when was jesus really born? tony e. denton, 12/05. asiteforthelord.com

When was Jesus really born?When was Jesus really born?

Tony E. Denton, 12/05.ASiteForTheLord.com

Shepherds were Shepherds were in the fields in the fields ((Luke 2:8), yet ), yet flocks were in flocks were in their barns from their barns from mid October to mid October to mid March.mid March.

Shepherding Shepherding ConsiderationConsideration

Luke 2:1-2 tell us tell us that Joseph and that Joseph and Mary went to be Mary went to be taxed. Now why taxed. Now why would pregnant would pregnant Mary go? Because Mary go? Because taxation occurred taxation occurred at a convenient at a convenient time for every-onetime for every-one—just prior to holy —just prior to holy days when folks days when folks were already there were already there for for

Taxation Taxation ConsiderationConsideration

the Day of Atone-the Day of Atone-ment, the Feast of ment, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Trumpets, and the Feast of Taber-Feast of Taber-nacles. That’s why nacles. That’s why there was no room there was no room in the inn: Jose-in the inn: Jose-phus estimated phus estimated Jerusalem’s pop. Jerusalem’s pop. doubled … from doubled … from 1,000,000 to 1,000,000 to 2,000,000! 2,000,000! Anyway Anyway

Holy Days Holy Days ConsiderationConsideration

Going to Jerusa-Going to Jerusa-lem at this time lem at this time every year was the every year was the custom of Joeseph custom of Joeseph & Mary (& Mary (Luke 2:41 & & John 7:1-10).).

Holy Days Holy Days ConsiderationConsideration

Luke 3:23 tells us tells us that Jesus was 30 that Jesus was 30 years old when He years old when He began His ministry began His ministry in accordance with in accordance with Numbers 4:3 and Numbers 4:3 and the Jewish stand-the Jewish stand-ard for maturity;ard for maturity;if He were born in if He were born in winter, then He winter, then He would’ve begun would’ve begun His ministry at the His ministry at the ununacceptable age acceptable age of 29 years. Why? of 29 years. Why? Notice prophecyNotice prophecy: :

Age & Prophecy Age & Prophecy ConsiderationConsideration

Daniel 9:27 pro- pro-phesied that the phesied that the Messiah would Messiah would minister for 3.5 minister for 3.5 years: “years: “‘Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice.’” How? ” How? By the sacrificeBy the sacrificeof Himself. So of Himself. So


Since Jesus’ minis-Since Jesus’ minis-try lasted 3.5 yrs., try lasted 3.5 yrs., and since He died and since He died at Passover (at Passover (EasterEaster to usto us), the first of ), the first of spring, then Jesus spring, then Jesus must have entered must have entered His priesthood His priesthood after His baptism after His baptism in the fall; His in the fall; His birth, therefore, birth, therefore, must have been at must have been at the end of summer the end of summer or first of fall, not or first of fall, not first of winter!first of winter!


1 Chr. 24 teaches teaches that the work of that the work of the priesthood was the priesthood was divided into 24 divided into 24 courses or weeks, courses or weeks, from Sat. to Sat., & from Sat. to Sat., & 24:7-19 lists all lists all these courses. Each these courses. Each course served twice course served twice a year equaling 48 a year equaling 48 of them. (All served of them. (All served together the extra together the extra weeks for major weeks for major festivals.)festivals.)

Priesthood Priesthood ConsiderationConsideration

1 Chr. 24:1-16 tell tell us that the first us that the first week always be-week always be-gan the first Sat. gan the first Sat. of Nissan (the of Nissan (the early spring), so it early spring), so it is is possiblepossible to know to know when each course when each course served in the tem-served in the tem-ple, helping us to ple, helping us to more closely pin-more closely pin-point Jesus’ true point Jesus’ true birthday. Let’s no-birthday. Let’s no-tice their calendar.tice their calendar.


Jan.Jan. Feb.Feb. MarMar..

Apr.Apr. MayMay JuneJune

JulyJuly Aug.Aug. SepSep..

Oct.Oct. Nov.Nov. Dec.Dec.

MM ar.ar. Apr.Apr. MayMay JuneJune JulyJuly Aug.Aug.

