Jesus Was Born in a Stable and the Nativity Story

We learned that Jesus was born in a stable at an early age, but that’s not exactly true. For Jesus to be born in December, Mary had to get pregnant in March, and Elizabeth in September the prior year. But is all this the truth? Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about this time. Let’s start with Elizabeth, Zachariah, her husband, who was a priest of the Order of Abijah¹ order, they served in the temple in the spring and in the fall on the festivals of Israel. So this limits the time that Elizabeth could have become pregnant to summer and winter. Now, let’s jump to Mary. When she and Joseph came to Bethlehem, all the rooms at the inn were full. This is a very important point in the story. This must have been during one of the Feasts of Israel, for there to be so many people in the area of Jerusalem. There is only one feast to which all of Israel had to show at the temple, and that is the Feast of Repentance. You can not send a proxy to repent for yourself, so you need to go to the Temple yourself. This would put His birth before or at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Jesus was Born on December 25th

Many Christians believe Jesus’ birthday falls on December 25th, but did you know the Bible has zero mentions of this date? In fact, scholars believe that Jesus was not born in the cold month of December but in April or at the end of September. Let’s take a look at the evidence.

Let’s look at it from a secular standpoint:

1. In December, it is cold in Bethlehem.

2. Sheep don’t give birth in December, so the shepherd boys would not be in the fields.

3. There is no reason for the ins to be filled in December

Let’s look at it from a biblical standpoint:

1. Zacharias, husband of Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, was of the order of the Order of Abijah. These were the High Priests who served in the Temple in the spring and fall. Zacharias, as a senior priest, would have served in the spring and on the spring feasts. Thus, Elizabeth most likely became pregnant in July, thus giving birth to John the Baptizer in the spring.

2. John is 6 months older than Jesus; this means Christ was born in the fall.

3. This would have been during the feasts of Trumpets, Repentance, and Tabernacles.

4. The only feast that all of Israel needed to be in Jerusalem is the Feast of Repentance. You can send a proxy to the temple on your behalf at all the feasts except one. The Feast of Repentance.

Now, let’s look at the Nativity story through a secular lens. Shepard’s in the pasture at night waiting for the birth of lambs. Sheep do not give birth in winter. Lambs are born between March and October. In Bethlehem, it is cold in the winter, and snow is not out of the question in the area. And lastly, there is no reason for everyone to come to Jerusalem during this time. So this means Joseph and Mary would have found a place to stay.

So, in conclusion, let’s look at the most possible scenario: we will start with Zacharias. Being a high priest, he most likely served in the Temple during the most holy of the feasts, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. This meant that he would not have arrived home until the end of June. This means that Elizabeth most likely became pregnant in July and gave birth to John the Baptizer in March. With this said, Christ is then born at the end of September, beginning of October. This puts His birthday around the Feast of Repentance to the Feast of Tabernacles.

To summarize, there are only two seasons Elizabeth could have gotten pregnant. Zacharies, being of The Order of Abiyah, would have served in both the spring and fall in the temple. So if Elizabeth got pregnant in the winter, John would have been born in the fall; if it were the summer, he would have been born in the spring. A summer birth would mean Christ was born in the winter, and a summer birth would have

The Three Wise Men

The Bible never specifies their number. “Three” is a best guess based on the three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now, many Christians believe that the Wise Men were present at the birth, but the Bible tells us no. If you take a look at the dedication of the Christ child at the temple in Jerusalem in Luke, we are given the proof that the Wise Men were not there yet.

We know from Luke 2:22 that the purification of Mary was according to The Law.

Leviticus 12:1-5

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. (3) And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (4) And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (5) But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.”

Now, let’s look at Luke 2:24

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

The sacrifice was a pair of turtledoves, interesting to say the least. This sacrifice is for a poor man according to the Law of Moses. If the gifts of the Wise Men were presented to Christ at this time, this would have been unacceptable according to the Law. The proper sacrifice should have been an unblemished lamb.

Leviticus 12:6-8

“And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: (7) Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath borne a male or a female. (8) And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

The Bible does not show when the Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem, let’s look at what it does say.

Matthew 2:1-10

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (3) When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. (5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, (6) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (7) Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. (9) When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

All of this took time, plus the dedication in the Temple of Jerusalem in Luke 2, as I have shown above, which took place 40 days after the birth. Proves that the wise men were not there at the birth of Christ.

Mathew 2:11

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

In this verse, it mentions The Young Child, not the baby or the infant.