Cortright
Fellowship
URL http://www.cortright.org/birth.htm
© Copyright September 11, 1996 Michael Cortright
Almost every Biblical scholar has known and attested for centuries, that Jesus Christ could not have been born on December 25th. The December festival in Rome known as the Saturnalia, or the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birth of their sun-god was adopted by the church in Rome as Christ's birth date in the third century. A special mass was instituted and celebrated for Christ. Hence, the name "Christ-mass", abbreviated "Christmas". The pagan celebration and traditions of decorating fir trees, lighting the yule-log, and many other customs associated with Saturnalia were adopted.
The truth of God's Word regarding the events surrounding the birth of Christ in the fall of the year has been lost in the traditions and artistry of pagan and modern celebrations. If we are to truly understand our savior's birth we must study God's Word from its inherent accuracy. We will find that on that September evening the Word of God reports no record of three wise men, drummer boys, or flying angels. We will see the quiet rejoicing of a handful of shepherds, Mary his mother, and Joseph reported in the gospel of Luke. The record of magi from the east following "his star" recorded in Matthew occurred almost a year and a half later and is not the subject of this presentation.
Luke 2:1
And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed [registered].
The word "taxed" is from the Greek word apographo meaning to register. The "all the world" is used to emphasize the immensity of the Roman Empire. Caesar Augustus was preparing to celebrate his Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) as Roman Emperor in 2 B.C. Prior to the celebration he wanted an accounting of his subjects and an official declaration of political allegiance. Registrations such as this were typically conducted in the fall of the year when the weather was mild for travel.
Luke 2:2
(And this taxing [registration]
was
first made when Cyrenius was governor
[commander]
of
Syria.)
Cyrenius was governor of Syria in 6 A.D. about nine years after this record. The Greek word for "governor" in this verse is hegemon which means commander. This "first" registration was made in 3 B.C. when Cyrenius had been sent to Syria to command the registration process. Later in 6/7 A.D. while he was governor a second registration took place. The word "first" is the key to understanding the historical evidence.
Luke 2:3-5
And all went to be taxed
[registered],
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).
To be taxed [registered]
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Two of the old Aramaic manuscripts read "that there they might be enrolled, because they were both of the house of David." The Old Testament records that David was from Bethlehem (I Samuel 16:1-4) and that the promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary were both descendants of David. Both Aramaic manuscripts omit the word "espoused" and just read "wife" which is also more accurate.
Luke 2:6-7
And so it was, that, while they
were there [in Bethlehem],
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.
The word "accomplished" is the Greek word for "filled to overflowing". It was time for Mary to have the baby. Jesus Christ was God's only begotten son. God had provided seed in Mary's womb to fertilize her egg. This was the first and only time that God ever did (or will do) this. Therefore, Jesus Christ was His "only begotten son". Mary, however, had other children and Jesus Christ was her "firstborn" son.
The inn of verse 7 was a khan or lodging house for caravans. It would have had an inner court yard and stables for caravan animals along the outside back wall. Within each stable would be a manger with straw to feed the animals. Jesus Christ was not born in a stable because Mary and Joseph were poor. He was born in a stable because "there was no room in the inn". A lot of people had come to be registered.
Mary wrapped Jesus in "swaddling clothes". Swaddling clothes are also not an indicator of being poor. When the son of a king, a prince, was born, that child was wrapped in swaddling clothes after being washed gently with water having a small portion of salt in it. The salt symbolized the qualities of truth and honesty and was used so that the child would grow up speaking words that were "salted". The swaddling clothes were narrow strips of fine linen cloth, about two inches wide which were wrapped around the baby's body. The child was wrapped from head to foot with only a part of his face left uncovered so he could breathe. The baby's body and limbs were thus held very straight. This was to indicate that he would grow up to be free from crookedness and waywardness; that as a king he would walk straight and tall before his people. The swaddling clothes were left on the baby for only a very short time while the parents took time to pray and make their commitment to God concerning the upbringing of the child.
In Ezekiel 16:4 an insult was delivered "...thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all." To say to a noble-born person that he had not been salted or swaddled was to indicate that he was unreliable and dishonest and that his parents had not raised him properly. Mary and Joseph washed Jesus in salt water and swaddled him according to the custom of the time indicating that he was of royal lineage, as God's son and as heir to the throne of David.
Luke 2:8
And there were in the same country
[the vicinity of Bethlehem]
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Shepherds would abide with their flock using a cultivated field as their fold for the sheep in the fall of the year. In the late summer and early fall a farmer in Bible times would hire shepherds to keep their flocks in his field overnight. In this way, the sheep's manure would fertilize his field. This is another indicator that Jesus Christ was born in early September. In December it is too cold for shepherds to watch their sheep at night in fields or pastures and too cold for travel to "registrations".
Luke 2:9-11
And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon [stood by] them
[the
shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people.
For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The words "came upon" are translated from the Greek word epeste which means "stood by". The angel was not flying over them. He was standing beside them. Angels in God's Word appear as men [sorry-no record of a female angel]. They do not appear with wings. They do not sing. Angels are messengers. They speak God's Word. They "say" what God's wants said. The pictures and teachings about angels in our day and time do not reflect the accuracy of God's Word.
The message this angel was delivering to the shepherds was "fear not!" "good tidings!" "great joy!" "Christ the Lord!"
Luke 2:12
And this shall be a sign
unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in
a manger.
The timing of God is perfect. He gave the shepherds specific instructions so that there could be no mistake. Swaddling clothes were left on a baby for only a very short time. I am sure that no other newborn baby in the small town of Bethlehem was lying in a manger in swaddling clothes. They would have to hurry after receiving this message to get there while Jesus was in swaddling clothes.
It always amazes me that this group of shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem (where by the way David had been a shepherd many years before) were the only ones willing to listen and go see the Christ. God is no respecter of persons or positions. He would have been willing to send messengers to any of the priests or religious leaders in Jerusalem just as he did the shepherds. But they would not have listened. They would not have come. When a person wants to know God's Will [God's Word], God will make it known unto him. The shepherds were the only ones who were told. The only ones who showed up. The only ones willing to listen. WOW!
Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the
angel [standing by the shepherds]
a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will
[hope]
toward men.
All of these messengers suddenly appeared with the angel and the shepherds and together delivered the message of God's hope for mankind. The Aramaic text reads "good hope for men". They did not sing it. But I bet it sure made an impression!
Luke 2:15
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 hath made known unto us.
The angels, who had been standing on the ground by the shepherds, went away from them into heaven. The shepherds wasted no time. They said let us go NOW!
Luke 2:16-18
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 the child.
And all they that heard it
wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
The shepherds went quickly to Bethlehem and had enough details to "find" the baby Jesus. And after they had seen the child, they told others. They spoke the Word. They told others that the Christ was born. They told others about the "good hope" for men. Maybe that is why God told them.
Cortright
Fellowship