by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #130 posted December 16, 2021, edited January 3, 2022.
Outside of Creation, the four most stupendous events in history are the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Yeshua (Jesus in English) of Nazareth, a simple carpenter whose bloodline nonetheless could be traced back to Adam through the Jewish kings, the Jewish patriarchs, and the ancient patriarchs. This bloodline derived from His mother, a simple, unwed Jewish maiden whose name was Miriam (Mary in English), and who bore Him in a lowly manger in a lowly town in a small country under the thumb of the mighty Roman Empire.
Here I will focus on the first event, the birth of Jesus, which has inspired some of the greatest literature, music, painting, and sculpture ever crafted by human hands. The musical paeans range from the poignant strains of Silent Night to the grandeur and glory of Handel’s Messiah, but all pay homage to “the King of kings and Lord of lords” who “…shall reign forever and ever.” Not surprisingly, Christmas carols are sung with gusto by believers and unbelievers alike, which I actually witnessed for several years at the annual singing of Christmas carols in the Winter Garden of the World Financial in lower Manhattan, where I worked in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Despite Jesus’ lowly estate, He did not arrive unannounced. He was preceded by proclamations of His coming that have never been matched in human history. In order to describe them however, I must first establish the context into which He was born.[1]
1 – SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN SACRED & SECULAR CALENDARS
First, we need to know the date of Jesus, birth in the Gregorian Calendar.
The only sure chronological link between biblical chronology and secular chronology is found in Luke 3:1-3: “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (KJV).
On August 19, 14 AD, Augustus died and was succeeded by Tiberius Caesar. Hence, according to the accession year system, Tiberius’s accession year was 14 AD, his first regnal year was 15 AD, and his fifteenth regnal year was 29 AD (29 AD = 57/43 Augustus = 0 Tiberius).[2] Hence, 15 Tiberius = 29 AD.
According to the Scriptures, (a) John-the-Baptist started his ministry in 15 Tiberius, (b) soon thereafter he baptized Jesus, (c) soon thereafter Jesus celebrated His 30th birthday, (d) immediately thereafter Jesus went on a 40-day Sojourn in the Wilderness, (e) immediately thereafter Jesus commenced His 3.5 year ministry, and (f) early in April of the following year Jesus was crucified on Passover. Thus, Jesus was born in late August or early September of 2 BC and died on Passover in 33 AD.
In 2 BC, 1 Tishri (the 1st day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar), fell on August 28. 1 Tishri is Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets, when several shofars are blown in the Temple in Jerusalem to announce the beginning of the sacred year. There is no doubt in my mind that the 1st Advent of the Jewish Messiah, who is also the Lord and Savior of Mankind, occurred on that day.
On March 16, 37 AD, Tiberius died and was succeeded by Gaius Caesar (Caligula). Hence, 37 AD = 23 Tiberius = 0 Gaius.
2 – THE REIGN OF KING HEROD-THE-GREAT
Next step, we need to know the context of Jesus’ life in Judea, which occurred during the reign of King Herod-the-Great, a satrap of the Roman Empire.
In 40 BC, which was 4 Augustus, Herod was appointed King of Judea by the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus.[3] Hence, 40 BC = 4 Augustus = 0 Herod.
In 37 BC, which was 7 Augustus, Herod took Jerusalem. Hence, 37 BC = 7 Augustus = 3/0 Herod.
In either 5 BC or 3 BC, Herod appointed his son Archelaus as co-regent of Judea and Samaria (I prefer the former because there are indications that Archelaus reigned for a total of 10 years, 5 years (4 BC-1 AD) as co-regent and 5 years (1-6 AD) as king). Josephus appears to have erred in subtracting three years of this co-regency from Herod’s full reign, thereby arriving at a 37 year reign for Herod. He may have been influenced by the fact that, after the death of Herod and Archelaus, Antipas and Philip both claimed that their reigns had commenced at the same time as their brother Archelaus’s co-regency.
