Jesus Birth; as told in the Word of God
Jesus born on the Jewish Day of Atonement Tishri 10,
5BC (Sept/Oct) our time
We celebrate Christmas Day on December 25th of each year, for the great gift our Heavenly Father gave us on this day. Our Heavenly Father sent down His only Son from Heaven; to become a physical man, Jesus, in the womb of Mary. You can read how this happened and other background information of how Jesus was conceived in Christmas; God Becomes Man in Mary’s Womb.
We extend our Christmas celebration to include what would
happen 9 months
later, when Jesus was born as a little baby boy in Bethlehem on the Day of
Atonement Tishri 10, 5BC (September/early October our time). See also Jewish Feasts and Day of Atonement
Our Father knew Jesus had to be born quietly, secretly, to avoid satan (dragon). For satan would use those he controlled on earth to kill Jesus, if he knew where and when Jesus would be born. This included King Herod, who wanted no one to replace him as King, anyone to have any of his power; the powerful Sadducees - Pharisees who were Priests of God’s Temple in Jerusalem, for they would kill anyone who would challenge their authority. And the Romans who ruled over Israel, for they would kill anyone they thought would start an insurrection against them.
*His tail swept down a
third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about
to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Rev 12:4
ESV+
*Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. 1Pe 5:8
NKJV+
Our Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation already had the perfect solution; Jesus would be born in a humble stable, in the small town of Bethlehem; where no one, not even satan would look for a newborn King to be born.
*But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are
too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, Micah 5:2
ESV+
As we begin this message, only Mary knew about the great miracle happening within her. For Mary alone was told by the angel Gabriel that she had been chosen to be the physical mother of Jesus. And because of her strong faith in the Lord, she knew she had the little baby Jesus in her womb; and Mary had revealed this secret to no one.
*And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And
behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Lk 1:30-31 ESV+
*The angel
answered and said to her,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God
Lk 1:35 NASB+
Mary was in a quandary about what she should do, for she was in danger for two reasons. She could be stoned to death for being engaged to be married, and being pregnant with someone else’s child within her womb. At the very least she would be put away, looked down upon, and she did not want that for the baby she was carrying.
*“If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring
them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with
stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though
she was in the city, and the man
because he violated his neighbor’s wife.
Dt 22:23-24 ESV+
At the time of Jesus; one who was engaged (betrothed)
to be married, was considered to be a husband or wife. Though they often lived
together, they were encouraged not to have sexual relationships until they were
married; which often was up to a year later. Just like married couples, engaged
couples committed adultery if they had sexual relations with anyone who they
were not engaged to; for they were considered as a married couple. The
punishment for married people committing adultery was death; the punishment for
engaged (betrothed) people was more severe, they were stoned to death. See
verse above Dt 22:23-24.
And if Mary told the truth, that she had the Son of God in her womb, no one would believe her; not Joseph, her parents or friends. She could be charged with blasphemy, for which she would likewise be stoned to death; and she would not lie about Jesus being in her womb.
*Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation
shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes
the Name, shall be put to death. Lev 24:16 ESV+
Yet Mary trusted in God and remembered what the angel had told her about her cousin Elizabeth. Mary had been friends with Elizabeth, and visited with her during the ceremonial Feasts in Jerusalem. Elizabeth had also just received a miracle, though not as great as Mary’s; she had conceived a son though she was past her child bearing years. Since God had just given a miracle to Elizabeth, she would understand about the greater miracle Mary had living within her. The Lord’s plan for Jesus’ birth had provided the perfect person for Mary to talk with, confide in; something she desperately needed now.
*And behold, your relative
Mary “with haste” went to the hill country around Jerusalem to visit Elizabeth, who now was over six months pregnant with John the Baptizer. Not John the Apostle
*Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. Lk 1:39-40 NKJV+ The city of Bethlehem, for it was the
city of Juda where King David was born
Then “with haste” Mary went to see Elizabeth,
traveling in a caravan going from Nazareth to Jerusalem; which were common even
in the winter, for that is where Nazareth got its supplies to survive on. The
caravan would probably use the longer route in the winter to avoid the
mountains which would take about a week.
Elizabeth was over 6 months pregnant with John the
baptizer, maybe a week or 2 longer; when Gabriel visited Mary. And when Mary
arrived at Elizabeth’s house 1 to 2 weeks later Elizabeth would have been 6
months 2 weeks (½ month) into her pregnancy.
Elizabeth gave birth to John on Passover Day Nissan 15
6BC; 6½ months pregnant, then Dec 25-Jan 15 (1 month our time) - Feb 15-March
15 (2 months our time) - then March 15-April 15 has the ½ month which make 9
months; and John was born on Passover Day Nissan 15 6BC.
March-April
are the only months when the Passover happens on our calendar; It is the day
Jesus died for our sins on the cross, and 3 days later Jesus would rise up from
the dead and be given a glorified body on Resurrection Day/Easter by the Holy
Spirit.
When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby John jumped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Baby John, though still a child in Elizabeth’s womb; had been given a revelation by the Holy Spirit, allowing baby John to recognize Jesus, who was a tiny baby in the womb of Mary. The Spirit also filled Elizabeth with the same revelation, allowing her to know that Mary was pregnant with the promised Messiah; and she blessed Mary for being faithful to God.
*When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit. In a
loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed
are you among women, and blessed
is the child you will bear! But why
am I so favored, that the mother of
my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting
reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed
is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Lk 1:39-45 NIV+
Mary was relieved that at last someone else knew about the great miracle which was happening within Mary. The Holy Spirit used the baby John and Elizabeth to confirm what Mary knew in her heart; that she was pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God. And living with Elizabeth, Mary had someone to visit with who understood her feelings; the joy she had held within her heart. And Mary at last had someone to trust; to tell about the love, the praise Mary felt in her heart for her great God.
