Was Jesus born on December 25th or early September?

Was Jesus really born on December 25th? / Does the Bible say when Jesus was born?

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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 baby 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 and our article Retelling the Christmas Story. 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.

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 baby in a manger split the air in Bethlehem. The Promised Seed had arrived! The Plan of Redemption was proceeding toward Paradise regained, and Jesus is now “Lord” at the right hand of God, His Father.

Tradition teaches that Jesus was born on December 25, when it is very cold, and sometimes snowy, in Bethlehem. We believe the evidence supports the conclusion 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; Matthew 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” as they passed by (Lev. 23:22).

A study of the now computerized data by which we can very accurately determine astronomical events of that time gives us another 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, that 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 baby” (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 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.

We do think it is sad 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!

Joe puts the buzz in Sting
BY SIMONE MORGAN Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Friday, December 21, 2012

JOSEF Bogdanovich has been one of the distinctive faces in local entertainment for over a decade. He is the brains behind Downsound Records and co-producer of next Wednesday’s Sting show at Jamworld in Portmore.
Bogdanovich has had significant success with Downsound, recording acts like Nanko, Fantan Mojah, Jah Cure, and Harry Toddler.
Entertainment Minister Damian Crawford (right) greets Sting boss Isaiah Laing (left) and sponsor of the event Joe Bogdanovich of Downsound Records at Sting’s launch at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel in St Andrew recently.
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His present team at Downsound includes producer Cordel ‘Skatta’ Burrell, singjay Khago, singer Nature, and deejay Specialist.
The label has produced hits like Hail The King and Hungry (Fantan Mojah), True Reflections (Jah Cure), and Lucky You (Nanko).
The American, who set up business in Jamaica just over 15 years ago, recently partnered with Supreme Promotions for Sting, signing artistes like Ninjaman, Sizzla Kalonji and Kiprich.
Bogdanovich has a Hollywood background, working on small independent films in the 1980s and 1990s.
He plans to bring that expertise to Sting with theatrics and showmanship to entertain diehard fans.
“We are doing the clash like pro wrestling in tag team style, with Merciless teamed with Matterhorn versus Ninjaman and Kiprich.
They will go at it with both sides allowed one extra person of their choice to help out if they choose. It’s going to be high-flying entertainment,” Bogdanovich boasted.
How much money have you invested in the event? How will this help the Downsound brand?
Not everyone locally understands the magnitude of Downsound’s presence in this business. Aside from supporting artistes for international shows outside of Jamaica which we have done for 20 years, we also support the local market by investing in a multitude of events and programmes, often behind the scenes. This year, however, we chose to step from out of the shadows and save the business. You do realise that stage shows are almost extinct due to the lack of corporate investment. So Downsound has stepped in and plunged millions into this event because of it’s a legacy for the people. It’s your culture, the last of its kind and we do not want it to fade away. Or worse, just let the foreigners take it away in Europe or Japan.
Is this a one-year partnership? Or will this be a long-term relationship?
We have been supporting Sting for many years now. We have just stepped up the game to make it bigger and better by working in partnership with Supreme, and in particular Isaiah Laing. It takes real dedication to preserve an event that is approaching its 30th year and no matter what anyone says, Laing has persevered and should be exalted for giving so much to people with humble beginnings.
Is it true you will have a boxing ring in place for the main event?
Definitely. We will bring it in as the final candle is lit for the show. A 24-foot ring will fly in from the wings and the clash will begin. This is show business. And there is no business like show business. Expect the unexpected. This year’s Sting will be a night to remember.
Why are you so supportive of dancehall when it is reggae that Downsound is known for? Are you choosing hype over substance?
Reggae and dancehall are from Jamaica, created by Jamaicans and should not be classed or separated. If you look at the current Sting flyer, you will see not only vintage artistes like John Holt and Errol Dunkley, but you will see the next generation of young reggae artistes like Konshens, Romain Virgo, Chronixx, Nature, and Etana. We have Sizzla who has given so much to the people and to the country and he will also give a performance that is out of this world. We are celebrating Busy Signal’s return and Khago will be delivering both reggae and dancehall music at its finest. And there is Tommy Lee. Come to Jamworld and find out what the excitement is all about.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Joe-puts-the-buzz-in-Sting_13252510#ixzz2FjFjUiNc

By Joe Anuta

Photo by Christina Santucci

Los Angeles law student and hip-hop promoter Brandon Lincoln Woodard, 31, was walking down a sidewalk near Manhattan’s Columbus Circle at about 2 p.m. Dec. 10 when he was shot point blank in the back of the head by a man who then walked to a getaway car, according to NYPD.

That left the island via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, according to the New York Post, and police soon followed, locating the rented silver-gray Lincoln MKX in Rosedale.

Police have made no arrests in either the Columbus Circle shooting nor the assault rifle murder as of press time Tuesday.

Sources told the Post that a woman may have rented the car for the killer and his accomplice.

Just afterward, police took into custody a 40-year-old Rosedale man who might be a friend of someone involved in the hit, sources told the Post.

But the Queens connections do not stop there.

A cellphone being tracked as part of the investigation has also been tied to the summer’s bloodiest shooting, sources told the Post.

That incident occurred July 7, when three men were killed and one was wounded in an early morning ambush involving an assault rifle, according to police and reports.

Across the street from Springfield Gardens High School at about 5 a.m., three men in a Jeep Cherokee were torn apart in a hail of gunfire, police said, and a fourth was injured.

Neighbors described the scene as gruesome, as crowds stood out all day while police combed the crime scene for clues and took away the bodies. One man, referring to the number of empty shell casings glimmering on 144th Street, told TimesLedger Newspapers, “It looked like a piggy bank busted open.”

Early reports suggested that the carload of people may have had an altercation with someone at a Brooklyn location before the killing, but one of the men killed, Queens’ James Bussereth, 33, may also have been murdered in retaliation of a $1 million robbery, the Post reported at the time.

Investigators in this month’s shooting have also tied the 9 mm gun used to shoot Woodard in the back of the head to an incident that occurred in Queens Nov. 29, 2009, according to the NYPD.

On that day, two men pumped a total of 12 rounds into a St. Albans home near the corner of Mangin Avenue and Hannibal Street, according to police.

Woodard is the father of a 4-year-old girl and has an extensive rap sheet, according to the Post, which also reported that Woodard may have been lured by text message to the spot where he was shot.

Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-260-4566.

©2012 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

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