On August 28, 2 BC, Jesus of Nazareth was born.
Circa December 23-25, 2 BC, the Magi visited Herod in Jerusalem seeking directions to the birthplace of the newborn King, whom they had been prompted by prophecy and the stars to visit and to pay homage.
Probably early in January 1 BC, Herod issued an edict that all Jewish boys in his kingdom who were under the age of two be killed – an atrocity that is called the Slaughter of the Innocents.[4]
On December 29, 1 BC, an eclipse of the moon occurred on the day on which Herod had a man named Matthias executed and another man named Matthias deprived of the position of High Priest.
On January 3, 1 AD, five days after the lunar eclipse, Herod died (40 years from his appointment as King of Judea in 40 BC and 37 years from his Conquest of Jerusalem in 37 BC).
At this point, I am ready to describe the ways in which God announced the 1st Advent of His Son.
3 – THE PROPHECIES IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
Both the Tenakh (the Old Testament) and the New Covenant Scriptures (the New Testament) are all about Yeshua, the Son of God, who, in perfect accord with the instructions of His Father and with the help of the Holy Spirit, made, sustains, manages, redeemed, and will judge Universe. Not surprisingly, the Bible contains many prophecies concerning Him. In the Appendix – Messiah’s Prefigurement in Scripture below, I list 45 prophecies, but I am sure that I have missed others.
4 – THE PROCLAMATION OF THE STARS
As the 1st Advent of His Son approached, God placed a message in the heavens over Mankind’s head.
In those days, everyone watched the stars. What would people throughout the world have seen in the heavens, which, for example, undoubtedly played a role in prompting the Magi to travel to Judea? Here are the highlights.
On August 1, 3 BC, Jupiter rose as a morning star.[5]
On August 12, 3 BC, after leaving the vicinity of the Sun, Jupiter (the Father) conjoined with Venus (the Mother), and together they rose as an unusually bright morning star. Jupiter was often associated with the birth of kings, and this event would have been regarded as a harbinger of the birth of a king. Meanwhile, the sun (the Supreme Father), the Moon (also a mother), and Mercury (the Messenger of the gods), congregated in the constellation Leo (the Lion) – not only was Leo Judah’s natal sign, but Messiah was called “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” [6]
During the next twenty days, Mercury moved toward Venus in the constellation Leo (their conjunction occurred circa September 1, 3 BC), while the Sun moved out of the constellation Leo and into the constellation Virgo (the Virgin) and Jupiter entered the constellation Leo. These events appear to echo some of the themes surrounding Messiah’s first advent, when a Messenger, John-the-Baptist, would announce the coming of a prince (Gabriel’s term for Messiah in the vision he gave to Daniel), who would be born as the Son of God and Miriam (a virgin mother) and would reign over all as King of kings and Lord of lords.[7]
On September 14, 3 BC, Jupiter conjoined with Regulus (the King), a star of the first magnitude and the chief star of the constellation Leo, for the first time.[8]
On February 17, 2 BC, Jupiter conjoined with Regulus for the second time. They were joined by the Moon.[9]
Circa February 27 or March 13, 2 BC (G), John-the Baptist was born – just over nine months [10] after his conception circa Saturday, May 23 or June 6, 3 BC and just over five and a half months prior to Messiah’s birth on August 28, 2 BC.