*And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has
rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His
maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great
things for me, And holy is His
name. Lk 1:46-48 NKJV+
*And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the
proud in the imagination of their
hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich
He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His
mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."
Lk 1:49-55 NKJV+
John’s Birth – Nisan (March/April) 15th 5 BC
Mary stayed with Elizabeth through John’s birth on Passover
Day, then his circumcision 8 days later; before returning home. Mary not only
received much needed companionship from
Since Elizabeth was pregnant 6+ months ahead of Mary;
it is the perfect context for John’s birth on Passover Day Nisan 15, 6 BC; then
6 months later on the Day of Atonement Tishri 14, 5BC Jesus was born. See notes at bottom of page
Each year at the Passover Feast on Nisan 15; Israel
would set out plate for Elijah to come. John the Baptizer symbolized Elijah,
the prophet who would come and be born on Passover Day. John the Baptizer was
the forerunner for Jesus; would prepare Israel to accept their Messiah and
King.
*Jesus replied, "To
be sure, Elijah comes and will restore
all things. But I tell you, Elijah
has already come, and they did not recognize
him, but have done to him everything
they wished. In the same way the Son
of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Matt 17:11-13 NIV+
*John answered and said to
them all, "As for me, I baptize you
with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire. Lk 3:16 NASB+
When Mary left Elizabeth and returned to Nazareth she was around 3½ months pregnant and starting to show. She did not want anyone to know she was pregnant until Joseph knew about her situation. She would go home, meet with Joseph, and explain what had happened, and with God’s help maybe Joseph would be able to understand. And if Joseph would not talk with her she would confide in her mother.
Mary would be around 1-2 weeks along when she arrived
at Elizabeth’s and was not showing her pregnancy. She would stay there around 3
months which would make her 3½ months pregnant and starting to show her pregnancy.
Yet no one but Mary, the Baby John (the baptizer) and John’s mother Elizabeth
knew that Mary was pregnant with Jesus.
Only Mary, Elizabeth and the baby John still in Elizabeth’s womb; knew that Jesus was in the womb of Mary. When Zechariah prophesied at John’s circumcision, that his son John would become a great prophet preparing the way for the Lord Jesus. There was no one present, not even Zechariah, who mentioned anything about Mary having Jesus in her womb; for they did not know this great news.
*Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she
bore a son. Lk 1:57 ESV+
*And you, child, will be called the
prophet of the Most High; for you will go
before the Lord to prepare his ways, Lk 1:76 ESV+
Zechariah’s Song Luke 1:67-80
When Mary returned home, we do not know who told Joseph Mary was pregnant. Joseph could have noticed it when he saw Mary, Mary could have told Joseph, or Mary’s parents might have known Mary was pregnant, assumed Joseph was the father of Mary’s baby and talked with him about this situation. Joseph, not wanting to expose Mary to public disgrace, even stoning, planned to quietly divorce her. For an engagement (betrothal), was a marriage contract also; and Joseph would have to break this contract with Mary, though they had not had a wedding ceremony yet.
*This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary
was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a
righteous man and did not want to expose her to public
disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matt 1:18-19 NIV+
The Heavenly Father revealed to Joseph through an angel, that the tiny baby in Mary’s womb was Jesus; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel told Joseph to name the child Jesus, for He would save us from our sins. Joseph was to take Mary home as his engaged (betrothed) wife. Now only Mary, the baby John in Elizabeth’s womb, Elizabeth, and now Joseph knew the Baby Jesus was in Mary’s womb.
*But after he had
considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid
to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the
Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name
Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
This fulfilled the prophecy that a virgin will have a
child, and will give birth to a Son, who would be called Immanuel; God with
“Us”. For Jesus would be spiritually the Son of God, and physically
the Son of Man, born of the Virgin Mary.
*All this took place
to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and
they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." Matt 1:23 ESV+
Joseph took Mary home as his engage (betrothed) wife.
But Joseph had no sexual relations with her until after Jesus was born, the ceremonial laws for Mary and Jesus were completed
in God’s Temple in Jerusalem. These Jewish ceremonial laws will take around 60
days, 8 days for Jesus to be circumcised and 49 days for Mary to be purified
(49 + 8 = 57 days); and Jesus had to be presented to God at the Temple in
Jerusalem. Then Mary and Joseph would be married at God’s Temple in Jerusalem;
for Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of Man. Where
else would Jesus mother and stepfather be married.
*When Joseph woke up,
he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until
she gave birth to a son. And he gave
him the name Jesus. Matt 1:20-25
NIV+
Luke clearly tells us that when Joseph took Mary to
Bethlehem to be registered with him, they were still engaged (betrothed), they
had not been married. Our Heavenly Father designed the Jewish engagement
customs for the birth of Jesus. It was customary for a man and woman to be
engaged to each other for a period of time before they were married, often a
year. The engaged husband could bring his engaged wife home to live with him
until they were married, though they were not to have sexual relations.
*in order to register along with Mary,
who was engaged to him, and was with
child. Lk 2:5 NASB+
Because engaged couples were bound together as man
and wife with a contract; they were often called husband and wife
though they had not yet had a wedding ceremony. If a
engaged husband died before they were married, and his wife was still a virgin.
The engaged woman was to lament her engaged husband death by wearing sackcloth
as though she was married to him, though they never had been married.
*Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth For the husband
of her youth. Joel 1:8
NKJV+
Matthew calls Joseph Mary’s husband before they were married; then refers to Joseph taking Mary as his wife; though Joseph was actually taking Mary as his engaged wife home with him. Matthew and Luke (verses below) both agree Mary was engaged to Joseph but not married to him; they only used the different terminology which was used at this time for the same Jewish marriage contract, which Joseph and Mary had agreed to.
*And her husband Joseph, being a just
man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved
to divorce her quietly. Matt 1:19
ESV+
*But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matt 1:20 ESV+
Mary was accepted within the Jewish community, even though she was pregnant and was not married to Joseph; for she was pledged to him, and was living with him as his engaged wife. No one knew the Holy Spirit had conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary, most thought Joseph was the father of Jesus. Since Mary and Joseph were not married until after Jesus was born; it would later give believers reassurance that God was the real Father of Jesus. Joseph was only a stepfather to Jesus, not His real biological father.
*But when the fullness
of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, [made] of a woman, born under the law, Gal 4:4 NKJV+
*But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he
gave him the name Jesus. Matt 1:20-25
NIV+
There was an order from the Roman government who controlled Israel at this time for all of Israel to be registered according to the Tribe they were from. Since Mary and Joseph were from the Tribe of Judah, they had to go to the Judean city the tribe started from; which was Bethlehem, the city of David.
*And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be registered. This
census first took place while Quirinius was governing
Micah prophesized that the Messiah, Jesus; would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. Our Heavenly Father used a Roman census to bring Joseph and Mary to the town of Bethlehem. And since Joseph and his betrothed wife Mary were both descendants of King David, both were required to register at David’s birth place in Bethlehem.
*"But as for you,
Luke and Matthew do not disagree on the linage of
Jesus; Luke shows Jesus linage through Mary His mother who physically conceived
Jesus. While Matthew shows the linage of Joseph, Jesus earthly stepfather;
though Joseph had no part in conceiving Jesus, for the Holy Spirit conceived
Jesus in Mary’s womb.
Luke’s genealogy was that of Mary, not His stepfather
Joseph’s; though many incorrectly supposed Joseph was the real father of Jesus.
Mary was ½ Judean, the tribe of the great Kings of
Israel through the blood line of King David and then her father Heli
*Jesus, when he began
his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, Lk 3:23 ESV+
Mary was ½ Levite through her mother, which all the
Chief Priests in Israel descended from. Mary was cousins with Elizabeth, this
means her mother was a sister of Elizabeth; and both would have the same Levite
Father from Aaron’s line.
*In the days of Herod,
king of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth. Lk 1:5 ESV+
Elisabeth/Elizabeth descended from the daughters of
Aaron, the first Levite Priest; were from the tribe of Levi on both their
father and mothers side. Since Elisabeth/Elizabeth was a cousin to Mary’s
mother; Mary was ½ Levite also. In Matthew and Luke genealogy of Jesus; there
is only 1 other Aaron listed in it, who was also a Levi. Matt 1:15-16 + Luke
1:1-5
*And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath
also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who
was called barren. Lk 1:36 KJV Mary’s father was Heli, from the tribe of
Judah, which the great Kings of Israel descended from.
Mary’s father was Heli, from the line of King David.
*Jesus, when he began
his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, Lk 3:23 ESV+
We know this because Jeconiah
was such a wicked King God would not let the lineage of the Messiah to go
through him. So the Jesus the Messiah descended from the lineage of Nathan, not
Solomon. Lk 3:23-38
*This is what the Lord says: "Record this man as if
childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of
David or rule anymore in Judah." Jer 22:30 NIV+
Matthew’s genealogy only showed the bloodlines of Jesus
stepfather Joseph, even though Jesus was not conceived by Joseph. But it showed
Joseph descended from the tribe of Judea through King David which was the line
of the great Kings of Israel and then Jacob (not the Patriarch).
*Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was
born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matt 1:15-16 NIV+
Jesus is our King, the Lion of Judah from King David’s
line; and our Chief Priest, for all priests must come from the tribe of Levite.
He became both our King and our Chief Priest in the likeness of Melchizedek;
who was both King and Priest over Jerusalem.
*For this Melchizedek,
king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he
was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, Heb 7:1 NASB+ Salem old name for Jerusalem Ps 76:2
*where
Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us,
having become a high priest forever
according to the order of
Melchizedek. Heb 6:20 NASB+
Jesus Birth - The Day
of Atonement, Tishri (Sept/Oct) 10th 5BC
The Day of Atonement was the holiest day of the year for Israel, for on this day each year our Heavenly Father would come down to His Temple in Jerusalem; and in the Holy of Holies section of the Temple, forgive the sins of Israel for that year. What other day but the holiest day of the year would our Father have His Son be born, as the only one who would never sin. The Day of Atonement foreshadow the day our Savior would replace His Father and forgive our sins by His atoning grace on the cross; once for all forever.
*The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "On exactly the
tenth day of this seventh month is
the day of atonement;
it shall be a holy convocation for
you, and you shall humble your souls
and present an offering by fire to the Lord."
You shall not do any work on this
same day, for it is a day of atonement,
to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord
your God. Lev 23:26-28 NASB+.
