Was Jesus Born in September? 12/21 Weekend Extra

Was Jesus born in September?

By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope

Although December 25^th is the day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord, most Bible students understand that it is not the date on which Jesus was born.  We should not be surprised that the Bible doesn’t tell us the actual date, because nowhere in the Bible are we told to remember His birth.  We are clearly told to remember His death, burial and resurrection, but not His birth.  However, celebrating Jesus’ birth is a good thing, because it brings to remembrance the sacrifice He made when He humbled himself and came to earth; when the Lord of Glory took on human flesh; when the King of kings entered into poverty.

Although the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us when Jesus was born, it does provide some “whispers” of when if might have been.  

1) It was not likely to have occurred after October because the weather in Israel turns very cold — too cold for the flocks to have been in the fields overnight.  

Luke 2:8  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

2) It’s also highly unlikely that the Romans would have issued a decree for a census in December.  It would have required travel to their city of birth and the terrain of Judea would have been difficult, or even impassable, during winter months.

 

Matthew 24:20  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

 

3) Jesus came to tabernacle (dwell) with us, so it further supports a September birth (or very early October) having taken place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

For these reasons, and more, most Bible students believe Jesus’ birth to have been in September during the Feast of Tabernacles and at a time when the sheep would have been in the fields overnight and travel in Judea would have been possible.

 

 

John the Baptist’s Birth Provides Insight

Additionally, the birth of John the Baptist lends credence to the belief that Jesus was born in September.  John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary and the wife of Zacharias, a priest of the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5, 8-13, 23-24). 

Luke 1:36  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.

 

Luke 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.

 

Priests were divided into 24 courses and they served in the Temple for one week, beginning on the Sabbath (1 Chronicles 24:7-19)

 

We know from the Talmud and Josephus that the Temple was destroyed by Titus on August 5th, 70 AD, and the first course of priests had just taken office.  Since the course of Abijah was the eighth course (1 Chronicles 24:10),  it can be determined by counting backward that Zacharias would have ended his duties on July 13th, 3 BC.   He returned to his home and soon after Elizabeth conceived

Luke 1:23-24  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months.

 

Elizabeth hid herself for five months, uncertain about how her pregnancy would be viewed.  The Bible tells us that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her…

 

Luke 1:31  behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

 

Soon thereafter, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and stayed with her until Elizabeth’s ninth month, departing just prior to John’s birth. 

 

If John was born nine months after Zacharias completed his course (July 13, 3 BC), he would have been born in April, 2 BC.  If, perhaps, his birth occurred 280 days from July 13, 3 BC, the date would have been April 19-20, 2 BC, which was Passover that year.

We know that Elizabeth was in her sixth month when Mary conceived and went with haste to visit her.

Luke 1:36  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.

 

Luke 1:39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda

 

Because Elizabeth was in her sixth month, John would have been five months older than Jesus, which would place Jesus’ birthdate in September, 2 BC —  perhaps even on the Feast of Tabernacles, since we know that Jesus came to tabernacle with us.

 

Of course, this reasoning is all very interesting, but remember that no one knows for certain the exact date of Jesus’ birth.  The details the Bible does provide makes it highly likely that Jesus was born in late September, but the actual day that we celebrate His birth is not what is important.  What really matters is that we remember and praise God for what He has clearly revealed to us — what we know to be true — that Jesus came to earth to live among us, to be both God and Man, to experience everything we experience and yet never did He sin…. and then to be obedient to the will of the Father in going to the cross and giving His life so that we can have eternal life with Him.  

As we celebrate Christmas, it’s not about the day…

it’s about the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Remember and give thanks.

 

 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: 

for great is your reward in heaven 

Matthew 5:12

- See more at: http://www.rforh.com/blog/jesus-born-september/#sthash.425kWnFk.dpuf