The question arises: "But doesn't Jesus want us to celebrate His birth? What about the Christmas Story found in the Bible?" Except for a few variations, the story generally goes something like this: "Jesus was born on December 25th and shepherds along with the wise men came to celebrate his birth. The three wise men brought Christmas gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, serving as an example to us that we should give presents to each other to celebrate his birth. The shepherds returned to their flocks and the wise men, warned of Herod's wrath, returned home another way. Next we hear of Joseph with Mary and Child leaving Bethlehem for Egypt; and after staying there for sometime, going on to Nazareth." But this is, to a great extent, false. Yet few people have ever questioned the traditional Catholic teaching, so this myth is quite widespread in acceptance. Though this story is roughly what happened, there are some very significant differences between it, and the Bible account of what actually happened. Open your Bible and follow along both Luke 2, and Matthew .

In Luke 2:1 we read that there was a world wide taxing, and (verse 5) Joseph and Mary left their home in Nazareth and went to Bethlehem. While there, rooming in a stable, Mary gave birth to Jesus, and laid him in a manger (verse 7). He was not born in a manger, as some teach. Now there were shepherds tending their flock in the field, when they heard that Christ the Lord was born (verse 11). This is witness enough that Jesus was not born in the winter. In Israel, by mid-October, all the sheep are brought into a shelter. Additionally, Caesar never would have proclaimed the taxing which demanded such wide-spread travel, during the winter months when traveling is so difficult (Luke2:1-3). Conclusive Biblical proof shows that Jesus was born approximately in MID-SEPTEMBER! Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, ministered in the temple during the 8th course (Abijah) which occurred on the Jewish calender from Iyar 27 to Sivan 5, lasting one week. On our calender, this would be June 1 to 8 (IChronicles 24:5-19;27:1,2;Josephus). Following this week's ministry, Zacharias returned home, his wife conceived (Luke 1:23 & 24), and nine months later, about the middle of March, John was born. Since Jesus was 6 months younger than John (Luke 1:26-36), His birth must have occurred in the middle of September. Even Jesus' traditional age of 33 1/2 years at his crucifixion in spring, points to a birth in autumn, not in winter. So it is absurd to suggest that Jesus was born in December! The simple fact that we are not told by the writers of the scriptures when Jesus was born, suggests clearly that they, nor Jesus, ever intended that His birthday be celebrated.

The shepherds came immediately (Luke 2:16), in fact, they arrived before the circumcising, and found Jesus lying in the manger. Eight days after His birth, he was circumcised and named (verse 21). After Mary's purification, totaling 41 days (Leviticus 12:24), the family came to Jerusalem to comply with the Law of the Lord (verses 22 & 23). Jesus, now approximately six weeks old, was brought into the temple. Simeon was led of the Spirit to come see the Lord's Christ "when the parents brought in the child" (verse 26 & 27)/ Anna, a prophetess, came in at the same time (verse 38) and gave thanks unto the Lord. So after they had performed all things according to the Law...they returned...to their own city Nazareth" (verse 39). But still no wise men...not yet!

With the Holy Family in Nazareth and the passing of about 2 years, the wise men finally completed their long toilsome journey. But they didn't see Jesus in Bethlehem as the traditional story teaches. They didn't find him as a babe in a manger but they found him instead in Nazareth as a young child! Let's turn to Matthew 2 and see what the Bible says, and forget the Catholic tradition that we've blindly accepted for so long.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold. There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:1)

In Matthew 2:1 the original Greek text shows that the words "born" and "came" are somewhat different than the same Greek words used elsewhere. The words used in verse one indicate the passage of time between the actual date of birth, and the arrival of the wise men. From the rest of the text, it is clear that a considerable amount of time elapsed between the original sighting of the star in the east when Jesus was born, and the arrival in Jerusalem of the wise men. Notice here, that the star did not lead the wise men to Bethlehem, BUT TO JERUSALEM. This was done to notify the jealous Herod of the birth of the real King, so that his anxiety would drive him to murder, and thus force the Family's flight to Egypt thus fulfilling Hosea's prophesy, (Matthew 2:15) and Jeremiah's prophesy (Matthew 2:17,18).

When Herod heard about the new king and the star in the heavens announcing his birth to the wise men, he was troubled about these things, and all Jerusalem with him (verse 2 & 3). After learning where the King should be born (verse 4-6), Herod "enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared" (verse 7). He obviously was told that the star had appeared approximately 2 years prior! Because he sent them to search for a "young child" and not a babe. Furthermore, when he slew all the children, the ones that were killed were "two years and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men" (verse 16).

Herod, being told of Micah's prophesy (verse 6), sent them to Bethlehem (verse 8).

THE WISE MEN NEVER WENT TO BETHLEHEM

But they didn't go to Bethlehem! Neither did they "search diligently" as Herod had commanded them (verse 8), because the star reappeared to them, and led them to exactly where the young child was (verse 9). The wise men followed the star, and not the instructions of Herod. They went to Nazareth, because Jesus had lived there since about 6 weeks old (Luke 2:39), and was in a house, and not a stable (Matthew 2:11).

Additional proof that Jesus was nearly 2 years old is found in John the Baptist. Jesus was 6 months younger than John (Luke 1:36). When Herod gave the death order for all children "two years old and under" (Matthew 2:16), Jesus, being in that threatened age group, had to be taken to Egypt for safety (Matthew 2:13). Yet there is no record that John the Baptist made such an escape, and was unharmed. Why? Obviously, John was older than two and beyond the threatened age. Therefore, Jesus, being 6 months younger, had to be at least 1 year and 6 months old or older at the time of the wise men's visit, and was probably nearer two (Matthew 2:16,17).