Open life activity

 Daily Verse

Ps 96:10 Say among the heathen that the Lord controls: the world also shall be established that
it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

 Prayer

Oh! God I thank you for you are the king of the world. Amen

 Bible Study
 Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he
vanished out of their sight.

Theology
Jesus was born to me!
 Devotionals

ኢያሱ ወልደ ነዌ 1:5-8

በሕይወትህ ዕድሜ ሁሉ ማንም አይቋቋምህም፤ ከሙሴ ጋር እንደ ሆንሁ እንዲሁ

ከአንተ ጋር እሆናለሁ፤ አልጥልህም፥ አልተውህም። ለአባቶቻቸው፦ እሰጣችኋለሁ
ብዬ የማልሁላቸውን ምድር ለዚህ ሕዝብ ታወርሳለህና ጽና፥ አይዞህ።
ነገር ግን ጽና፥ እጅግ በርታ፤ ባሪያዬ ሙሴ ያዘዘህን ሕግ ሁሉ ጠብቅ፥ አድርገውም፤
በምትሄድበትም ሁሉ እንዲከናወንልህ ወደ ቀኝም ወደ ግራም አትበል።
የዚህ ሕግ መጽሐፍ ከአፍህ አይለይ፥ ነገር ግን የተጻፈበትን ሁሉ ትጠብቅና ታደርግ
ዘንድ በቀንም በሌሊትም አስበው፤ የዚያን ጊዜም መንገድህ ይቀናልሃል
ይከናወንልሃልም።

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Christ’s birth is traditionally celebrated in the West on December 25th, but
many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. Neither date
is likely correct in light of several clues uncovered by historians and
information in the Bible itself.
UPDATEDNOV 27, 2023

The birth of Jesus Christ, a pivotal moment in Christian history, has

long been a subject of scholarly debate and theological reflection. The birth
of Jesus Christ is traditionally celebrated on December 25th but nobody
really knows exactly when Jesus was born. While the Gospels of Matthew
and Luke provide accounts of Jesus's birth including facts such as –

 The location of Bethlehem,

 His parents’ names of Mary and Joseph,
 That they had fled Egypt to escape King Herod's plan to kill Jesus,

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  And that his birth was announced by angels who appeared to
shepherds - they do not offer a specific date for this momentous
event.

As a result, the question of when Jesus was born has given rise to a
multitude of theories and hypotheses throughout the centuries. In this
article, we will delve into the fascinating world of dating Jesus's birth and
explore the various historical, astronomical, and theological perspectives
that have emerged in an attempt to pinpoint the elusive date of the nativity.
The biblical account does not give the year Jesus was born (Luke 2). So
how was the date of Christmas decided, and when was Jesus really born?

What Year Was Jesus Born?

While many scholars believe Jesus was born sometime between 4 BC and
6 BC, there is no definitive historical evidence that pinpoints the exact year
of his birth.

The commonly used Christian calendar, which designates Jesus' birth as

the starting point, traditionally places it at 1 BC or 1 AD, although these
dates are approximate and may not align precisely with historical records.

Several factors are involved in establishing the year of Christ’s birth. There
were two dating systems at the time of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.

 One was his new Julian calendar and

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  The other calendar began with the year Rome was established: 753
BC. To complicate matters, Julius Caesar also determined that a year
would be calculated beginning with the start of complete authority by
the reigning emperor at that time.

About 500 years later, a mathematically-minded monk, Dionysius Exiguus

invented the concept of AD, His purpose was to establish when Easter
should be celebrated by working backward using a complicated system of
his own. He decided that Christ was born in AD 1, and his system was
adopted in Europe around 200 years later.

Bible scholars work from what Scripture tells us regarding the history of
Jesus. The events took place within the living memory of the writers or their
families, such as the reign of Herod during which time Matthew tells us
Christ was born.

We know there was a celestial event that alerted the Magi, and this can
also be dated. John the Baptist’s preaching took place during “the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius” (Luke 3:1). Jesus’ approximate age at the
start of His ministry (30) is also supplied in the book of Luke, so we can
determine that Christ was likely born around 2 or 3 BC.

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias
tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the
word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness." Luke 3:1

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One hypothesis suggests that Jesus may have been born in the month of
December. This idea is largely based on the mention of shepherds in the
Gospel of Luke who were tending their flocks at night when the angelic
announcement of Jesus's birth occurred. Some argue that this activity
would have been more likely in a warmer month, implying that Jesus might
have been born in a mild Mediterranean climate during the winter.
Additionally, the early Christian church established December 25th as the
date to celebrate Jesus's birth, possibly to coincide with existing pagan
festivals, such as the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus. This choice could
have influenced the association of Jesus's birth with December.

However, it's essential to note that this evidence is circumstantial and not
conclusive. Other scholars argue for alternative months or even different
years for Jesus's birth based on historical and astronomical data. The
uncertainty surrounding the precise month of Jesus's birth underscores the
challenge of dating an event that occurred over two thousand years ago
and the various factors that have influenced the development of Christmas
traditions over time. Ultimately, while December 25th remains the widely
accepted date for celebrating Jesus's birth, the exact month of his birth
remains a mystery.

The day and month of Jesus’s birth are even more challenging to establish.
Theologians typically agree that December 25 is far from likely. In the late
Roman Empire, there was a festival called "Sol Invictus" (the Unconquered
Sun) that celebrated the sun god on December 25th. Some have

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suggested that the choice of this date for Christmas was influenced by the
desire to Christianize or replace this pagan holiday - conceived as an effort
to establish a pagan substitute for a date that already held a degree of
importance for Roman Christians.