On May 8, 2 BC, Jupiter conjoined with Regulus for the third time.[11]
On June 17, 2 BC, after continuing its westward passage across the sky, Jupiter conjoined with Venus in the constellation Leo at the exact time of a full Moon. The two planets were so close that they would have appeared as one gigantic star in a marriage union.[12]
On August 27, 2 BC, Jupiter and Mars (the Warrior) conjoined, with Mercury and Venus nearby. Together the four planets constituted what in astrological circles is known as a “massing of the planets” in the constellation Leo. At the same time, the Sun was entering the constellation Virgo.[13]
On August 28, 2 BC (G), which was Tishri 1 (the 1st day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar), Rosh Hashanah, and the Feast of Trumpets, Jesus the Messiah was born.[14] (2 BC = 42 Augustus)
On December 22, 2 BC, after leaving the company of Mercury, Mars, and Venus and travelling westward for four months, Jupiter stopped in the sky – having reached a stationary point between its progression and regression with respect to Earth. It would have appeared motionless in the sky for a period of six days centered on December 25, 2 BC. From the perspective of Jerusalem at dawn, the normal time for astronomical observations, Jupiter would have been located in the meridian position at an elevation of 68 degrees above the southern horizon, which would have put it in the abdomen of Virgo (the Virgin) and directly over Bethlehem.[15] In addition, the Sun reached the Winter Solstice on December 21/22 and therefore was also standing still in the sky.[16] Thus, after following a star (undoubtedly Jupiter) for months, the Magi may have arrived in Jerusalem at the start of Jupiter’s six days of motionlessness in the sky, met with Herod, and then set out for the Holy Family’s home (see The Magi below).
5 – THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY
Circa November, 3 BC, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the young woman whom God chose to be the mother of his Son.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored One, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore he child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (KJ21 Luke 1:26-38)
6 – THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE SHEPHERDS
In the evening of August 28, 2 BC, an angel appeared to a group of Shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. They were probably boys and young men from lowly families who were working for a pittance, if anything, and seldom encountered anything exciting other than an attack on their flocks by a predator.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (KJ21 Luke 2:8-14)
They immediately left their flocks and went to the manger next to the inn in town, where they gazed in wonder at the newborn babe sleeping in a bed of straw – a reaction in stark contrast to the later response of the Judean king in Jerusalem.
7 – THE MESSIAH’S BIRTH & EARLY MONTHS
In the summer of 4 BC, Sulpicius Quirinius became governor of the province of Syria, replacing Quintilius Varus and continuing in that position until the summer of 2 BC, when he in turn was replaced by Gaius Caesar. Quirinius was undoubtedly the Cyrenius (in Greek, Kyrenios) whom Luke identified as the governor of Syria at the time that Joseph and Mary were traveling to Bethlehem.[17]
Circa late August, 3 BC, Augustus required that the population of Palestine be registered for the fifth time during his reign (censuses occurred in 21 BC, 16 BC, 11 BC, 8 BC, and 3 BC). Typically, a census required about a year to complete, and thus the fifth census ended a year or more later – in the summer or fall of 2 BC.
Circa November, 3 BC, the Archangel Gabriel delivered the Annunciation to Mary.
Circa November 21, 3 BC (G), Jesus was conceived – just over five and a half months after John-the-Baptist was conceived and just over nine months[18] prior to His birth on August 28, 2 BC.
In late August, 2 BC, Sulpicius Quirinius (Cyrenius) was replaced as governor of Syria by Gaius Caesar. There are indications that Gaius was actually in Rome at the time, which might indicate that Quirinius continued to govern for a while beyond the formal end to his term.
In late August, 2 BC, toward the end of the fifth census, Joseph and Mary were making their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Joseph’s home town) to be counted in the fifth census, which had commenced the previous year and was probably nearing its end.[19]
On August 28, 2 BC (G), which was Tishri 1 (the 1st day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar), Rosh Hashanah, and the Feast of Trumpets, Jesus the Jewish Messiah was born.[20] (2 BC = 42 Augustus).
On September 5, 2 BC (G) which was Tishri 9, Jesus was circumcised.[21]
On October 7, 2 BC (G), which was the 40th day following Jesus’ birth, on which (a) Mary completed the ritual purification (or tahara) of a woman after giving birth to a son[22] and (b) the Holy Family traveled to Jerusalem.[23]
On October 8, 2 BC (G), Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated, and both Simon[24] and Anna[25] identified Him as the One who would be the source of salvation or redemption in Israel.[26] Then, after Jesus’ dedication, the family journeyed to Nazareth.[27]
Soon after October 8, 2 BC (G), the Holy Family was back living in their home in Nazareth.
