Galatians 4:4-5
The Birth of Jesus
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
– Maybe they are correct about the date
• Convincing non-Catholic arguments for Dec. birth:
 Jewish argument based on “divisions of priests”;
Luke 1:5-13, 26-36 – we can know when the division of
Abijah served, add 9 months to birth of John, then 6
months to birth of Jesus; could have been late Dec.
 Hippolytus (2nd century), Chrysostom (3rd century)
 Alfred Edersheim (1800s); famous “Messianic” Jew
The Birth of Jesus
Alfred Edersheim on “Christmas”:
“There is no adequate reason for questioning
the historical accuracy of this date. The
objections generally made rest on grounds
which seem to me historically untenable.”
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
– Maybe they are correct about the date
– Maybe they are not correct about the date
• Convincing arguments against Dec. birth:
 “divisions of priests” argument could prove Jesus born
June or July – priests served twice, 6 months apart
 Luke 1:23-25 doesn’t state how long after Zachariah’s
service that Elizabeth conceived – maybe month, more
 Luke 2:8-11 – Shepherds in field indicates summertime
 “Saturnalia”; Catholic practice of absorbing paganism
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
– Maybe they are correct about the date
– Maybe they are not correct about the date
– It doesn’t really matter:
• 1 Cor. 15:1-4 – death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
is the gospel’s focus
• 1 Cor. 2:1-2 – crucifixion is defining moment of history
– A great teaching opportunity
• People thinking, talking about Jesus in a general way
• Jesus “image”, idea everywhere; easy “ice-breakers”
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
 What the world needs to know about His birth:
– His birth was God’s response to man’s sin
• Gen. 3:9-16: “Seed” to bruise head of serpent’s seed
• serpent enticed Eve to temptation, transgression
• 1 Tim. 2:14-15: transgression, “saved in childbearing”
• Mat. 1:18-23: “He will save His people from their sins”
• “Jesus” means “God is salvation”
• John 1:1-4, 14; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 4:15, 2:16
– He was born like us in order to help us utterly!
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
 What the world needs to know about His birth:
– His birth was God’s response to man’s sin
– His birth was according to prophecy
• Rom. 4:17; Divine power = prophesy, give life
• Gen. 3:15, 12:3; Deut. 18:15, 18-19: 1450 BC
• 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Psalm 110; Psalm 22; etc.: 1000 BC
• Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-5, etc.: 750 BC
• Luke 4:16-21, 24:46-48; Acts 3:18-26
• Mark 1:1-15; Galatians 4:4-5
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
 What the world needs to know about His birth:
– His birth was God’s response to man’s sin
– His birth was according to prophecy
– His birth was necessary so He could live a perfect life
• Mat. 5:17-18: He fulfilled the old covenant contract
• cp. Lev. 18:5; Ezek. 20:11, 13; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 4:15
• Heb. 10:1-9 – fulfilled, did away with Moses’ Law!!
• done by OBEDIENCE – the purpose of having a body!
“To do Your will, O God”
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
 What the world needs to know about His birth:
– His birth was God’s response to man’s sin
– His birth was according to prophecy
– His birth was necessary so He could live a perfect life
– His birth was necessary so He could die as a sacrifice
• John 1:29, 35-37 – John clearly called Him a sacrifice
• Mat. 26:26-28 – Jesus spoke of His death as a sacrifice
• Heb. 9:22-28, 10:11-18; need & effect of His sacrifice
• 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:1-11; our part in His sacrifice
The Birth of Jesus
 Most of world “celebrating” His birth Thursday, 25th
 What the world needs to know about His birth:
– His birth was God’s response to man’s sin
– His birth was according to prophecy
– His birth was necessary so He could live a perfect life
– His birth was necessary so He could die as a sacrifice
 Though His birth important for the reasons we stated,
never any command given for remembering His birth
 As Christians, we are to “proclaim the Lord’s DEATH till
He comes” – 1 Cor. 11:26 [Lord’s Supper]
The Birth of Jesus
 Do YOU know who Jesus is…and what that means?
 Are YOU willing to enter into His DEATH today?