred calendar, and not the Jewish civil calendar.

 

Jesus’ ministry began at the Feast of Tabernacles. It is written, “Now the Jews feast of Tabernacles was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea that your disciples may see the works you are doing. One should not perform his work in secret, if he seeks to be publicly known. If you do these things, why not let the world see what you are doing. He was not believed even by his own brothers.7:2-5)

About the middle of the Feast Jesus went up to the temple and taught. The Jews marveled at it, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied? (Jn.7:14-15).

 

Three and a half years of ministry beginning with the Feast of Tabernacles, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, and culminating with his death on the 14^th day of the first month at the Passover.

 

The birth of John Baptist also points to the birth of Jesus Christ to the seventh month of the Jewish sacred calendar.

 

It was the official duty of Aaron and four of his sons, namely; Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to offer sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded (1Chro.6:49; 1Chro.23:27-32).

 

Two of the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu died before Aaron their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. The duties of the Altar were shared by David among the sons of Eleazar who numbered sixteen, and the sons of Ithamar who numbered eight.(1Chro.24:1-4).

 

Dividing twenty four divisions to serve during a period of twelve months means that, each division would have to serve for a period of two (2) weeks: or more precisely two weeks, one day, and four hours, by dividing fifty two weeks in the year into twenty four divisions.

 

The scriptures state that Abijah from whom Zacharias the father of John Baptist descended was of the eighth division. During the time Zacharias was officiating at the altar which was during the last part of the fourth month,or between the fourteenth and the sixteenth week, he was visited by the angel.

 

Now according to Luke’s gospel, “As soon as the days of his [Zacharias’] service were completed, that he departed to his own house’. When those days were over, his wife Elizabeth conceived; and for five months hid herself and said,"In this manner has the Lord dealt with me, to take away my reproach among men, now that he has looked on me.”

 

Zacharias leaving the temple at the end of the fourth month mute, and unable to speak because he did not believe what the angel told him, went home to his wife at the beginning of the fifth month, therefore we can conclude the Elizabeth was conceived during the fifth month.

 

Nine months of normal pregnancy will lead us to the birth of John Baptist, to be during the first month of the following year. John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus Christ. This is well documented in scriptures.1:26, 36). Since it is calculated that John baptist was born during the first month, it leads to the seventh month as the time of Christ's birth. According to the Jewish sacred calendar the first month of the year is the first new moon in spring which is around middle of March to the beginning of April. And the seventh month begins with the new moon in the fall. between late Spetember and early Octobe.

 

Have a joyous feast of Tabernacles which begins on Monday 13^th October 2008, and concludes with the Eighth day on Tuesday 21st October 2008

 

With brotherly Love

Lucius Joseph.

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