On December 25, 2 BC (G), the Magi visited the Holy Family in their home.
8 – THE VISIT OF THE MAGI
The Bible indicates that Wise Men (now better known as the Magi) from the Orient (lands east of the Persian Gulf) undertook an arduous journey from their homelands to Jerusalem to pay homage to the newborn King. They claimed that they had followed a star, which is now called the Star of Bethlehem. They brought Him gifts of gold,[28] frankincense,[29] and myrrh.[30] In doing so, they set an example for all Gentiles of how we should respond to the advent of the newborn King, the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, by worshipping Him, honoring Him, and obeying Him.[31]
Because there were three gifts, biblical commentators have assumed that there were three Magi, and they have named them Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper). According to western church tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India.
The visit of the Magi actually presents us with a puzzle which I have not yet solved. We can be reasonably sure that the Magi arrived at the Holy Family’s house or home [32] sometime between Jesus’ birth on August 28, 2 BC and December 25, 2 BC, just short of a four month period, although some commentators have argued for as much as a two year period.
Years ago, after reading Ernest Martin’s book, I thought that the Magi had visited Jesus in Bethlehem on December 25, 2 BC. Recently,[33] after I worked out the chronological sequence involving (a) Jesus’ circumcision, (b) Mary’s purification, (c) the family’s trip from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, (d) Jesus’ dedication in the Temple, and (e) the family’s trip to Nazareth (see above), I realized that there is a serious problem here – a conflict between location and timing.
The Bible indicates that the Holy Family resided in (a) Bethlehem from August 28 to October 7, (b) Jerusalem, from October 7 to October 8, and (c) Nazareth, soon after October 8.
The Bible indicates that the Magi first visited Herod in Jerusalem to get directions, and Herod told them to go to Bethlehem, [34] but then the Bible does not say that the Magi went to Bethlehem. Instead, it says that “…they departed [from Jerusalem]; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” [35]
Well, where was He? The answer to this question is not as straight forward as it seems.
First, the Bible records that, “…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.”[36] Clearly, the Magi left the Orient and travelled westward to Jerusalem. They explained to Herod that “we have seen his star in the east.”[37] If you take what they said literally, they would have seen the star in the sky somewhere over China, east of their homelands. Since they started in the east and followed the star to the west, however, they must have meant that, when they were in the east, they saw the star in the west and followed it to Jerusalem. Otherwise, the verse makes no sense.
Second, the Bible is silent concerning where the star was at the time, Martin identifies the star as Jupiter and says that, on December 25, 2 BC, a viewer in Jerusalem would have seen it standing over Bethlehem roughly 5 miles to the south by southwest. Unfortunately, by then the Holy Family was in Nazareth, roughly 90 miles north by northeast of Jerusalem – a full 180 degrees difference on the compass.
Third, the church has been consistent in identifying the location and timing of the Magi’s visit as Bethlehem and December 25th respectively. The Magi’s visit was celebrated (a) by the churches in the first and second centuries AD as the Feast of the Nativity on December 25th, [38] (b) by Orthodox churches today as the Adoration of the Magi on the same date, and (c) by western churches today as the Feast of the Epiphany on January 8.
As you ponder this problem, keep in mind the Magi’s alternatives once they arrived in Jerusalem. Basically, they could travel in one of four directions: (a) to the north by northeastward to Nazareth (roughly 90 miles away, (b) eastward back to the Orient (a far distance away), (c) south by southwestward to Bethlehem (roughly 5 miles away), or (d) westward to the Mediterranean Sea (roughly 35 miles away). In my view, the only sensible alternatives are (a) and (c).
