| When was Jesus born?
- Shepherds in the field at night - Spring - Fall - Lambing season watching for births - Not Fall because the Jews were to be in Jerusalem during tabernacles - March-April (Nissan)
- Bethlehem was the place where lambs were kept for the temple sacrifice
- - 1 year old lamb - born and sacrificed at same period of time
- 10th Nissan - take/accept/seize the lamb - PalmSunday
- Passover 14-15 Nissan
- Hebrew holidays are when the Lord does special things for humanity
- Nissan 1 is always a new moon
- Zoroastrianism - wise men learned of Daniel from his time in Persia
- - camels bearing gold frankincense
- King of the Jews - judaea was linked to Aeres the ram - Convergence of Jupiter and other planets to Aeres so they concluded a king was born in Judaea
- Herod died in 4 B.C.
- Jesus was born 6 B.C.
- Zacharias - Course of Abijah - - priestly calendar layed out in dead sea scrolls; Talmud verifies the course based on the destruction of Temple
- When was Abijah ministering? Nissan.
- Hippolitus - Dec 25 but also said Jesus was born in Nissan
- tabernacle is the shadow of the Lord with us
- When was the tabernacle raised? Nissan 1
- So, the Lord tabernacled with man on Nissan 1 when Jesus was born of Mary
on Nissan 1, 6 BC - March 20, 6 BC
- Why Jesus?
- Promise
- Announcement
- Mary
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, you that art highly favoured, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. |
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. |
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. |
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? |
- Joseph
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  |
- Birth
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  According to historians this was actually a registration or census rather than an actual taxing which would occur later. |
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria). The taxing occurred a few years after the census. |
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. |
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) Under Hebrew law land apportioned when israel was originally settled always referred back to the original owner whose descendants could redeem the land if it had been sold. |
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. |
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. |
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. It was a Jewish custom to bind the lambs who were destined to be sacrificed in the Temple, swaddling their legs. |
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. why were they keeping watch over their flocks at night? The nighttime scene points to the lambing season, the springtime. |
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very much afraid. |
And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. it was a Jewish custom to bind the lambs who were destined to be sacrificed in the Temple, swaddling their legs. |
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. |
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. |
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. |
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. |
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. |
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising the Lord for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  |
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. |
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. |
And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. |
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. More intellgence gathering. |
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. Now he starts the canvasing but he lies about his intent. |
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. |
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. |
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. |
- When
- Nissan is the first month in the Jewish calendar. It occurs in late March, early April.
- Zacharias, a priest, performed his duties during the course of Abijah twice each year.
- Abijah's course was the 8th in the priestly cycle. ()
- His second course would have occurred in late November.
- The scripture says that after these days (Zacharius returned home) Elizabeth conceived - December.
- 6 months from December is June when Mary conceived.
- 9 months later Jesus was born - March
- Jesus is the fleshly tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. The original tabernacle was dedicated on 1st day of the 1st month - Nissan 1 Exodus 40:1
- It is very likely Jesus was born on Nissan 1, 6 B.C. which is March 20, 6 B.C.
- why 6 B.C.? Nissan began on sabbath that year; Herod died in 4 B.C. after commanding death of All 2 year and younger children.
- why were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night? It was the lambing season. why spring? new grass growth for grazing the enlarged flock.
- The passover sacrificial lamb was to be a year old so the lamb had to be born around passover.
- Jesus is the lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
- Adoption of December 25 as the Birth date:
The most loudly touted theory about the origins of the christmas date(s) is that it was borrowed from pagan celebrations. The Romans had their mid-winter Saturnalia festival in late December; barbarian peoples of northern and western Europe kept holidays at similar times.
To top it off, in 274 C.E., the Roman emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), on December 25. Christmas, the argument goes, is really a spin-off from these pagan solar festivals.
According to this theory, early Christians deliberately chose these dates to encourage the spread of christmas and Christianity throughout the Roman world.
If christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the Saviour whose birth it celebrated.
- Conclusion
We haven't talked about the birthday of our Lord in order to start a new denomination - Nissan 1 Adventists. The scriptures are clear about keeping holiday observation in perspective:
But it is important that we see how the Lord perfectly manages the framework of His plan for humanity. Jesus is the fulfillment of that plan in every respect.
Praise the Wonderful, holy name of Jesus!
joy to the world the Lord has come!
The Holy Spirit tabernacled with us in Jesus.
Now He tabernacles with us by His indwelling Spirit!
 |