miracle second-temple

Nativity of Jesus

c. 4-6 BCE (approximate)

The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, central to Christian faith as the Incarnation—God becoming human to redeem humanity. Though celebrated on December 25, the actual date is unknown, likely occurring between 6-4 BCE during the reign of Herod the Great.

The Gospel Accounts

Luke’s Narrative (Luke 2:1-20)

The Journey to Bethlehem:

  • Caesar Augustus decreed a census
  • Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem
  • Bethlehem was Joseph’s ancestral city (House of David)
  • Mary was “great with child” during the journey

The Birth:

  • “There was no room for them in the inn”
  • Mary gave birth to her firstborn son
  • Wrapped him in swaddling cloths
  • Laid him in a manger (animal feeding trough)

The Shepherds:

  • Angel appeared to shepherds keeping watch at night
  • “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy”
  • “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”
  • Multitude of heavenly host: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”
  • Shepherds found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger

Matthew’s Account (Matthew 1:18-2:12)

Matthew emphasizes different details:

  • Mary found with child by the Holy Spirit before marriage
  • Joseph planned to divorce her quietly
  • Angel told Joseph: “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”
  • Name him Jesus: “for he shall save his people from their sins”
  • Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child”
  • Visit of the Magi (wise men from the East)
  • Herod’s reaction and massacre of innocents

Historical Context

Dating the Birth:

  • Matthew places it during Herod the Great’s reign (died 4 BCE)
  • Luke mentions Quirinius as governor of Syria (6-9 CE)
  • Historical tension between these datings
  • Most scholars favor 6-4 BCE

Bethlehem:

  • Prophesied birthplace (Micah 5:2)
  • City of David, about 5 miles south of Jerusalem
  • Small village, not an inn but likely a family dwelling with animals

Political Climate:

  • Roman occupation of Judea
  • Herod the Great as client king
  • Messianic expectations among Jews
  • Tensions between Jewish leaders and Roman authorities

Theological Significance

Incarnation

“The Word Became Flesh” (John 1:14):

  • God entering human history
  • Divine and human natures united in Christ
  • Humility of God: King born in stable
  • Accessibility: Born among the poor, announced to shepherds

Fulfillment of Prophecy

  • Micah 5:2: Bethlehem as birthplace
  • Isaiah 7:14: Virgin birth
  • Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born”
  • Connection to David’s lineage

Reversal of Expectations

  • King born in poverty, not palace
  • Announced to lowly shepherds, not nobles
  • Manger instead of throne
  • Rejected inn foreshadows rejection by his people

Christian Traditions

Christmas Celebration

  • December 25 chosen by 4th century
  • Replaced/transformed Roman winter solstice festivals
  • Eastern churches celebrate January 6 (Epiphany)
  • Liturgical season of Advent prepares for Christmas

Nativity Scenes

  • Tradition begun by Francis of Assisi (1223)
  • Depicts Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, animals
  • Often includes Magi (though they came later)
  • Central to Christmas observance worldwide

Theological Emphasis

Catholicism: Emphasizes Mary’s role, perpetual virginity Protestantism: Focuses on Incarnation and salvation Eastern Orthodoxy: Theotokos (Mother of God), icon veneration

Islamic Perspective

Islam honors Jesus’s birth with significant differences:

Quranic Account (Surah 19:16-34):

  • Mary withdrew to remote place
  • Jesus born miraculously under palm tree
  • Baby Jesus spoke from cradle, declaring prophethood
  • Affirms virgin birth but denies divinity

Key Differences:

  • Jesus is prophet, not God incarnate
  • Birth is miraculous but not Incarnation
  • Mary honored (entire Surah named after her)
  • No mention of Joseph, Bethlehem, or shepherds

Jewish Perspective

Traditional Judaism does not accept Jesus as Messiah:

  • Birth narratives not considered prophetically significant
  • Virgin birth prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) seen as mistranslation
  • Messiah still awaited
  • Jesus viewed as Jewish teacher, not divine

Historical Questions

Virgin Birth:

  • Cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy
  • Naturalistic explanations proposed by skeptics
  • Faith vs. historical evidence debates

Census:

  • Luke’s census under Quirinius debated
  • No Roman record of universal census under Augustus
  • Historical discrepancies with Matthew’s account

Star of Bethlehem:

  • Various astronomical explanations (conjunction, comet, supernova)
  • Symbolic vs. literal interpretations

Significance

The Nativity stands as Christianity’s central claim: God entered human history as a helpless infant. This paradox—the Almighty born in weakness, the King in a stable, the Creator among creation—defines Christian theology. Whether historical fact or sacred myth, the Nativity narrative has shaped two millennia of Western civilization, art, music, and thought.

For believers, Christmas celebrates the moment divinity embraced humanity, when eternity touched time, when the infinite became finite. The baby in the manger represents God’s radical identification with human suffering, poverty, and vulnerability—the beginning of the story that leads to the cross and empty tomb.

“Fear not,” the angel told the shepherds. “For unto you is born this day…a Savior.” In that announcement lies Christianity’s hope: God has come to rescue humanity, beginning in the most humble way imaginable.