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The promised answers
Dec. 19th, 2009 02:46 pmI'm basing my answers on the bible and some history. Your interpretation may vary.
Was Jesus born on Dec 25th?
It's very unlikely. December 25th is the middle of winter in Israel and the shepherds would not likely have been outside tending their sheep; the weather was bad and the forage sparse. The bible says that Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist was six months pregnant when Jesus was conceived and that John's father was serving in the temple when he heard that Elisabeth would conceive. As I understand it the time of year that Zacharias was serving (Abia) corresponds historically to June 13-19. Give him a few days to get home and "know" his wife. Assuming she got pregnant immediately you can add an additional 9 months to that time to extrapolate that John was born in March. Jesus was born six months after that, which brings us to September. However, since the bible never tells us, we can only extrapolate based on current historical knowledge, which we all know is colored by time and omission.
What brought the shepherds to Jesus?
Angels appeared to them and told them of his birth and that they would find him swaddled and lying in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea(Luke 2:8-12) No star appeared to them.
Where was Jesus born (City and location in the city)?
Bethlehem of Judea in an inn stable. He was laid in a feeding trough after his birth.
Why were Joseph and Mary in that city during his birth?
There was a tax called by Augustus Caesar. Since Joseph was of the lineage of David, he had to travel from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea to be accounted for. Mary's time of delivery corresponded with this required journey.
Who was king when Jesus was born?
Herod was king but it doesn't specifically mention which Herod. However his son Archelaus reigned after he died. I don't know my Israeli history well enough to know which Herod that would be.
How old was Jesus when the shepherds came?
Jesus was a newborn when the shepherds arrived to find him in a manger.
How old was Jesus when the wise men came?
I am presuming the star in the east began to shine when Jesus was born. Herod asked the wise men when that had occurred and he killed all children 2 years and under according to the time they had given him; we can probably presume that Jesus was around two years old. In Matthew it refers to him as a young child and not a baby and also indicates that they found him in a house not a stable. (Mat 2:11)
Did the wise men go directly to Jesus?
No, they detoured to Jerusalem; no doubt they expected a king would be born in the city where they ruled.
What brought the wise men to Jesus?
The wise men followed a star from the East but got blinded by their own assumptions about Jerusalem. The prophets in Jerusalem directed them to Bethlehem and they saw the star again as they left Jerusalem.
How many shepherds were there?
The bible doesn't say
How many wise men were there?
The bible doesn't say. They brought three types of gifts so often it is assumed that there were three but the only thing we know for sure is that there was more than one since the bible refers to them in the plural.
What gifts were brought to Jesus?
Gold, frankincense and myrrh
What happened after the wise men left?
They were warned of God not to return to Herod so they departed another way. Seeing that they did not return to him, Herod order the slaying of all children under the age of two years.
Why was Jesus not affected by this happening?
An Angel appeared to Joseph directing them to flee to Egypt, which they did before Herod realized that the wise men would not be returning.
What does the Christmas tree have to do with Jesus' birth?
Nothing really. It's a symbol of rebirth used in pagan yule festivals and midwinter celebrations. As I understand it, the tree was incorporated into Christian traditions in an effort by the Catholic church to persuade Pagans to Christianity. It has come to symbolize the spirit of giving and often it is topped with a star or an angel to symbolize the things that brought people to Jesus. However, that really doesn't change the original statement.
Was Jesus born on Dec 25th?
It's very unlikely. December 25th is the middle of winter in Israel and the shepherds would not likely have been outside tending their sheep; the weather was bad and the forage sparse. The bible says that Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist was six months pregnant when Jesus was conceived and that John's father was serving in the temple when he heard that Elisabeth would conceive. As I understand it the time of year that Zacharias was serving (Abia) corresponds historically to June 13-19. Give him a few days to get home and "know" his wife. Assuming she got pregnant immediately you can add an additional 9 months to that time to extrapolate that John was born in March. Jesus was born six months after that, which brings us to September. However, since the bible never tells us, we can only extrapolate based on current historical knowledge, which we all know is colored by time and omission.
What brought the shepherds to Jesus?
Angels appeared to them and told them of his birth and that they would find him swaddled and lying in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea(Luke 2:8-12) No star appeared to them.
Where was Jesus born (City and location in the city)?
Bethlehem of Judea in an inn stable. He was laid in a feeding trough after his birth.
Why were Joseph and Mary in that city during his birth?
There was a tax called by Augustus Caesar. Since Joseph was of the lineage of David, he had to travel from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea to be accounted for. Mary's time of delivery corresponded with this required journey.
Who was king when Jesus was born?
Herod was king but it doesn't specifically mention which Herod. However his son Archelaus reigned after he died. I don't know my Israeli history well enough to know which Herod that would be.
How old was Jesus when the shepherds came?
Jesus was a newborn when the shepherds arrived to find him in a manger.
How old was Jesus when the wise men came?
I am presuming the star in the east began to shine when Jesus was born. Herod asked the wise men when that had occurred and he killed all children 2 years and under according to the time they had given him; we can probably presume that Jesus was around two years old. In Matthew it refers to him as a young child and not a baby and also indicates that they found him in a house not a stable. (Mat 2:11)
Did the wise men go directly to Jesus?
No, they detoured to Jerusalem; no doubt they expected a king would be born in the city where they ruled.
What brought the wise men to Jesus?
The wise men followed a star from the East but got blinded by their own assumptions about Jerusalem. The prophets in Jerusalem directed them to Bethlehem and they saw the star again as they left Jerusalem.
How many shepherds were there?
The bible doesn't say
How many wise men were there?
The bible doesn't say. They brought three types of gifts so often it is assumed that there were three but the only thing we know for sure is that there was more than one since the bible refers to them in the plural.
What gifts were brought to Jesus?
Gold, frankincense and myrrh
What happened after the wise men left?
They were warned of God not to return to Herod so they departed another way. Seeing that they did not return to him, Herod order the slaying of all children under the age of two years.
Why was Jesus not affected by this happening?
An Angel appeared to Joseph directing them to flee to Egypt, which they did before Herod realized that the wise men would not be returning.
What does the Christmas tree have to do with Jesus' birth?
Nothing really. It's a symbol of rebirth used in pagan yule festivals and midwinter celebrations. As I understand it, the tree was incorporated into Christian traditions in an effort by the Catholic church to persuade Pagans to Christianity. It has come to symbolize the spirit of giving and often it is topped with a star or an angel to symbolize the things that brought people to Jesus. However, that really doesn't change the original statement.
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