CAN THE DATE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH BE VERIFIED?
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This is the time of the year when ‘Christians’ all over the world are busy preparing for what is considered to be the most joyous, and busiest time of the year, to honor the birth of Jesus Christ.
According to the World Book encyclopedia, “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25th. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services.”
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 25th as the day of observance. This celebration was probably influenced by pagan [unchristian] festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year end celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid December to celebrate the end of the harvest season.”
Let us be candid with ourselves is the notion that no one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth true?
Assuming that this was true, should we make this an excuse to honor pagan gods, in the name of Jesus Christ?
The lord gave specific instructions on how to honor him as “LORD”. He said. “You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:30; 26:2).
One of the instructions the Lord gave the children of Israel when they left Egypt was, “I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe my judgments and keep my ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord” (Lev. 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 or biblical evidence to prove that the birth of Christ occurred anywhere around December 25th?
Assuming that the saying “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth” is true, it must have come as a conspiracy to conceal his true identity of our Savior, 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, and Christians are guilty in promulgating this false notion. 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.”
Apparently, the notion, “When the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from” has gain popularity, acceptance, and credibility through out the world, and it is unfortunately being promulgated by Christians.
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, they affirmed this by saying, “Yet we know where this man comes from.”
Therefore, the whole details of Christ’s date of birth was not a secret, because on the precise day of his birth 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk.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 the shepherds into heaven, they 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.” ‘And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known [widely, publicly] 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).
Let us be honest was the birth of Christ a secret?
How could such a remarkable day with such dramatic events which was widely made known, not be recorded in history unless there was a conspiracy to conceal it?
On the eighth day of Christ’s birth, 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).
At the completion of Mary’s purification, which according to the law is; 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].
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just, and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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.
So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, Simeon took him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Lk.2:25-32).
Again I asked, how could such a remarkable day, in the life of such an honorable individual not be recorded in history, and not being observed by those who claim to know him?
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 unknown.
The irony of truth is; if Jesus Christ was not born we would not have had a Savior, and we would still be in our sins. He would not have received a body for us to become a part of. Furthermore, what further proof and pronouncement does one need apart from that of the angel who said to the shepherds, “For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord,” in addition to the multitude of the heavenly host who praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
JESUS CHRIST WAS INAUGURATED AS THE KING OF KINGS FROM BIRTH
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. The zeal of the lord of hosts will do this” (Isa.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? Or, where is he who has been born to become King of the Jews, but rather, “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.” And when they came to the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold [to honor him as King], frankincense [to honor him as God], and myrrh [to honor him as man].Therefore Jesus Christ was King from birth.
During his earthly trial before Pilate, Pilate called him and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom was of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a King then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born: and for this cause I have come into 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 WHICH COMMEMORATES HIS BIRTHDAY AND KINGSHIP.
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 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. And if the family of Egypt do not go up and present themselves, then upon them shall come the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zech.14:16-19).
To the Israelites and their succeeding generations, this festival 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. He is the one and only foundation on which we can all build our everlasting house. This foundation came into existence on the day Jesus Christ was born.
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. For, “In him we were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ” (Col.2:11).
According to the covenant God made with Abraham, the Lord said, “This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your descendants after you; every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any stranger who is not your descendant; he who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant” (Gen.17:10-13).
THE DAY OF CHRIST’S DEATH POINTS TO THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH
According to Luke’s gospel, “Jesus himself began his ministry at about thirty years of age.” And his ministry lasted for three and a half years .He died on the fourteenth day of the first month according to the Jewish sacred Calendar, which theoretically points to his birth date as the fifteenth day of the seventh month, exactly six months after the date of his death.
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. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. For even his brothers did not believe him” (Jn.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, culminated with his death on the 14th 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. David divided the services of the temple between the sons of Eleazar who numbered sixteen, and the sons of Ithamar who numbered eight, giving a total of twenty four divisions.(1Chro.24:1-4).
Dividing twenty four divisions to serve during a period of twelve months or fifty two weeks, 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.
The scriptures state that Abijah from whom Zacharias the father of John Baptist descended was of the eighth division. Implying that the time Zacharias was visited by the angel was during the fifteenth and sixteenth week of the Jewish sacred calendar, or the last two weeks of the fourth month.
Now according to Luke’s gospel, “As soon as the days of Zacharias’ service were completed, that he departed to his own house’. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months saying, thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
Zacharias left the temple at the end of the fourth month mute, and unable to speak because he did not believe what the angel told him. He went home to his wife at the beginning of the fifth month which leads one to conclude that Elizabeth was conceived during the fifth month.
Nine months of normal pregnancy will lead to the birth of John Baptist, to be during the first month of the following year. It is well documented in the scriptures that John Baptist was six months older than Jesus Christ (see Lk.1:26, 36). Therefore if John Baptist was born during the first month of the year, it is therefore conclusive that Jesus Christ was born during the seventh month of the year according to the Jewish calendar, which begins its first month with the first new moon in spring, between the months of March – April, and the seventh month begins with the new moon between late September and early October.
Why should Christians ignore all these circumstantial evidences, and instead continuing to promulgate lies and deceptions, which does not give honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.