Luke 2:1-11 “Christ Has Come!”
The most verified, historical birth in human history.
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, 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.
 Jesus’ birth was dated by Luke as falling in the reign of Caesar
Augustus, who was officially made the ruler of the Roman Empire in 27 B.C.
and ruled to A.D. 14. 1
 Matthew dates Jesus’ birth during the reign of Herod the Great.
Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
o Because Herod the Great’s reign ended in 4 B.C., Jesus was born before
that time. 2
 Can we figure out when Jesus was born?
o Major International Holiday
o Secularized by myths and traditions
o Has lost almost all connection with Jesus
Our Calendar:
 It’s been a mess!
 Before today’s Gregorian calendar was adopted, the older Julian
calendar was used. It was admirably close to the actual length of the year, as it
turns out, but the Julian calendar was not so perfect that it didn’t slowly shift off
track over the following centuries. But, hundreds of years later, monks were the
only ones with any free time for scholarly pursuits – and they were discouraged
John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol.
2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 207.
2 John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol.
2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 207.
1
Luke 2:1-20 Christ Has Come! 1
from thinking about the matter of "secular time" for any reason beyond figuring
out when to observe Easter. In the Middle Ages, the study of the measure of time
was first viewed as prying too deeply into God’s own affairs – and later thought of
as a lowly, mechanical study, unworthy of serious contemplation.
 As a result, it wasn’t until 1582 (by which time Caesar’s calendar had drifted a
full 10 days off course) that Pope Gregory XIII (1502 - 1585) finally reformed
the Julian calendar.
 The "new" calendar, as we know it today, was not adopted uniformly across
Europe until 1751.
 Was Jesus born in the year Zero (0)?
o No – there has never been a Year 0
o The concept of a year "zero" is a modern myth (but a very popular one). In
our calendar, C.E. 1 follows immediately after 1 B.C.E. with no intervening
year zero.
o Dionysius (in the 6th Century) let the year C.E. 1 start one week after what
he believed to be Jesus’ birthday. But Dionysius’ calculations were
wrong. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus was born under the
reign of king Herod the Great, who died in 4 B.C.E.. It is likely that Jesus
was actually born around 7 B.C.E..
o The date of his birth is unknown; it may or may not be 25 December.
 Why do the 9th through the 12th month have names meaning 7-10?
o Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec
 Romulus – founder of Rome had some very quirky and pagan ideas
about dates. Let’s just say that the months were moved forward by 2
to make a very religiously sick man happy.
o Months 7 & 8 used to be numbered 5 & 6
 July – Named after Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E. Prior to that time its
name was Quintilis from the word quintus, fifth, because it was the
5th month in the old Roman calendar.
 August – Named after emperor Augustus in 8 B.C.E. Prior to that
time the name was Sextilis from the word sextus, sixth, because it
was the 6th month in the old Roman calendar.
What about December 25th?
 An ancient Roman holiday, Saturnalia is a festival of light leading to the
winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for
knowledge and truth. 3
Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.1.8–9; Jane Chance, Medieval Mythography: From Roman North Africa to the School of Chartres, A.D. 433–
1177 (University Press of Florida, 1994), p. 71.
3
 The renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later
Roman Empire at the "Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun," on
December 25. 4
 A pagan Roman holiday that was changed to the birth of Christ when the Roman
Empire became Christian.
o Interesting that Chanukah is a “Festival Lights” for the Jews in the month of
December
o Romans knew as well the great need for light to break through the
darkness of their days.
o When church officials settled on December 25 at the end of the third
century, they likely wanted the date to coincide with existing pagan festivals
honoring Saturn (the Roman god of agriculture) and Mithra (the Persian
god of light). That way, it became easier to convince Rome’s pagan
subjects to accept Christianity as the empire’s official religion. 5
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.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the
fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
4
5
Robert A. Kaster, Macrobius: Saturnalia, Books 1–2 (Loeb Classical Library, 2011), note on p. 16.
http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-is-christmas-celebrated-on-december-25
Luke 2:1-20 Christ Has Come! 3
 Living out in the fields of Bethlehem:
o Unlike most other farm animals, sheep are seasonal breeders and
lamb in the spring months when the weather is warming and
ample supplies of grass are available. Sheep can be housed for
lambing or are more commonly brought to a field close
to the farmyard where the shepherd can keep an eye
on them. 6
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
 Bethlehem Ephrathah
o Flocks of sheep raised solely for sacrifice in the Temple
o Much more money made raising sheep for sacrifice than
for meat or wool.
 A lamb for sacrifice
 A lamb born to shed his blood for the sins of others
Deep in a cave underneath a Bethlehem Cathedral lies the
traditional site of Jesus’ birth:
6
http://www.ukagriculture.com/livestock/sheep_lambing.cfm
Luke 2:1-20 Christ Has Come! 5
 Did David understand where the birthplace of Jesus, in the pastures of
Bethlehem, would be 1000 years before Jesus was born?
Psalm 132:1–9
1 LORD, remember David
And all his afflictions;
2 How he swore to the LORD,
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,
Or go up to the comfort of my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a place for the LORD,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
We found it in the fields of the woods.
7 Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.
8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.