*and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at
any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on
the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Lev 16:2 ESV+
God designed 7 Feasts for Israel which foreshadowed
and symbolized how His plan of salvation would work. These 7 Feasts were a road
map to how we will be saved; and the Day of Atonement symbolized the birth of
Jesus. See Jesus Born Tishri 10, 5BC – Died Nisan 14, 30AD
– 9. for the list of them
Tishri was the 7th month of the Jewish Sabbatical (religious) year (Nisan the first), yet it was the first calendar month of the Jewish secular year. The Day of Atonement was celebrated on Tishri 10; was followed by the Feast of Gathering (Tabernacles) which all Jewish men were required to attend in Jerusalem by ceremonial law and lasted 8 days, from Tishri 15-22. These fall celebrations were celebrated at the end of the harvest season, which made it a good time for the Roman census to be taken. The people would not be as busy, and would have money from their crops to pay for any taxes levied.
*The Lord said to Moses, "Say to
the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins,
and it lasts for seven days. Lev 23:33-34
NIV+
*On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work. Lev 23:36 NASB+
God’s plan would require Joseph and Mary to come to Bethlehem to register for a Roman censes; for both Mary’s and Joseph’s fathers were from the tribe of Juda and required to come here. While here Joseph would attend the Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem, which God required all men of Israel to attend. Then they would remain around Jerusalem until Mary had baby Jesus, and had completed the ceremonial requirements at the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after Jesus birth.
The trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem would take around 4 to 6 days depending on the route they chose; and with Mary being very close to giving birth, it would take a little more time to complete this trip. Then it would be another half day to Bethlehem to register.
*So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Lk 2:6-7 NKJV+
We do not know how the situation was created, but Joseph and Mary were traveling to Bethlehem on Tishri 9 to register before the Day of Atonement. Then Joseph would go to the Feasts of Tabernacles/Booths on Tishri 14, while Mary could rest with Jesus. Then after the crowds would disperse from this celebration, they would find a house to live in until Mary and Jesus ceremonial laws were completed.
The Day of Atonement (Tishri
10) was the only day God came down to His Temple in Jerusalem to forgive the
sins of all the faithful, to make their spiritual being holy for the next year.
2 goats were offered as a sacrifice for Israel. The first goat was sacrificed
for the sins of the faithful for the next year.
The 2nd goat was the
scapegoat who foreshadowed the coming of Jesus who would redeem believers from
our sins by His atoning grace on the cross, once for all our sins forever. The
scapegoat was turned out each year so Israel would remember that Christ (the
Messiah) was coming for them and to continue watch for Jesus. Jesus like the
scapegoat would have the sins of the world laid on Him on the cross.
*as the scapegoat
shall be presented alive before the Lord
to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. Lev
16:7-10 NIV+
When He died Jesus spiritual
being carried all believer’s sins to a faraway place
the Abyss. And the need for the Day of Atonement, and
for doing any ceremonial works are no longer needed.
The day is now
Christmas, and out of our love for God and his Mercy is sending His Sone to
Save we praise, and worship our God, and filled with peace and joy Jesus brings
us on the day, all of our lives. See Day of Atonement
At sundown, the special Sabbath
of the Day of Atonement Tishri 10, 5BC would begin, and this was the quietest
night of the year for all Jewish faithful; with all of its strict ceremonial
laws would have to be observed. All were to pray and praise God for forgiving their
sins, and they were to fast, not eat on this day;
except the children, and women who were in labor or had just given birth. No
one was to work, and business could not even be discussed; including renting a
house or to secure lodging. Virtualreligion.net/iho/Sabbath.html 155 - 165
Mary may have started labor on the trip which slowed them down, or they just needed more time for the trip. But somehow sundown had come and Joseph had not secured a room for the night for them to sleep in, for Mary to give birth in.
The inn was full of those who
came to eat a good meal before they had to fast at sundown, and they would want
a room to live in until the special Sabbath was over. It probably included many
who had come to register for the census. Mary was about to give birth without a
place to stay; and now no lodging would be available until the special Sabbath
was over. The inn keeper could only offer them a stable, where animals’ hay was
kept and fed to the animals in a manger; since it was sundown, He could not
even help them settle in.
*You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It
is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the
evening of the ninth day of the month
until the following evening you are
to observe your sabbath." Lev
23:31-32 NIV+
Jewish time was from sunset to sunset; from the evening of Tishri 9 (our Christmas Eve Dec 24) when Jesus was born until sunset on Tishri 10th (our Christmas Day Dec 25)
Jesus was released from His mother’s womb on that quiet, holy night of the beginning of the Day of Atonement, the most holy day of the Jewish Calendar. Jesus would later come out of the desert to begin His ministry after defeating satan’s temptations there. And after Jesus died on the cross His spiritual being would carry all believers’ sins to a solitary place, the Abyss where all demons are sent.
*"When Aaron has finished making
atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall
bring forward the live goat. He
is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the
Israelites--all their sins--and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert
in the care of a man appointed for
the task. Lev 16:20-21 NIV+
*The goat
will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place;
and the man shall release it in the desert. Lev 16:20 NIV+
Jesus established a New Covenant of grace after He physically died on the cross. The only means by which believers’ spiritual beings can be made holy; replacing the need for the Day of Atonement and any other sacrifices in the Old Covenant.
*But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Heb 10:3-4 NKJV+
*Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your
will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:9-10 NIV+
The Father’s plan for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem in a stable had been completed; for Jesus would always be symbolically tied with the lamb, either a young sheep or goat which was sacrificed for sins. Jesus was born where they were born, for He would replace all of them upon the cross, including the Passover lamb and the scapegoat.
*'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from
the sheep or from the goats. Ex
12:5 NASB+
*And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. Lk 2:8 NIV+
The yearling lambs and goats in the fields around Bethlehem would be gathered up in the fall so they could be used as sacrifices and food at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. They would be held in smaller groups close to Bethlehem and then driven in a larger group down to Jerusalem after the Day of Atonement, when the crowds would start coming.