Another argument takes a different view. December 25th falls close to the
winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the shortest day and
longest night of the year. In many pagan traditions, the winter solstice was
a significant event associated with the rebirth of the sun and the return of
longer days. Some festivals, like the Roman festival of Saturnalia, were
celebrated around this time, often involving feasting and gift-giving.
Saturnalia, in particular, is often cited as a possible influence on the dating
of Christmas. Saturnalia was a Roman festival that celebrated the god
Saturn and included various festivities, including gift exchanges and
feasting. Some argue that the early Christians chose December 25th to
celebrate Jesus' birth to co-opt or replace Saturnalia with a Christian
holiday.

When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, it was easier

for the newly formed church to repurpose the pagan observance of the
winter solstice between December 17-25 since citizens were already
prepared to celebrate the day. Thus, a celebration and festival filled with
family and friends exchanging gifts meant these traditions would continue
as Christmas.

Another intriguing theory proposes that December 25 was officially

designated as Christmas Day by Sextus Julius Africanus in AD 221. This
assertion is rooted in meticulous calculations that Africanus undertook,

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embarking on a historical journey that began with his estimation of the
world's creation in 5499 BC. With unwavering dedication to precision,
Africanus meticulously traced the lineage of biblical figures and significant
events, meticulously aligning them with historical and astronomical data.
His goal was to pinpoint the most appropriate date for commemorating the
birth of Jesus Christ, a task that required an intricate web of chronology
and celestial observations. Africanus's determination to find this date led
him to December 25, marking it as the momentous day when Christians
should celebrate the birth of their savior. His extensive calculations and
scholarly dedication have left an enduring legacy, contributing to the rich
tapestry of theories surrounding the birth date of Jesus Christ.

As mentioned above regarding the month Jesus was born, realistically,

shepherds would not have been tending their flocks in December when the
weather was cold; they would have continued shepherding no later than
October.

Bible scholars also try to time Jesus’s birth by timing the birth of his cousin
John according to the sparse information about Zechariah, Elizabeth, and
Mary outlined in Luke. Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary
arrived, and Mary left three months later. According to BibleInfo.com:

“We can approximate the month of Jesus’ birth to be around the time of
Tishri (mid to late September). To arrive at this date, start at the conception
of John the Baptist, Sivan (June), count forward six months to arrive at
Gabriel’s announcement of the conception of Jesus, Kislev (December),

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 then count forward nine more months, the time it takes for human
gestation, to reach Tishri (September), when Jesus was born.”

This is assuming each mother’s pregnancy went full-term. Other accounts

take details about Zechariah’s temple duties to arrive at a spring birth for
Christ. There is no definitive answer. One must seek the opinions of the
most trusted scholars in this matter.

Dating the birth of Jesus around the death of King Herod is a historical
puzzle that involves a combination of biblical and extra-biblical sources,
along with some scholarly interpretation. Here's how it's typically done:

1. The primary source for dating Jesus's birth in relation

to King Herod comes from the New Testament, specifically the Gospel of
Matthew. In Matthew 2:1, it mentions that Jesus was born during the time
of King Herod. It also describes Herod's attempt to have Jesus killed by
ordering the massacre of infants in Bethlehem, commonly known as the
"Massacre of the Innocents."
2. King Herod the Great is a well-documented historical
figure. His reign is generally believed to have started around 37 or 36 BC.
Historical records also indicate that he died around 4 BC, which is a crucial
reference point.
3. Some scholars have suggested that the "Star of
Bethlehem," which guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus, might have
been a celestial event. Astronomical calculations and computer simulations

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 have been used to try to identify potential astronomical occurrences around
the time of Jesus's birth. Some theories suggest conjunctions of planets or
other celestial phenomena around 6-4 BC.
4. While the Gospel of Luke doesn't mention King Herod, it
provides additional clues for dating Jesus's birth. Luke 2:2 mentions a
census ordered by Caesar Augustus. Historically, such censuses were
conducted periodically, and there is evidence of one occurring in 6-4 BC.
5. Taking into account all the available evidence,
many scholars place Jesus's birth between 6 and 4 BC, with the death of
King Herod serving as a significant anchor point. This allows for the events
described in the biblical narratives to align with the historical context of
Herod's reign and the Roman census.

Celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas, holds profound significance in

Christian tradition, even in light of His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus'
birth marks the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies,
underscoring Jesus's identity as the promised Messiah. This celebration
reaffirms the belief that God's plan of salvation, foretold in the Scriptures,
came to fruition through Jesus.

Christmas is the beginning of Jesus's earthly life, leading to His sacrificial

death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Christians view Jesus's
birth as the initial step in God's redemptive plan, offering forgiveness of
sins and eternal life through faith. Christmas is a source of joy and hope,
signifying that God entered the world to bring light into darkness and offer
hope to those in need.

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In summary, Christmas, the celebration of Jesus's birth, remains a deeply
meaningful and cherished observance in Christianity. It not only
acknowledges the historical and theological significance of His birth but
also reminds believers of the foundational events that paved the way for
His life, death, and resurrection. It is a celebration of God's love for
humanity, the hope and salvation brought by Jesus, and a time to share
these profound truths with the world.

Rejoice in the birth of Christ with a FREE 25 Days to a Joyful

Christmas Prayer Guide!

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