My solution to the problem, which I hasten to say involves ignoring some of the non-biblical evidence, is as follows. Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem on August 28, 2 BC. After Mary completed her ritual purification on October 7, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem, where He was dedicated in the Temple on October 8. Then, they traveled to their home in Nazareth. In late December, the Magi arrived in Jerusalem seeking the newborn King. Although Herod directed them to Bethlehem, the Magi received more up-to-date information from someone else in Jerusalem and went to Nazareth instead, where they visited the One whom they sought on December 25, 2 BC. Meanwhile, the star was standing over Bethlehem to the south. (I admit that I am not happy with this solution. If you come up with a better one, please leave a comment.)
9 – THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS
Soon after the Magi’s visit to the baby Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Herod sought to destroy the baby Jesus, and that he should flee to Egypt with his family until he heard again from the angel. So Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus went to Egypt.[39]
Probably early in January, 1 BC, as noted above, Herod issued an edict that all Jewish boys in his kingdom who were under the age of two be killed – an atrocity that is called the Slaughter of the Innocents.[40]
On January 3, 1 AD, as also noted above, five days after the lunar eclipse on December 29, 1 BC, Herod died (40 years from his appointment as King of Judea in 40 BC and 37 years from his Conquest of Jerusalem in 37 BC).
Soon thereafter, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Herod had died, and that he should return to Israel. So Joseph took his family to Nazareth.[41]
10 – WHAT HAS BEEN LOST
Because the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi have been conflated, His birth has been celebrated on the wrong date for over two millennia. Moreover, important aspects of His birth have been lost, such as (a) His coming being proclaimed by the stars, (b) His arrival coinciding with Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets, when the sounds of the shofars blowing in the Temple could be heard throughout Old Jerusalem, and (c) His adoration by the Magi indicating the importance to Mankind of what He would accomplish during His time on Earth, such as (a) fulfilling the requirements of the Mosaic Covenant perfectly and (b) instituting the New Covenant with His faithful Jewish and Gentile followers throughout the ages, who would constitute His Bride for all eternity.
© 2021 John Holbrook Jr.
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APPENDIX – MESSIAH’S PREFIGUREMENT IN SCRIPTURE [42]
(prophecies concerning our Lord and their fulfillment)
01 – He would be the seed of a woman.
This prophecy occurs in Genesis 3:15: “[God says to Satan]…I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Galatians 4:4 records its fulfillment: “…when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law….”
02- He would be the seed of Abraham.
This prophecy occurs in Genesis 12:3: “[God says to Abraham]…in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Luke 3:34 records its fulfillment in the genealogy which traces Jesus’ blood line from Mary back to Adam: “…Abraham, who was the son of Thara….”
03 – He would be the seed of Isaac.
This prophecy occurs in Genesis 17:19: “…God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”
Luke 3:34 records its fulfillment in the genealogy which traces Jesus’ blood line from Mary back to Adam.: “…Isaac, who was the son of Abraham,….”
04 – He would be the seed of Jacob.
This prophecy occurs in Numbers 24:17: “…there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,….”
Luke 3:34 records its fulfillment in the genealogy which traces Jesus’ blood line from Mary back to Adam: “…Jacob, who was the son of Isaac,….”
05 – He would be from the tribe of Judah.
This prophecy occurs in Genesis 49:10: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
Luke 3:33-34 records its fulfillment in the genealogy which traces Jesus’ blood line from Mary back to Adam: “…Judah, which was the son of Jacob….”
06 – He would be a descendant of David.
This prophecy occurs in 2 Samuel 7:12-13: “[God says to David] …when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Luke 3:33-34 records its fulfillment in the genealogy which traces Jesus’ blood line from Mary back to Adam: “…David, who was the son of Jesse….”
Romans 1:3 also records its fulfillment: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh….”
07 – He would be heir to the throne of David.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 9:7: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Luke 1:32 records its fulfillment: “[The angel Gabriel says to Mary] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
08 – He would appear before the scepter departed from Judah.
This prophecy occurs in Genesis 49:10: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
All four Gospels record its fulfillment: Judah still occupied the Promised Land in Jesus’s time.
09 – He would be born at a specific time.
