The Nugget:
Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. (KJV)
My Comment:
I have read a number of comments on line that argue Christians should not celebrate Christmas.
I can agree with one of the supporting arguments, namely, that Jesus was not born on December 25th.
But Luke includes a significant clue in Luke 1:36 that, taken carefully with other clues in the Bible text, enables the careful, even diligent student to quite closely determine when Jesus was born.
It is possible that John the Baptist, the son of Elizabeth, was conceived six months before Jesus was. It is therefore likely that Jesus would have been born six months later than John the Baptist was born.
We are told in Luke 1:5 that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was “of the course of Abia.”
The cross references for Luke 1:5 for “of the course of Abia” are:
of the course. Luk 1:8, **1Ch 24:10; *1Ch 24:19, *2Ch 8:14; 2Ch 31:2, Ezr 6:18, Neh 12:4; Neh 12:17 (Abijah).
The order of service in the Temple of the Levites “by course” remained basically unchanged. Since the order has been relatively consistent over centuries of time, the precise time of year which Zechariah served in the Temple is known, for Luke specifies that he served in “the course of Abiah” or “Abijah” (Luke 1:5. 1 Ch 24:10).
I listened last night (Friday, December 23, 2022) to a very informative program on WLQV, AM1500, Detroit, from 9:30 to 9:45 pm. I cannot recall every detail presented, but I recall the general gist of the program.
The Bible evidence seems to indicate that December 25th or thereabouts is not the date or day of the birth of Jesus, but the date and day of His conception. About nine months or 280 days thereafter Mary gave birth to her son on what would have been the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34). Eight days later, on what would be the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus was circumcised, Luke 2:21. This took place in the month of Tisri, part of September (see Young on Leviticus 23:34 as cited in the NTSK or UCRT). Much more evidence was provided in the radio program, but I have provided enough direct Biblical evidence in this post to confirm the accuracy of the information I heard.
We may in good conscience, therefore, joyfully celebrate Christmas at this time of year, even though it is more probable that the actual date of birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was in September, a time also which better accords with the shepherds still being in their fields (Luke 2:8).