The Bible's Truth about Jesus' Birth

Those who worship God must do so in "spirit and truth."

The Bible’s Truth About Jesus’ Birth

 

By Elton Camp

 

 

            It is especially in December that we hear a great deal about the birth and early childhood of Jesus.  No matter how appealing a story may be, it is essential to measure it against the source of truth, the holy word of God as found in the Bible.  Please consider the following verses taken from the King James Version of 1611. 

 

John 4

 ²³But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

   ²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(Please notice how the adult Jesus in the two verses above emphasizes that truth is required for those who wish to worship God.  The Samaritan woman to who Jesus spoke had errors in her beliefs, but Jesus didn’t tell her it would be all right as long as she was “sincere.”  Would God, today, approve of untruths about the birth of his son Jesus?)

 

Luke 2

   ¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

   ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

   ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

   ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

   ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

   ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

   ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

   ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

(Look carefully.  The shepherds were staying outside all night with their flocks.  Jewish shepherds never did this during the wintertime.  Yet, the birth of Jesus is cast as having taken place during cold December.  Is the date set for the birth of Jesus truth or is it untruth?)

   ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

   ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

   ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

   ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

   ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

   ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

   ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

   ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

(Notice that it is the righteous shepherds who came to see Jesus as a babe in the manger.  As we will see below, the so-called wise men were not present.  Yet how commonly the Magi are shown looking at Jesus in the manger.)

   ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

   ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 

 

 

Matthew 2

   ¹Now 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,

(Bible scholars agree that the “wise men” were Magi or pagan astrologers.  And does the Bible say there were three of them?  “Men” could mean two or a dozen.  Yet, how often we are told that three wise men came at the birth of Jesus.)

   ²Saying, 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.

(The “wise men” based their inquiry, not on the Bible prophecies about the birth of the Messiah, but on their superstitious beliefs about astrology.  It is obvious that the “star” they saw was not visible to others.  More on this later.)

   ³When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

   ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

   ⁵And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

   ⁶And 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.

(Why would Herod need to ask WHERE Christ should be born if a star was standing over the place for all to see?  For that matter, why would the “wise men” need to ask his location if such a star marked the place?)   

⁷Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

(Why would Herod need to ask WHEN the star appeared if it had been standing over the place of Jesus’ birth for all to see?  The time that the astrologers saw the star will help us understand the truth of the birth of Jesus as detailed below.)

   ⁸And 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.

(They are sent to seek a “young child,” not a tiny newborn babe.  Clearly, the wise men saw the star about two years earlier as shown below.)

   ⁹When 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.

   ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

(Take careful note.  The star was a moving light that “went before them” and led these evil men to the place where the “young child was.”  Apparently, only they could see the light.  Otherwise, Herod could have had his soldiers follow it to destroy Jesus as was his intention. Could the “star” have been from the Devil in an attempt to destroy God’s son?  Think about it.)   

¹¹And 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.

(Where did the “wise men” find Jesus?  In a manger?  No, by this time Mary, Joseph and the “young child” were living in a house.  About two years had passed since his birth as shown below.)

   ¹²And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

   ¹³And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

   ¹⁴When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

   ¹⁵And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

   ¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

(Why did Herod have killed children from two years and under?  It was because of the time he had gotten from the “wise men.”  Obviously, the “star” had appeared to them about two years before they came to inquire of Herod.  This fits well with Jesus being described as a “young child.” He was no longer a babe in a manger.)

   ¹⁸In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

   ¹⁹But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

   ²⁰Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

   ²¹And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

            I hope that readers who accept the Bible as truth will find this material interesting and convincing.  The appearance of the one who would be the Messiah is the most important event in the history of the Earth.  To weave untruths into the account cannot possibly be pleasing to God.