“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son…” Luke 2:4-7a (NAS)

We take a brief break in our study of Old Testament quotes found in New Testament writings to revisit the (by popular demand) timely topic of Jesus’ birth.

At some time you will be asked the question by someone of how we know Jesus was born on December 25th. The correct answer is we don’t really know the exact day Jesus was born into this realm. But, do we know if December 25th is a likely time of the year for His birth? That question can be answered more definitively from Scriptural references and reliable historical writings . The answer is no. I know, I know, you’re asking, “Then how come it is celebrated on December 25th?” We’ll answer that in next week’s bulletin. This week we offer the Biblical evidence of when Jesus was likely born. Here we go.

The first clues are in John the Immerser’s conception and birth as recorded in the gospel of Luke. John was conceived shortly after John’s father Zacharias had completed his “priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division.” (Luke 1:8; 23-24)  The rotation of the priests’’ service at the temple had been determined back in king David’s reign as recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 and lasted seven days, Sabbath to Sabbath. Zacharias was from the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Those of Abijah were the eighth order to serve in the Temple (1 Chron 24:10).

Since the sacred rotation started with the month of Nisan, historians have placed Zacharias’ service at the Temple as the 10th week from the first of Nisan (We don’t count the week of Passover/Unleavened Bread and Pentecost since all priests would be in service on those days), around Sivan 12-18 which corresponds to time in our May/June. Most assume Elizabeth, John’s mother, became pregnant in the week following Zacharias’ service, approximately Sivan 19-25. Luke records that Mary visited Elizabeth in the six month of her pregnancy immediately after the angel Gabriel visited to tell her the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would conceive. (Luke 1:30-40) This would have been somewhere around middle to late of the month Chislev, which corresponds to time in our November/December. Nine months (or approximately 270 days) from that time is approximately the middle of the month of Tishri, which corresponds to time in our September/October. This writer believes that this month for Jesus’ birth was chosen deliberately, as are all things planned by the LORD. What happens in the month of Tishri? Three prescribed holy convocations of the law, given to the people via Moses by the Almighty.

The rotation of the priests’’ service at the temple had been determined back in king David’s reign as recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 and lasted seven days, Sabbath to Sabbath. Zacharias was from the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Those of Abijah were the eighth order to serve in the Temple (1 Chron 24:10). Since the sacred rotation started with the month of Nisan, historians have placed Zacharias’ service at the Temple as the 10th week from the first of Nisan (We don’t count the week of Passover/Unleavened Bread and Pentecost since all priests would be in service on those days), around Sivan 12-18 which corresponds to time in our May/June. Most assume Elizabeth, John’s mother, became pregnant in the week following Zacharias’ service, approximately Sivan 19-25. Luke records that Mary visited Elizabeth in the six month of her pregnancy immediately after the angel Gabriel visited to tell her the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would conceive. (Luke 1:30-40) This would have been somewhere around middle to late of the month Chislev, which corresponds to time in our November/December. Nine months (or approximately 270 days) from that time is approximately the middle of the month of Tishri, which corresponds to time in our September/October. This writer believes that this month for Jesus’ birth was chosen deliberately, as are all things planned by the LORD. What happens in the month of Tishri? Three prescribed holy convocations of the law, given to the people via Moses by the Almighty.

They are the Feast of Trumpets (a rest and reminder by blowing, Lev. 23:24-25) on the first of Tishri; the Day of Atonement on the 10th of Tishri, a Sabbath of complete rest (Lev. 23:27-32); and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) from the 15-22 of Tishri, a feast of the LORD reminding the people they lived in tabernacles after the LORD had brought them out of Egypt (Lev. 23:34-44). Can you see it?  The announcement, (Trumpets), the intended true forgiveness (Day of Atonement) of our sins being taken away via the Christ, who is our “scapegoat” as well as the lamb of God; and the fulfillment of the prophesied Immanuel (literally, God among us, Isa. 7:14) tabernacling with His people in the flesh (C. f. John 1:13). So it appears Jesus was born sometime around the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three feasts where all the male Jews were supposed to present themselves before the LORD. Historians record that since all three feasts were so close together, the Jews from other countries would typically begin arriving early, filling not just Jerusalem but surrounding towns as well, staying from Trumpets through Tabernacles. Now go back and read Luke 2:1-8. See why Caesar Augustus would call for a census at this time and why there would be no place for Joseph and Mary to stay in Bethlehem? Also, this time of year would still find “shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8b) Next week, how the religious world arrived at Jesus’ birth as December 25th.