Was Jesus Really Born on Christmas?

I hope you love the products and resources I recommend here at A Little R & R. Just so you know, it is possible that I get a commission and collect income from the links on this page. Click here for more info.

I am not a doctor, none of the information on any of these pages pertaining to the Ketogenic Diet or Adrenal Fatigue should be considered medical advice and should not replace the care of your personal physician. I am simply eager to share the information I have learned while on my own journey to health. Before you embark on this journey, please consult with your physician.

If Jesus is the Lamb of God and the Bread of Life, when and where should He be born?

Was Jesus really born on Christmas Day?

Dr. Luke was a man of detail. This is reflected greatly in the manner in which he wrote the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Epistle of Acts.

Luke takes great pain to accurately reflect the timing and location of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus over the Roman Empire.

It is curious, is it not, the prophet Daniel declares the second coming of Jesus Christ will be during the reign of another ruler of the Roman Empire.

 “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:26-27 KJV).

Coincidence or divine plan that Jesus first and second coming would be so placed?

Was Jesus really born on Christmas Day? This debate arises every Christmas season. Scripture and history provide us some clues to the answer. #alittlerandr #Christmas #Jesus #Bible

What does it say about His birth?

One of God’s mysteries is found in the designation, Jesus is a Nazarene. He is also of the “house and lineage of David.”

How does someone from Nazareth come from the “House of David?”

Dr. Sean Freyne (Director of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and Emeritus Professor of Theology at Trinity College Dublin) in a recent interview with Hershel Shanks, Editor of Biblical Archeology Review, when asked, “Was Jesus born in Bethlehem?”

He stated, “My sense would be no. He was born in Nazareth, I believe. He’s never called ‘Jesus of Bethlehem’; he is called ‘Jesus of Nazareth’” (Biblical Archeology Review, 36:06 Nov/Dec 2010).

Apparently, Dr. Freyne totally disregards the historical accuracy of Luke’s account of the taxation and the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Yet, Dr. Alfred Edersheim, a foremost authority on Jewish history, clearly documents the validity and accuracy of Luke’s historical account and the journey taken by Mary and Joseph, in his monumental volume, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.

John the Baptist saw Jesus one day and declared, “The Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The next day John say Jesus again and told two of his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:36).

The Apostle Peter wrote, “But, with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish” (1 Peter 1:19).

What is the significance of Jesus being the Lamb of God and Christmas?

The concept of the lamb and the redemption of mankind has root in the deliverance of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and brought to the Promise Land.

The angel of death passed over the homes of all the Jewish people who butchered a lamb and placed the blood of the lamb on the door casing of their house.

The Lord God commanded Israel to remember and to celebrate the event of Passover every year. The choice of the lamb, the age of the lamb, the entire ceremony of butchering and eating the lamb is a picture of Jesus Christ.

It is not a coincidence Jesus Christ was arrested and crucified on Passover, nor was it a coincidence Jesus Christ’s birth was in a cave on the edge of the fields of Migdol Eder, meaning “the tower of the flock” (Edersheim, pg. 186).

These were no ordinary fields.

The shepherds that came to see the baby born in the stable cave were no ordinary shepherds. The sheep raised in these fields were for sacrifice at Passover.

Would these sheep and shepherds be out in the field on a winter night of December?

Dr. Edersheim addresses that important detail. “The same Mishnic passage [that addresses the law of the shepherds and raising sheep for Passover] also leads us to infer that these flocks lay out all the year round (Ederseim’s emphasis)… of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak” (pg. 187).

He goes on to say, “There is no adequate reason for questioning the historical accuracy of this date [December 25th]. The objections generally made rest on grounds, which seem to me historically untenable” (pg. 187, footnote).

Jesus, the Lamb of God sacrificed at Passover, was born in a stable on the fields where Passover Lambs were raised.

He was attended by shepherds who only raised sheep for sacrifice on Passover.

It would seem extremely appropriate that believers honor and celebrate the day the Lamb of God was born in Bethlehem’s stable.

It is He “who takes away the sin of the World.”


F. Dean Hackett has served in full time Christian ministry since October 1971. He has ministered through out the United States, Canada and Eastern Europe, serving as an evangelist, pastor, and conference speaker. He has planted four churches and assisted in the planting of many others and is known for training many workers who are presently in full time ministry as pastors and missionaries. He holds a Masters degree in Ministry, a Masters of Theology and a Ph.D. in theological studies. His enthusiastic and challenging ministry has made him a popular teacher and conference speaker. He has written five books, Discovering Jesus, Uncovering the Jesus Life; The Joy of Becoming Like Jesus; The Joy of Becoming an Ambassador for Christ; Discovering True Identity; Mission Agape’. He began Spirit Life Ministries International in 2001 to facilitate and support outreach ministries in the USA, Croatia and other regions the world that open for ministry. He is the author of F Dean Hackett – Foundational. You can find him on FacebookTwitter, and Pinterest

You can read all of Dr. Hackett’s articles here.


More Christmas Content here:


25 Fun Advent Ideas for the Whole Family

Multi-Grade Level Christmas Unit Study

FREE Christmas Notebooking Pages

Mary’s Unshakeable Faith

Christmas Recipe Cards – Free Download

10 Bible Verses for the Names of Jesus – Free Download

5 Meaningful Christmas Ideas for Busy Moms

5 Advent Studies and Journals For the Whole Family

The Solid Faith of Joseph

8 Exciting Christmas Studies for Your Kids

One Weapon You Need Against Holiday Depression

Clothes Pin Snowflake Craft

Why Jesus is More Than a Baby in a Manger

Was Jesus Really Born on Christmas?

The Jesus the  World Needs to Know

How You Can Have Peace From the Inside Out

Gift Guides

60+ Gift Ideas for the Christian Woman

5 Christian Fiction Authors I’ve Read Over and Over

10+ Books Every Christian Should Read

50+ Gift Ideas and Resources That Teach Missions

20 Devotional Books Every Christian Should Read

Make Christmas baking extra-fun this year with these free Christmas Recipe Cards. Plus, they make a nice addition to Gifts-in-a-Jar or kitchen gadget gifts. #alittlerandr #recipecards #Christmas #freeprintable

Free Download

Make this Christmas special by praying through the entire Christmas story this year with this 30 Day Prayer Challenge for Christmas. #alittlerandr #Christmas #Bible #Prayer #warroom #prayerjournal #prayerchallenge
Prayer Journal Prompts for Christmas
Rosilind
Follow Me
Latest posts by Rosilind (see all)

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *