A Boy Named Jesus
I mentioned in this post that I would begin a series called Who is Jesus? Today we will begin at the beginning of Jesus’s earthly life and ministry with references to Matthew 1 and Luke 1 referencing a boy named Jesus. I will include key insights and a Q&A after each post. Be sure to read to the end!
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The incredible story of a boy named Jesus begins with two unlikely couples in Judea, an elderly priest and his barren wife, and a young virgin and her betrothed.
BABY JOHN
The angel Gabriel heralds a new era with two prophecies. He first appears to an elderly priest named Zechariah to announce that his wife, Elizabeth, would soon bear a son and that the couple was to name him John. Zechariah doubts the angel’s words and is struck mute. Elizabeth does conceive and gives birth as prophesied. Zechariah gets his voice back only after, in faith, declaring the baby’s name John. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s cousin Mary receives some exciting news of her own.
BABY JESUS
Even more startling is the amazing birth about to take place. Gabriel appears to Mary telling her that she is favored by God and will become pregnant and give birth to a son. A son who will be called the “Son of the Most High.” This is referred to as the Annunciation. Mary asks Gabriel how this can be since she is a virgin. The angel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her so that the child would be called the Son of God. Mary willing accepts Gabriel’s words and says she is the Lord’s servant in what is known as the Magnificat, or Mary’s Song (Luke 1:38).
Distressed to learn that his betrothed is pregnant outside of wedlock, and not by him, Joseph takes Mary as his wife after the angel tells him to do so. “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 1:20).
KEY VERSES AND INSIGHTS
WHY IS JOHN’S BIRTH SIGNIFICANT?
John, also known as John the Baptist, has an important assignment. His father told him, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,” (Luke 1:76). John’s purpose was to prepare the world for the coming Messiah.
DO WE REALLY KNOW THE DATE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH?
Historical timelines often calculate Jesus being born four to six years B.C., before Christ. The most possible explanation is in the sixth century, the historian Dionysius proposed using Jesus’s birth as the basis of the calendar. The years following Christ’s birth would be labeled Anno Domini, or A.D. When making his proposal, he miscalculated the year King Herod died, which we now know was 4 B.C. Jesus (and John) would have been before that since they were both born during his rule. Therefore, the calendar is off by 4-6 years.
We do not have biblical proof that Jesus was born on December 25. However, through my studies I have become convinced of the historical evidence in favor of this date. We can derive this from the historical date that Zechariah the priest went to the temple to begin his service. Theological understanding of old states that prophets enter and exit the world on the same date. The Annunciation (see above) is said to have taken place in late March because that is the date Christ died (during Passover). That points to a conception date of late March and a delivery of late December. But there’s more!
How can we celebrate Christmas when lambs are traditionally born in spring? The Awassi sheep, those used for Passover, is a Middle-Eastern desert sheep and the only indigenous sheep of Israel. Unlike other sheep, they breed in the summer and deliver in the winter when there is significant pasture (not dried up like in spring and summer) for ewes to graze. In Israel, the principal lambing season is December-January. This is simple biology.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is born in the same time and place as these Passover lambs. The time and date of entry and exit is the same. Zechariah’s temple service is the same. Theology and biology place great emphasis on symmetry, and here it is. I call it the providence of God.
