Fact%20and%20Fiction%20About%20the%20Birth%20of%20Christ

1
Fact and Fiction Aboutthe Birth of Christ

• We must separate the facts from the fiction
  surrounding the birth of Jesus.

2
Introduction

• We are in the holiday season where many focus on
  the birth of Jesus.
• There is more Bible text on the birth of Jesus
  than any other event except his death.
• More study sermons and classes are needed
  because of the fiction that surrounds this event.

3
FACTS

• Jesus was born
• In Bethlehem
• In a stable
• At night
• Born of the virgin, Mary
• Shepherds came
• Angels announced his birth
• They worshipped Him

4
FACTS

• Wise Men Came
• From the east (Persia)
• They brought gifts
• The came looking for the newborn king

5
FICTION December 25

• This date was set in 325 AD
• This matched the pagan festival to mark the
  shortest day and sought to please the god of the
  sun
• Logically it was not in winter
• Biblically We are not to establish special days

6
FICTION December 25

• Galatians 410-11 You observe days and months and
  seasons and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest
  I have labored for you in vain.

7
FICTION December 25

• Romans 145 One person esteems one day above
  another another esteems every day alike. Let
  each be fully convinced in his own mind.

8
FICTION December 25

• Romans 146 He who observes the day, observes it
  to the Lord and he who does not observe the day,
  to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats,
  eats to the Lord and he gives God thanks and he
  who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat,
  and gives God thanks.

9
FICTION 3 Wise Men

• There were three kinds of gifts brought
• They generally traveled in large groups
• Some traditions even give their names
• What we know from the NT there was more than one

10
FICTION Wise Men at the Stable

• Many pictures, movies, and cards show the wise
  men at the stable with the shepherds on the night
  of Jesus birth
• What does the Bible teach?
• Matthew 211a And when they had come into the
  house, they saw the young child with Mary, his
  mother, and fell down and worshiped him.

11
FICTION Wise Men at the Stable

• At the house not the stable
• Young child not infant (babe)
• The word for babe (brephos) unborn or newborn
• Young child (teknon) toddler, walks, talks
• Luke 212 And this will be the sign to you You
  will find a babe (brephos) wrapped in swaddling
  clothes, lying in a manger.
• Matthew 211b - they saw the young child (teknon)
  with Mary, his mother, and fell down and
  worshiped him.

12
FICTION Wise Men at the Stable

• Jesus was at least 40 days old Luke 222 Now
  when the days of her purification according to
  the law of Moses were completed, they broght him
  to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
• Leviticus 12 sets this for a first born son as 40
  days
• This had to take place before the wise men
  visited.

13
FICTION Wise Men at the Stable

• It was in fact 2 YEARS after the birth of
  Jesus.
• Wise men come to Jerusalem to King Herod
• Herod inquired the time the star appeared
  Matthew 27 Then Herod, when he called the wise
  men, determined from them what time the star
  appeared.

14
FICTION Wise Men at the Stable

• Matthew 216 Then Herod, when he saw that he
  was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly
  angry and he sent forth and put to death all
  male children who were in Bethlehem and in all
  its districts, from two years old and under,
  according to the time which he had determined
  from the wise men.

15
Conclusion

• We need to pay attention to what the Bible
  teaches on all matters.
• We must
• Believe the facts
• Obey the commands
• Accept the promises