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No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. No one knows the day or the month, for sure. In fact, we are not even certain about the year. It seems obvious that God has chosen not to reveal the specific date. There is, however, one important point we can know and rejoice over, and that is Jesus was born! He came as a human man, and for the very fact of His true humanity, it was necessary that He be born!
Nowhere is it commanded that humanity celebrate the event of Jesus’ birth. Yet, it is celebrated in winter by more than two billion “believers” each year. Although we do not have the exact date, there are some details we can prove historically that help us to closely approximate the date of His birth. And, those who are true Believers hold the words of the Bible as real truth, not just supposition or myth. By relying on the Bible, in concert with historical data, we discover specific details about Jesus’ birth we can trust, including facts relating to the season of His birth (Luke 2:8, Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night).
It is clear from Luke 2:8 that flocks of sheep were still “living” in the fields at night. In the area of Israel, from about mid-October to mid-March, flocks were kept in shelters because of the cold weather. They were only in the fields at night during hotter weather. The weather in Israel on December 25th would have been far too cold for sheep in open fields at night. Also, the Jewish Talmud indicates that during the rainy season (our October-November), flocks were stabled. So, the passage in Luke 2 narrows down the timing of Jesus’ birth to spring, summer, or early fall months. More details about Luke 2:8 can be found in many commentaries.
Another aspect to consider about the timing of Jesus’ birth is related to the story of John the Baptist. He was six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:26-27, 36, Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary…. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren).
John’s father, Zacharias, was serving in the temple during the priestly course of Abijah (Luke 1:5, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth) when the angel of the Lord appeared to him. Because of the consistent, cyclical occurrence of the course of Abijah (1 Chronicles 24:15), we can conclude that John was conceived about mid-June and was born in late March (Luke 1:23-24, So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months…).
A quick calculation to add six months puts Jesus’ birth in early autumn (Luke 1:31, 36, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS…. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren).
Another detail provided in scripture can also help to narrow down the time of Jesus’ birth. Jerusalem and the surrounding towns, including Bethlehem (about 4 miles from Jerusalem), would have been crowded in early autumn because of the Jews and people from other lands who would have traveled to the area to observe the fall Holy Days (Leviticus 23:23, 27, 34, 36). The presence of the annual visitors to observe the fall Holy Day may provide the proper explanation as to why Mary and Joseph found no room at the “inn.”
Scripture shows us that it was the custom of Mary and Joseph to travel to the general area of Jerusalem for the annual Holy Days (Luke 2:41; John 7:1-10). The fall Holy Days were celebrated in the Jewish seventh month, which corresponds to our current September-October. These Holy Days did not occur in the middle of winter. (Please see our article, Holy Days Foretell God’s Salvation. It will describe all of God’s Holy Days that occur yearly in three seasons: spring, summer, and fall.)
Certainly, it is highly unlikely that Jesus was born anywhere near December 25th. So, why do professing Christians celebrate a birthday that was never commanded by God to be celebrated or even marked with cyclical significance on a day that is highly improbable as the day of birth, anyway?
In truth, there are other questionable practices some people observe and simply assume are “Christian.” If you would like more details and additional explanation about the history of the observance of December 25th as a special day (prior to the birth of Jesus), please contact us.
We also invite you to contact us regarding the ultimate importance of the birth of our Savior as a human being. There is great significance in His birth, and many Believers are missing crucial elements available to us in Scripture regarding the human life of Jesus Christ because we focus on the “day” of His birth and its festivities instead of focusing on our Savior. May God bless you richly as you search for His Truth.