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.” – Holman Bible Dictionary
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:
- The Census
- Elizabeth’s conception
- The division of Abijah
- 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 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 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. This 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.