On the Day of Atonement the shepherds watching these lambs and goats could not do any work, except feed bundled hay to the sheep. They would have done all of their other chores before sundown started the Day of Atonement, while they were still allowed to work. They would have also just eaten a large meal before the fast at sundown would begin, to hold them over to sundown of the following day.
Virtualreligionynet/iho/Sabbath.html
*An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for
all the people. Today in the town of
When the angel of the Lord appeared to them they were probably gathered together around a campsite, which was reasonably close to town and the stable where Jesus was born (no one could walk any more than 500 yards without breaking ceremonial laws). The angels suddenly appeared in the sky and terrified the shepherds; as the angels simply announced that Christ, which means Messiah or the Anointed One, had been born in Bethlehem, the town of David.
And the shepherds could find the baby Jesus lying in a manager. The shepherds were poor, of lowly status, and deemed undesirable by the prominent yet they were the first after Mary and Joseph to see the newborn baby. For Jesus came to save the poor, the downtrodden, and He would become the great Shepherd. We do not know how many shepherds there were; at least 2, maybe 7 or even more. Now besides Mary, Joseph, John, when he was an unborn baby, Elizabeth, and an unknown number of shepherds (maybe around 7; perfect number work of God) knew about the Messiah who would be born on this night.
Virtualreligionynet/iho/Sabbath.html 155 - 21
*And suddenly there appeared 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." Lk 2:13-14 NASB+
The angels did not sing, but made the greatest announcement ever, and then disappeared back into the heavenly realms. There was not a great show in the heavens above, nor did the angels physically appear at or over the stable, to either Mary or Joseph, or to anyone else; though there would always be angels spiritually watching over Jesus. For if there were reliable, respected people close by who would then see this great event, the news would come back to Christ’s enemies. King Herod, the leaders of the Sanhedrin, would hear of it, putting the Babe born in a manager at risk that night, the next day for sure.
Jesus did not come to make peace on earth at His
birth; He came down to make peace between His Father and believers by atoning
for our sins on the cross. This means even our own families will be split
apart, against each other; those who believe in Jesus, obey His commands and
those who follow the world. Our Heavenly Father gave peace this night to all
who loved and obeyed Him, who were home praying for their sins to be forgiven
on this the Day of Atonement; and hopefully there can be peace for all on this
one day when we celebrate Christ’s birth.
*“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Matt 10:34-36 ESV+
*He who loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and
he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matt 10:37-39 NKJV+
*Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Ro 5:1 NKJV+
*When the angels had gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds began
saying to one another, "Let us
go straight to Bethlehem then, and see
this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So
they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. Lk
2:15-16 NASB+
The shepherds decided to go and see who would be their
Savior, though maybe one or two stayed behind to watch the lambs and goats. God
would guide the shepherds using only the normal starry heaven with almost a
full moon (it
would be full in 5 days for the Feast of Tabernacles) to see His new
born Son. For His plan of salvation would always be first for the Jew, then the
gentile. These Jewish shepherds would be the first to come, believe, and
worship Jesus.
*When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who
heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But
Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen,
just as had been told them. Lk 2:17-20 NASB+
Then the shepherds became the first to announce that the Messiah had been born to others. Ceremonial laws would allow them to walk to town, for their campsite was within 500 yards, approximately 1/3 mile of the town’s boundaries; though shepherds did not always strictly obey ceremonial laws. They might have told the story to family, friends, possibly at the inn, or just announced it out loud as they walked through the empty streets. There would not be many people around or accepting company on a special Sabbath. But those who heard it, wondered about what was said. Yet because it was the Day of Atonement, a time of praying and praising God; at night no one would venture out to the manger to see if it was true.
Joseph would quickly move his family the next day at dusk when the Sabbath was over (remember Jewish days started at sundown, around 6 PM our time); to get away from the confines of a dirty stable, as the darkness of night approached. Those in the town would not come out to look for the baby the shepherds told them about until after they had eaten a dinner that night, hungry from the previous day of fasting. They would not go out after dark to look for them; and probably did not look for them until the light of the next day, when the family had already found a house to live in. Since no one found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, they believed this was just a tale the shepherds had made up. Few took the shepherds’ story very seriously, and Jesus’ enemies did not even hear about it. It was not yet time for the nation of Israel to know about the Messiah, the King who had come.
The Jewish day began and ended at sunset
in the evening, around 6-7 PM. This is around 6 hours ahead of our time, our
day beginning and ending at 12 pm or midnight. Jesus was probably born very
early in the evening, around 7-9 PM, as the Day of Atonement on Tishri 10
began; for the shepherds to be able to tell others about what they had seen,
before everyone would be sleeping. In our time this would be on the night of
Dec 24, the night before Christmas Day Dec 25 began at 12 PM; is why many
celebrate Christmas Eve each year as the time Jesus was born.
The Father gave Jesus earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, who
obeyed His laws. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (during the Feast of Tabenacles/Booths)
and presented to the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem on the fortieth day, when
Mary’s ceremonial cleansing was completed. These ceremonial laws, though out of
Jesus’ control as a baby, had to be kept; or Jesus would have become
unrighteous, sinful.
*On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named
Jesus, the name the angel had
given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification
according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated
to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the
Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Lk 2:21-24
NIV+
(Ceremonial laws completed after Mary purified, 7 days
after giving birth to a boy mother is unclean; then she needs 33 days to be
purified = 40 days.)
