The Bible Clues to Jesus' Real Birthday

Most people realize that Jesus was  not actually born on December 25,   but did you know there are clues in the Bible that  may help us unlock the real date of His birth? Bible Scholars and Theologians agree that  Jesus was not actually born on December 25.  But just so you don't think I'm making this up,   listen to what the Holman Bible  Dictionary says about Christmas. "In the early part of the fourth  century, Christians in Rome began   to celebrate the birth of Christ. The  practice spread widely and rapidly,   so that most parts of the Christian world observed  the new festival by the end of the century... The December 25 date was chosen as much for  practical reasons as for theological ones.   Throughout the Roman Empire, various festivals  were held in conjunction with the winter solstice.   In Rome, the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun  celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun.  When Christianity became the religion of the  Empire, the church either had to suppress the   festivals or transform them. The winter solstice  seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ's   birth. Thus, the festival of the sun became a  festival of the Son, the Light of the world." Christian Scholars freely admit that  the date of December 25 is not Biblical,   and was not celebrated by early Christians.   They also admit that it was based on  Pagan mythology and not the Bible. But, does the Bible itself contain  any clues that might help us   unlock the secret date of our Messiah's birth? Actually, the Gospels do provide us with  some useful information that can help us   calculate when Jesus was actually born. These clues include: 1. the Census  2. Elizabeth's conception 3. the division of Abijah  4. the Shepherds Now, let's examine each of these clues. The first clue is the census. The  Bible tells us that there was a   census that caused Mary and Joseph to  travel to Bethlehem to be registered. "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 Syria. So all went to be registered,  everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from   Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea,  to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,   because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,   who was with child." - Luke 2:1-5 We don't know for certain when this census took  place, but it's highly unlikely that Caesar would   have mobilized an entire population  of people in the middle of winter. The second clue is Elizabeth's conception.   The Bible tells us that Elizabeth was six months  pregnant when Mary conceived. The angel told Mary, "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative  has also conceived a son in her old age;   and this is now the sixth month  for her who was called barren.   For with God nothing will be impossible." - Luke 1:36-37 This means that Jesus was born six months after  John the Baptist. So, if we can figure out when   John was born, we can calculate when Jesus was  born. Which makes the next clue so significant. The third clue is the division  of Abijah. The Bible says that   Zacharias served in the the division of Abijah,   and during his temple service an angel told  him that his wife would have a son named John. "There was in the days of Herod, the king  of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias,   of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the  daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth...   So it was, that while he was serving  as priest before God in the order of   his division, 9 according to the  custom of the priesthood, his lot   fell to burn incense when he went into the temple  of the Lord... But the angel said to him, "Do not   be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard;  and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,   and you shall call his name John." - Luke 1:5-13 This is one of the most significant clues for  the timing of the birth of John the Baptist and   ultimately the birth of Jesus. If we can find out  when the division of Abijah served in the temple,   then we can calculate nine months out to the  birth of John the Baptist, and from there   calculate the birth of Jesus six months later. We know from 1 Chronicles, 24,  there were 24 priestly divisions,   and Abijah served in the 8th division. Each division served twice per year, which means  there are two possible times during the year when   Zacharias could have served in the temple. The  first rotation would place him at the Temple   in May or June, and the second rotation would  place him at the Temple in December or January. Assuming that Elizabeth conceived  shortly after his service, we can   easily count out 9 months to when John was  born, and six months to when Jesus was born. If Zacharias was serving in the first rotation,  the birth of John would take place nine months   later in February or March, and the birth of Jesus  six months after that, in August or September. And if Zacharias served in the second  rotation in December or January, then John   would have been born in September or October,   which places the birth of Jesus six  months later, in March or April. So, based on Zechariah's temple service, we  have narrowed it down to either Fall or Spring,   but there is another clue in the Gospels  that might help us narrow it down even more. The fourth clue is the Shepherds.  The Bible tells us that there were   shepherds watching their sheep in fields at night. "Now there were in the same country  shepherds living out in the fields,   keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And  behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,   and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and  they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said   to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring  you good tidings of great joy which will be   to all people. 11 For there is born to you  this day in the city of David a Savior,   who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:8-11 Many people believe that "shepherds  watching their sheep in fields at night"   is probably a reference to lambing season, when  shepherds would watch the Sheep at night because   they were giving birth. And lambing season  is usually in late winter or early spring. It's also important to note that these  shepherds were near the Bethlehem. This   is important because the sheep used in the Temple  were kept by Shepherds in Bethlehem. That means   those shepherds might have been responsible for  overseeing the birth of the Passover lambs each   year. One of the requirements for a Passover lamb  is that it be a male lamb that is one year old. "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of  the first year. You may take it from the sheep   or from the goats." - Exodus 12:5 Is it possible that the Lamb of God  was born at the same time and place   as the Passover lambs for the Temple?  Perhaps this is why John prophesied saying, "Behold the Lamb of God!" - John 1:36 So, based on these 4 clues, we can speculate  that Jesus was most likely born in early Spring.   Which makes sense, because the Spring  Feasts are prophetic of His first coming,   while the fall Feasts are prophetic  of His return. Therefore, it makes   sense that He would be born in the Spring, at  the same time the Passover lambs were born. Oh, you're still here. Do you have questions? You  know you can ask me your questions Live on Tuesday   night during my weekly Q&A. But since you're  here now, go ahead and watch one of these videos.   And remember, the truth will set you free. See you in the next video.