SepSep..

Oct.Oct. Nov.Nov. Dec.Dec. Jan.Jan. Feb.Feb.

IyarIyarNissanNissan SivanSivan ElulElul

ElulElul

Tam- Tam-

muzmuzAvAv

TishriTishri CheshChesh -van -van KislevKislev TevetTevet ShevatShevat AdarAdar

So


SepSep..



ElulElul

Tam- Tam-

muzmuzAvAv


First Priestly First Priestly Course BeginsCourse Begins

Luke 1:5 tells us tells us that Zacharias was that Zacharias was serving in the serving in the course of Abijah, course of Abijah, course #8 (course #8 (1 Chr. 24:10), meaning ), meaning that Zach went that Zach went home, and his wife home, and his wife conceived mid conceived mid Sivan, also mean-Sivan, also mean-ing that John was ing that John was born in early born in early spring, mid Adar. spring, mid Adar. So So



SepSep..



ElulElul

Tam- Tam-

muzmuzAvAv


First Priestly First Priestly Course BeginsCourse Begins

John ConceivedJohn Conceived

So


SepSep..



ElulElul

Tam- Tam-

muzmuzAvAv


John BornJohn Born John ConceivedJohn Conceived

Now, Now, Luke 1:36 tells us that John tells us that John was six months was six months older than Jesus, older than Jesus, which places which places Jesus’ birth at the Jesus’ birth at the end of Elul or the end of Elul or the first of Tishri, at first of Tishri, at the very end of the very end of summer or the summer or the very first part of very first part of fall. So fall. So



SepSep..



ElulElul

Tam- Tam-

muzmuzAvAv


John BornJohn Born Jesus BornJesus Born

Mat. 2:2, 7, 9-10 Mat. 2:2, 7, 9-10 tell us about a new tell us about a new star that star that appeared. History appeared. History attests to the fact attests to the fact of new stars of new stars appearing from appearing from time to time. This time to time. This star settled over star settled over Bethlehem, Bethlehem, ironically in the ironically in the womb of the womb of the virgin. No, not virgin. No, not Mary, Mary, butbut thethe ERUA ERUA constellation.constellation.

New Star New Star ConsiderationConsideration

ERUA means “she ERUA means “she who brings forth who brings forth seed (prophesied seed (prophesied in) Eden” or “she in) Eden” or “she who brings forth who brings forth male seed.” The male seed.” The Jews, long before Jews, long before Jesus, called ERUA Jesus, called ERUA ha-almaha-alma, meaning , meaning “the virgin.” Let’s “the virgin.” Let’s read read Isa. 7:11-14 and notice how the and notice how the heavenly heavenly ha-almaha-alma signaled Jesus’ signaled Jesus’ birth in the earthly birth in the earthly ha-almaha-alma—Mary.—Mary.


It could only be a It could only be a sign in this way; sign in this way; nothing else makes nothing else makes sense, for only sense, for only Mary and Joseph Mary and Joseph knew she was a knew she was a virgin. Why bring virgin. Why bring up this star? up this star? Because, ac-cording Because, ac-cording to scientific to scientific technology, this technology, this star was directly star was directly above Bethlehem above Bethlehem on Sunday, August on Sunday, August 30th, 2 BC—the 30th, 2 BC—the Jews’ New Year’s Jews’ New Year’s Day! Besides… Day! Besides…


It’s well document-It’s well document-ed (by Josephus and ed (by Josephus and others) that Herod others) that Herod died January 9th, 1 died January 9th, 1 BC—the day of a BC—the day of a lunar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meaning that Jesus meaning that Jesus had to have been had to have been around long enough around long enough to be born, go to to be born, go to Egypt, then come Egypt, then come back to Judea, all back to Judea, all which definitely which definitely couldn’t have oc-couldn’t have oc-curred if He had curred if He had beenbeen bornborn Dec. Dec. 25th25th..


when was jesus really born? tony e. denton, 12/05. asiteforthelord.com

Documents

priesthood consideration

taxation consideration

holy days consideration

years old

pregnant mary

notice prophecy

unacceptable age

custom of joeseph mary