*The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of
When Jesus was presented at the temple, God’s promise to
Simeon was completed; the Holy Spirit guided Simeon to recognize Jesus, the
Messiah, who would bring salvation to all believers. Jesus was also revealed to
Anna, a faithful prophetess who thanked God for the child who would redeem
Jerusalem. Though because Simeon and Anna were very old, their knowledge was
not readily accepted by others; now besides Mary, Joseph, John, when he was an
inborn baby, and Elizabeth; a few shepherds maybe around 7; 2 more, Simeon and
Anna knew about Jesus the Messiah.
*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, he 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,
Lk 2:27-31 NKJV+
*and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple
but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that
very moment, she gave thanks to God
and spoke about the child to all who
were looking forward to the redemption of
Simeon prophesied that Jesus would bring salvation to both Israel and the Gentiles; which amazed His Mary and Joseph.
*“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the
face of all people; A light to lighten
the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Lk 2:29-32 KJV
*And His father and mother
were amazed at the things which were
being said about Him. Lk
2:33 NASB+
We do not know when the Magi came following a star to find
and worship the new King. Yet it would be before King Herod died in the spring
of 4 BC; around 5-6 months after Christ’s birth, for Herod met with the Magi.
And it would have to be after the 40 day period needed for Mary to be purified.
We believe the Magi came in November right after the 40 days Mary required to
be cleansed (Jesus
born late Sept/early Oct). This leaves around a 3 - 4 month period
between November 5BC and March 4BC when Herod died for the family to be in
Egypt, before they could return to Israel.
*“‘And when the days of her purifying
are completed, whether for a son or
for a daughter, she shall bring to
the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a
year old for a burnt offering, and a
pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, Lev 12:6 ESV+
*Now after Jesus was born in
We know Joseph and Mary were poor for she offered up
the least expensive sacrifice for her uncleanliness. This also means the Magi
did not come until after Mary had been cleansed; for if Mary had the riches
they were given by the Magi, she would have offered up a lamb for the burnt
offering.
*And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pihegeons, one
for a burnt offering and the other
for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she
shall be clean.’ ” Lev 12:8 ESV+
*When the time of
their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written
in the Law of the Lord,) "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the
Lord" and to offer a sacrifice
in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Lk 2:22-24
NIV+
When the Magi came to King Herod looking for the baby who had been born as the King of the Jews; Herod was troubled, he would give up his crown to no one. Herod deceived the Magi by asking for the location of the baby when they found him, so he could worship the new King; when he really wanted to kill Jesus. Herod got all the information he could from the Magi, including the exact time the star appeared to them; in case he would have to search out and kill this new King on his own.
*When Herod
the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matt 2:3 NKJV+
*Then Herod
secretly called the magi and determined
from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Herod would use the exact time period the star appeared
to the Magi as the day Jesus was born; but God sent the star to appear to these
wise men 2 years before Jesus was born. The star did not start moving until the
right time for the Magi’s 4 month trip to Jerusalem; just as it took Ezra 4
months to come from Babylon to Jerusalem. The Magi arrived at the house where
Jesus lived a little over 40 days after He was born.
*And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth
month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began
to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came
to Jerusalem, Ezra 7:8-9 ESV+
A star which only the Magi, who were Gentiles, could see led them to Jesus. It could have been a special star created by the Father for only the Magi to see, or because the Magi were astronomers it could be a star only they would recognize. But either way a star led them to Jesus, and they found the Babe they were looking for.
*When they heard the king, they
departed; and behold, the star which
they had seen in the East went before
them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
Matt 2:9 NKJV+
Our Father’s perfect plan had Daniel (around 586 BC)
become a prisoner of Babylon, where He would save all the wise men of
Babylonia, the magicians and astrologers; by telling the meaning of King
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The King then made Daniel the administrator over the
wise men (Magi) of Babylonia (Da 2:12-48). Daniel told them of a star that
would come out of the tribe of Jacob, when the new King (scepter) of Israel
would be born. This must have been recorded in Persian records or passed down
in some form; for when some Magi saw a special star over 500 years later, they
followed it to Israel to worship the newborn King.
*Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many
great gifts; and he made him ruler
over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men
of Babylon. Da 2:48 NKJV+
*There is a man in
your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.
In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom
of the gods were found in him, and King
Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king— made him chief of the magicians,
enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
Da
5:11 ESV+
*"I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And
batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. Nu 24:17
NKJV+
The Magi came into the house where the baby Jesus was, where Mary and Joseph were staying after Jesus’ birth; and the Magi, were the first Gentiles to believe in Him. Simeon’s prophesy had become a reality; Jesus was “a light to lighten the Gentiles”; and the Magi, though gentiles, fell down on their knees and worshipped Jesus as their Savior and King. God’s grace would always be first for the Jews, and then the Gentiles.
*And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with
Mary His mother, and fell down
and worshiped Him. And when they
had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh. Matt 2:11 NKJV+
*I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Ro
1:16
We know there were at least two Magi, but the exact number is unknown. There were probably more magi, along with the servants needed to travel this great distance; a trip which could take up to 2 years. The expensive gifts the Magi gave Jesus were symbolic. Gold was given because Jesus was our King; frankincense because He would become our priest; and myrrh because His death would save us from our sins. These gifts would be sold to cover the expenses this family would have when they had to flee into Egypt to save Jesus; then help this young family get situated in Nazareth.
*After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matt 2:11 NASB+
The Magi were warned by God to go back home by a different route to avoid King Herod; avoid giving him information about Jesus. The Magi would bring their knowledge of the new King back to the Gentile world in the east; who would have to wait until the Apostle Paul came to hear the good news of Christ’s grace.
