1. Luke 2 : 1-7 (NKJV) 1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

2. Luke 2 : 1-7 (NKJV) because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

3. The Truth Of Christ’s Birth Luke 2:1-7

4. Truth of Christ’s Birth  There is certainly a lot said about the birth of Christ at this time of the year  One of the most famous sayings in December is, “Jesus is the reason for the season”  Truth be told, He is the reason for every season that we enjoy (Jn. 1:3)

5. Truth of Christ’s Birth  There are always myths out there about just about any subject you can think of  This seems to be especially true when it comes to religion  We know that we get our truth from God’s word, not from myths or traditions (Jn. 17:17)

6. Truth of Christ’s Birth  Some of those myths are founded during the Christmas season  Christmas has long been celebrated by many as the birth of Christ  Many Christmas traditions, including Christmas itself, are based upon things that are either contradicted in the Bible or never spoken of

7. Date of Christ’s Birth  If you were to ask just about any religious person when Christ was born, without hesitation you would probably get “December 25” as the answer  If you ask them if this fact is found within the Bible, they would probably reply, “Yes!”

8. Date of Christ’s Birth  Does the Bible tell us when Jesus was born?  It does not give us a specific date, but it does offer some hints as to when it might have been  The likelihood of a December 25 date is probably very slim

9. Date of Christ’s Birth  The Bible tells us that the shepherds were “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Lk. 2:8)  The latest in the year that the shepherds would have been out with their flocks would have been September or October  Any later in the year would have been the rainy season

10. Date of Christ’s Birth  Most dates that are given by those who have studied this point to the springtime as a strong possibility  Where did the date of December 25 come into play?  It was the date that the pagans were using to celebrate the “sun god”

11. Date of Christ’s Birth  Those in the Roman Catholic church wanted to turn that date from something pagan into something religious  They chose that date to have their “Christ- mass”, or Christmas  This could have been influenced as well by pagans who were converted to Christianity

12. Place of Christ’s Birth  If you ride through just about any town, you will see a manger scene; many supposing that Jesus was born in some sort of outdoor barn  However, the Bible never suggests that this was the case  A deeper study will reveal where He was born

13. Place of Christ’s Birth  Luke 2:1-7  “…laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”  Inn = katalyma (Lk. 2:7; Mk. 14:12-15) - Guest chamber; upper room  Inn = pandocheion (Lk. 10:34) - a public lodging place

15. Place of Christ’s Birth  Christ was actually born in the house with Joseph’s family  He was just downstairs and had to be laid in a manger where the animals stayed  It wasn’t uncommon to have animals in the house (II Sam. 12:3; Jephthah in Judges 11:30-31, 34)

16. People at Christ’s Birth  Most scenes of Jesus birth depict 3 wise men there in the “barn” with Jesus  Some even list these men as kings (We Three Kings)  The Bible refers to them as “wise men”, not kings (Matt. 2:1-12)

17. People at Christ’s Birth  It does not tell us how many there were, only that there were 3 gifts given (gold, frankincense, and myrrh)  Given the timeline of events and all that transpired, Jesus was likely between 1 & 2 years old when the wise men found Him  They were not there when He was first born

18. Miracle at Christ’s Birth  When we speak of Christ’s birth we often refer to the “virgin birth of Christ”  While this is true, the real miracle happened at conception  Matthew 1:18, 20  Luke 1:31, 34-35

19. Memorial of Christ’s Birth  Perhaps there is also the idea that somewhere in the Bible, God commands we memorialize or celebrate the birth of Christ  Beyond the initial celebration, we actually find no such command or example of this  That doesn’t mean His birth was unimportant

20. Memorial of Christ’s Birth  What we do find is the command and examples of the remembrance of the death of Christ (Lk. 22:15-20; I Cor. 11:23-26)  Certainly Christ had to be born first and foremost, yet His willingness to follow through with God’s plan is what we remember