This prophecy occurs in Daniel 9:25: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”
Luke 2:1-2 records its fulfillment: “…it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”
10 – He would be born in a specific place, Bethlehem of Judea.
This prophecy occurs in Micah 5:2: “…thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Luke 2:4-7 records its fulfillment: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
11 – He would be born of a virgin.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 7:14: “…the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Luke 1:26-35 records its fulfillment: “…in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS….Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
12 – He would be named before He was born.
This prophesy occurs in Isaiah 49:1: “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.”
Luke 1:30-31 records its fulfillment: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
13 – His birth would entail sorrow for others.
This prophecy occurs in Jeremiah 31:15: “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.”
Matthew 2:16-17 records its fulfillment: “…Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
14 – He would flee into Egypt and then return to Judea.
This prophecy occurs in Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”
Matthew 2:14-15 records its fulfillment: “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
15 – He would be preceded by a forerunner.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 40:3: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Matthew 3:1-3 records its fulfillment: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
This prophecy also occurs in Malachi 3:1 in a slightly different form: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Luke 7:24-27 records its fulfillment: “…when the messengers of John were departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?….This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”
16 – He would be a prophet.
This prophecy occurs in Deuteronomy 18:15: “[Moses said] The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken….”
Acts 3:20-22 records its fulfillment: “[Peter said] …[the Lord] shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.”
17 – He would be a priest – after the order of Melchizedek.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 110:4: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:5-6 records its fulfillment: “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 – He would be the Son of God.
This prophecy occurs in Psalms 2:7: “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
Seven passages of scripture record its fulfillment in God’s own testimony:
Three occur at His baptism.
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).
“…and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).
Four occur at His Transfiguration.
“…a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).
“And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Mark 9:7).
“And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Luke 9:35).
“…there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard….” (II Peter 1:17-18).
19 – He would minister in Galilee.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 9:1-2: “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
Matthew 4:13-16 records its fulfillment: “And leaving Nazareth, [Jesus] came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”
20 – He would heal the broken-hearted.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 61:1: “The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound.”
Luke 4:16-21 records its fulfillment: “[Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
22 – He would heal the blind, the deaf, and the lame.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 35:5-6: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”
All four Gospels record its fulfillment on many occasions, to which Jesus Himself drew attention in Matthew 11:4-5: “Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
23 – He would still the tempest.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 107:29: “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
Matthew 8:23-27 records its fulfillment: “…when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
24 – He would speak in parables.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 78:2: “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old….”
Matthew 13:34-35 records its fulfillment: “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
25 – He would enter Jerusalem in triumph, riding on a colt.
This prophecy occurs in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
Mark 11:7-11 records its fulfillment: “…they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem….”
26 – He would be poor and needy.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 40:17: “…I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.”
Matthew 8:20 records its fulfillment: “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
27 – He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.
This prophecy occurs in Zechariah 11:12: “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”
Matthew 26:15-16 records its fulfillment: “…[Judas] said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray [Jesus].”
28 – He would be betrayed by a friend.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 41:9: “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
Luke 22:47-48 records its fulfillment: “And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”
29 – He would be accused by false witnesses.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 35:11: “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.”
Mark 14:57-58 records its fulfillment: “And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.”
30 – He would not answer His accusers.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
Mark 15:4-5 records its fulfillment: “And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled.”
31 – He would be despised and rejected by His own people.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 53:3: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Luke 23:18 records its fulfillment: “And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.”
John 1:11 also records its fulfillment: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
32 – He would be hated without cause.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 35:19: “Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.”
It also occurs in Psalm 69:4: “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.”
John 15:24 records its fulfillment: “[Jesus said] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”
Luke 23:4 also records its fulfillment: “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.”
33 – He would be spat upon and smitten.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 50:6: “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”
Matthew 26:67 records its fulfillment: “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands….”
34 – He would be crucified with malefactors.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 53:12: “…he was numbered with the transgressors….”