And having been warned by God in a dream not
to return to Herod, the magi left
for their own country by another way. Matt
2:12 NASB+
The Magi could have ridden horses for they were rich,
maybe with camels to carry their gifts which would be heavy, especially the
gold. The ability to travel even faster without the heavy gifts they brought to
Jesus; and were able to avoid being found by King Herod by using another route
home.
After the Magi had left, the Lord warned Joseph in a dream to bring his family into Egypt, to avoid being killed by King Herod. This would fulfill the prophecy of Hosea, that Jesus would be called out of Egypt by His Father.
*Now when they had departed,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to
Joseph would now have gold from the Magi’s gift to
purchase horses or donkeys, and quickly carry this family, the gifts they were
given, from Bethlehem into Egypt. This would fulfill the prophecy that out of
Israel’s slavery in Egypt, a Messiah would come. This trip could take anywhere
from 6 days to 2 weeks. Jesus was not a refugee, for Rome controlled all of
this area; would be more like moving from one state to another in the U.S.;
which has different laws and attitudes towards our Christian beliefs and
values. The return trip from Egypt to Jerusalem using the same animals would
take around the same time; then it would take around another week to Nazareth.
Because the Magi avoided King Herod, his only option to destroy the new born King was to kill all male children 2 years and younger in the Bethlehem area; this covered the time the Magi first saw the star which later brought them to Jerusalem, when Jesus was a little over 40 days old. This evil deed would fulfill Jeremiah’s prophesy of mothers’ weeping for their lost children. Herod and his advisers believed they killed this new King in the Bethlehem slaughter. All who followed Herod as their King, would always be enemies of Jesus; never knowing He was the new born King born from Bethlehem, who they thought they had killed.
*When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave
orders to kill all the boys in
God’s perfect plan had His angel tell Joseph when it was safe for the family to return from Egypt to Israel; after King Herod, his advisors who wanted Jesus killed, had died. Joseph quickly returned to Jerusalem so he could attend the yearly Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread which God required him to attend.
*But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in
a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the
*Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Dt 16:16 NKJV+
Yet since Herod’s son Archelaus was now ruling over Judea and despised the Jews; Joseph was worried about coming back to Jerusalem. God warned Joseph in a dream to go to Nazareth, which would fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be a Nazarene. Jesus returned from obscurity in Egypt to obscurity in Nazareth, where He safely lived until it was time for His ministry to begin. Where He many would incorrectly believe Jesus was the son of Joseph His stepfather.
*But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go
there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee and came and lived in a city called
God’s angel told Joseph when it was safe to come back
to Israel, not Jerusalem; yet Joseph quickly started back to Jerusalem so he
could attend the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which God required all men of
Israel to attend. But when Joseph heard the new king of Judea/Jerusalem was Archelaus, he was afraid to go there, for Archelaus might still be looking for the boy child who would
become a king. God answered Joseph in a dream, telling Joseph to take the
family to the obscurity of Nazareth in Galilee, the northern part of Israel;
where God had made Herod’s son Antipater the new king, who was tolerant towards
the Jews. This year God would not require Joseph to attend the Passover/Feast
of Unleavened Bread.
*Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord
your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast
of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Dt 16:16 NKJV+
It was God’s plan for Joseph and Mary to use the money given by the wise men and left over from the trip to Egypt to establish their family in Nazareth. After Jesus was born they would have at least 6 children, 4 boys and at least 2 girls. We believe Joseph must have died sometime after Jesus was 12, for he is no longer mentioned in the Bible; and the money from the wise men helped provide for Mary and her family so she would not have to remarry.
*Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Mk 6:3 NIV+
This helps us understand the reason Jesus was left
behind when He was 12 and the family had gone to the Passover in Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph probably trusted Jesus their oldest to take care of Himself,
while they gathered up the other 6 children, some fairly young; and Jesus was
accidentally left behind.
God’s perfect plan was to keep His Son Jesus from being known to protect Him from His enemies; until He would begin His ministry. Mary and Joseph never told anyone that Jesus was the Son of God; Jesus’ step-brothers did not believe He was their Savior until He arose from the dead and appeared to James. John’s mind did not remember the spiritual revelation the Holy Spirit gave about Jesus when he was in Elizabeth’s womb; he did not know Jesus was the Messiah until the Spirit descended upon Jesus and anointed Him. And Elizabeth was very old when the Spirit revealed Jesus in Mary’s womb to her; and never told anyone about Jesus, not even her son John.
*For not even his brothers believed in him. Jn 7:5 ESV+
*Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 1Co 15:7 ESV+
*I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said
to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on Him, this is
He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified
that this is the Son of God." Jn 1:33-34
NKJV+
God even used Herod’s evil act of killing all the babies 2
years and under to keep Jesus from being exposed to His enemies. Herod and
those who would follow him would believe Jesus had been killed and would not
try to find Him. The shepherds might have thought the baby was killed by Herod,
or they would not know what had happened to the baby; because of the family’s
quick flight to Egypt; and their talk about the baby Jesus just died out. Anna
and Simeon who were very old died without knowing where the baby Jesus was;
their talk about Him would merely seem like the feeble story of an old person
dying, and no attention was given to it. The wise men went to a faraway
country, no longer knew what had happened to the baby who would be King; they
would have to await Paul to have the gospel of Christ’s atoning grace on the
cross brought to them.
God’s plans always work to perfection, and the Father protected His Son Jesus who was now the Son of Man, without any power to do miracles; until it was time for Jesus to be presented to the world. This happened when Jesus was 30 years old and ceremonially washed, cleansed, to begin His ministry by John the Baptist; then anointed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as His Father announced Jesus was His beloved Son to all who were there. Jesus now had the power of the Holy Spirit to heal the sick, to help the needy as He began His ministry to the Jewish people; giving eternal life to all who would believe in Him
*He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Jn 1:10 KJV
*and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Lk 3:22 ESV+
*how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and power, and how he
went around doing good and healing
all who were under the power of
the devil, because God was with him. Ac 10:38 NIV+
We celebrate Christmas by thanking, praising our Father for sending His only Son down to the earth to become man in the womb of Mary, so He could give His physical life to save us from our sins. We also include in our Christmas celebration the birth of Jesus 9 months later on the Day of Atonement; when Jesus was born and became the eldest brother of all who will love Him, believe in Him. Our Lord and Savior who would 33½ years later die on the cross to atone for our sins, to sanctify us; so He could bring us to Paradise, to live with Him forever.
*This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and
only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1Jn
4:9 NIV+
*For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, Heb 2:11 ESV+
Notes:
*Dates – see Jesus Born Tishri 10, 5BC – Died Nissan 14, 30AD
Our
Month-Day-Year Month-Day-Year of Jewish Calendar
June15/July15 3755 AD
-- Tammuz 15th 7BC John the Baptizer is conceived, about 6+
months before Jesus
Dec15/Jan25 3756 AD -
Tevet 10th 6BC Jesus is conceived in Mary by the power of the
Holy Spirit This
Jewish month of Tevet can vary 20
days during certain years which allows our calendar days to
change 10 days; from Jan 15 to Jan 25.
March15/April15 3757
AD -- Nisan 15th 6BC John born on Passover Day; faithful
Jews yearly set out a plate at the Passover Supper for the
Elijah to come; John the Baptizer Matt
11:14
Sept15/Oct15 3757 AD -- Tishri 1 5BC New Jewish calendar year begins
Sept15/Oct15 3757 AD -- Tishri 10th 5BC Day of Atonement when Jesus was born
Sept25/Oct25 3757 AD -- Tishri 11 5BC Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Jerusalem to stay with family or friends to attend the Feast Tabernacles/Booths; which would began 5 days after Jesus Birth.
*And the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month
and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. On the first
day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. Lev 23:33-35
ESV+
*For seven
days present offerings made to the Lord
by fire, and on the eighth day hold a
sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work.
Lev
23:36 NIV+
It was also possible Mary and
Jesus would stay with Elizabeth and the baby John (the Baptist), until Joseph returned from the Feast
of Tabernacles/Booths. For John and Elizabeth
knew the Baby Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of Man; yet would not tell
anyone and expose Jesus to any danger.
Many Temple Priests lived in Bethlehem to get away from the tensions of Jerusalem, and John’s Father was a Temple Priest lived in Bethlehem; and John the Baptizer came out of the secluded wilderness of Bethlehem where he was living, the town he grew up in.
*And so John came, baptizing in the desert region
and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.
Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River. Mk 1:4-5 NIV+
Bethlehem was the closest
town of Judea where Joseph and Mary had to go to register for their taxes.
Bethlehem was situated near the Jordan River, were John the Baptist began water
baptizing the faithful of Israel to prepare them for Jesus. John was likely
brought up in the area of Bethlehem, and Bethlehem was where John baptized
Jesus. To make Jesus righteous under the Jewish Ceremonial law, so Jesus could
begin His ministry.
Sept25/Oct25, 3757 AD – Tishri 23 5BC After the Feast Tabernacles/Booths ended Joseph and Mary rented a house in Bethlehem until Jesus was circumcised (maybe by Zechariah John’s Father who was a Temple Priest), Mary’s 40 day purification had been completed, and Jesus had presented to the Lord at God’s Temple in Jerusalem. For it would be a 10 day trip to go Nazareth and then come back to Jerusalem to complete Mary’s purification, and present Jesus to the Lord at God’s Temple in Jerusalem.
Oct25/Nov25 3757 – After Cheshvan 25 4BC Then at least 2 wise men (Magi means more than one) from the east came looking for Jesus, for they had seen a star which meant a new King had been born who would rule over Israel. When they asked King Herod where they would find this new born King, Herod became enraged and then plotted to have the wise men find Jesus, so Herod could kill this new born King, Jesus. The wise men followed a star to the house Jesus was living in and gave the baby Jesus gifts for being the new born King. An angel told the wise men to return to their home in the east using a different route, and not to give any information about Jesus to King Herod.
Oct25/Nov25 3757– After Cheshvan 26 4BC when the wise men left, an angel told Joseph take Jesus to Egypt; for King Herod would try to kill Jesus; would start by killing all boys up to 2 years of age in the Bethlehem-Jerusalem area.
March/April 3758 - Around Nisan 1 4BC about 4 months later King Herod dies, soon after angel tells Joseph to come back home
March/April 3758 - Around Nisan 10 4BC Joseph told it is not safe at the Passover in Jerusalem to go to Nazareth
*When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by
night and departed for Egypt, and was
there until the death of Herod,
that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." Matt 2:14-15
NKJV+
Herod died in 4BC as the
roman coins changed their coins to have the face of the new ruler;
Herod the Great/Herod Archelaus coins of 4BC
Birth-Death-Resurrection of Jesus
Copyright 2009 revised 2010, 2011, 2012,
2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019-2022 by Ron Borkey
+ ESV
“Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version,” copyright © 2001 by
Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.”
+ NEW AMERICAN
STANDARD BIBLE (1995 Update) Copyright © 1981, 1998 The
Lockman Foundation, A Corporation Not for Profit,
+ NIV Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights
reserved.
+ NKJV "Scripture taken from the New King James
Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
permission. All rights reserved."
Some words in the verses from these
Bibles may be emphasized with bold letters.