Mark 15:27-28 records its fulfillment: “And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”
35 – He would be pierced in the hands and feet.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 22:16: “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”
John 20:25-29 records its fulfillment: “…[Thomas] said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
36 – He would be scorned and mocked.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 22:7-8: “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.”
Luke 23:35-36 records its fulfillment: “…the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him,….”
37 – He would be given vinegar.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 69:21: “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
Matthew 27:34 records its fulfillment: “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”
38 – He would pray for His executioners.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 109:4: “For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.”
It also occurs in Isaiah 53:12: “…[he] made intercession for the transgressors.”
Luke 23:34 records its fulfillment: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…..”
39 – His executioners would cast lots for His clothes.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 22:18: “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Matthew 27:35 records its fulfillment: “…they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
40 – His bones would not be broken.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 34:20: “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”
John 19:32-33 records its fulfillment: “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs.”
41 – He would be pierced in the side.
This prophecy occurs in Zechariah 12:10: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
John 19:34 records its fulfillment: “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
42 – He would be buried with the rich.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 53:9: “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death….”
Matthew 27:57-60 records its fulfillment: “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”
43 – He would be resurrected.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 16:10: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
It also occurs in Psalm 49:15: “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.”
Mark 16:6 records its fulfillment: “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.”
44 – He would ascend to Heaven.
This prophecy occurs in Psalm 68:18: “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”
Mark 16:19 records its fulfillment: “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Ephesians 4:8 also records its fulfillment: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
45 – He would be a substitutionary sacrifice.
This prophecy occurs in Isaiah 53:5-6: “…he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Romans 5:6-9 records its fulfillment: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly….God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
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[1] Historical dates are taken primarily from Jack Finnegan’s Handbook of Biblical Chronology, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody MA, orig. 1964, rev.1998 (identified in citations below as JF). Astronomical events are taken primarily from Ernest Martin’s The Birth of Christ Recalculated, Foundation for Biblical Research, Pasadena, CA, 1980 (identified in citations below as EM).
[2] JF (1998), p. 280 (column 2).
[3] JF (1964), p. 230.
[4] Matthew 2:16.
[5] Ernest Martin (EM), p. 6.
[6] EM, pp. 13-14.
[7] EM, pp. 14-15.
[8] EM, p. 15.
[9] EM, p. 16.
[10] See the footnote above concerning the human gestation period.
[11] EM, p. 16.
[12] EM, p. 16.
[13] EM, p. 17.
[14] Hebrew date was calculated using [http://www.abdicate.net/cal.aspx].
[15] EM, pp. 21-22.
[16] EM, p. 23.
[17] JF (1964), p. 235.
[18] The human gestation period is about 280 days or approximately nine months and a week (the months average 30.4 days), but this period is not exact and can vary a bit – particularly on the short side in the case of premature births.
[19] Luke 2:1-5.
[20] Hebrew date was calculated using [http://www.abdicate.net/cal.aspx].
[21] Luke 2:21.
[22] Luke 2:22, Leviticus 12:1-5.
[23] Luke 2:22.
[24] Luke 2:25-35.
[25] Luke 2:36-38.
[26] This is in accordance with the principle expressed in Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15 that the truth of a matter be established by two witnesses.
[27] Luke 2:39.
[28] Appropriate gift for a king.
[29] Appropriate gift for a priest.
[30] Appropriate gift for a burial. I wonder if Joseph and Mary kept it for use on Passover in 33 AD.
[31] The story indicates that they were adept at reading the stars, familiar with the Holy Scriptures, and undoubtedly believers who desired to worship the Son of God.
[32] Matthew2:2:11.
[33] December 2021.
[34] Matthew 2:8.
[35] Matthew 2:9.
[36] Matthew 2:1.
[37] Matthew 2:2.
[38] EM, p. 22.
[39] Matthew 2:13-15.
[40] Luke 2:16.
[41] Matthew 2:19-23.
[42] I prepared this as a handout to accompany a homily which I delivered at the Church of Our Saviour in Lebanon Springs on April 16, 2003.
