A Historical Look at the Nativity

by Suzanne Lesser, In Touch Ministries

This time of year, it’s common to see nativity scenes, watch Christmas movies, and read the familiar story of the Messiah’s birth. But how accurate is our view of the advent of the King of Kings?

The day. The early church rightly considered Christ’s death and resurrection more important than His birth, so we don’t know its exact date. Why was December 25 eventually chosen? On that day, the Romans celebrated Sol Invictus, the rebirth of the sun god. Saturnalia, a feast venerating the god of agriculture, took place the week before. In the fourth century, the church replaced these pagan festivals with a holiday honoring the birth of the Messiah. Why? Partly to make conversion to the faith more palatable.¹

The year. When our modern calendar was instituted in the sixth century, the year of Christ’s birth was calculated incorrectly. Since Herod probably died in 4 BC, and we know he was alive when the Magi visited, historians traditionally set the year as around 5 BC or earlier. (Other scholarship places Herod’s death at 1 BC and Christ’s birth around 2 BC.²)

The town. Bethlehem was the predicted birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2). Herod’s theologians knew exactly where to send him to find the new king. Its name means “house of bread,” significant because Jesus later called Himself the “Bread of Life.”  At the time, Bethlehem’s population was 500-600 people.³
 
The inn. Travelers typically stayed with family members, rather than in hotels. The word translated as “inn” in Luke 2:7 can mean “lodging place” or “guest room/dining room” (Mark 14:14). Because of the census, Joseph’s relatives already had a full guest room. The couple might have stayed in the front or lower room of the home, where the animals were typically brought in for the night.⁴ Many first-century homes had mangers along the walls of that room.

If Luke did mean to indicate a public inn, the couple was directed to one of the numerous caves around Bethlehem. To this day, they are used to shelter sheep and cattle.²

The birth. “Mary,” a common name in that day, means approximately “The Lord’s Beloved.” Sometime after the couple arrived in town, the teenager gave birth to Jesus (Luke 2:6). Were the swaddling clothes (long strips of cloth) unique to Jesus’ birth? No, using them was customary care for newborns. Mary laid him in a manger made from wood or carved from stone. Filled with the animals’ food, it would have made a comfortable bed for the child.

The shepherds. It’s fitting that the first people invited to worship the child were shepherds. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds at some time in their lives. Jesus even refers to Himself as the “Good Shepherd.”

Due to their occupation, shepherds weren’t always able to attend synagogue or keep the Law. It’s likely they weren’t respected by devout Jews. Yet we can be grateful they were common laymen. Instead of debating the meaning of the angelic visitation or dismissing it as an illusion, they rushed into town and worshipped the newborn king.

The magi. Kings’ advisors––sages, astrologers, or magicians­­­––arrived to visit the family in Bethlehem. How many came? We don’t know, although we can identify three different gifts. They traveled from the Middle East, perhaps from Persia or Babylonia, since word of the coming King had been known in that city since the time of Daniel (Daniel 2).  

The fact God included pagan Gentiles in the advent of Christ symbolizes the future reach of the gospel. Their visit also brought international and national attention to the birth of Jesus.⁵   

The star. The Hebrews expected a star as a sign of the birth of the Messiah (Num. 24:17). Was the star a miracle, beyond human explanation? Some believe the star was the Shekinah glory of God, similar to the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through desert in the Old Testament. Others believe it holds a place in scientific history.

Using software to simulate astronomical patterns, researchers have investigated the night sky around the birth of Christ. The ancients used the term “star” to refer to a number of celestial objects. So astronomers hypothesize that Bethlehem’s star may have been a conjunction of two or more planets, which to the naked eye would look like one bright star. The “star” could even have seemed to pause over Bethlehem because relative to Earth’s motion, a planet can appear to stop. A couple of conjunctions around the birth of Christ fit the biblical description of the star.² 

Herod the King. Did Herod really order the deaths of all children in Bethlehem under the age of two? Sadly, the answer is yes. In his later years, he became paranoid, fearful of assassination. He eventually killed his favorite wife, some of her family, three of his sons, and many of his subjects. Desirous to preserve the throne at all costs, he thought little of ordering the slaughter of Jewish babies.⁵

What really happened 2,000 years ago? Despite misconceptions we may have, anyone who has heard the biblical account knows enough to marvel at the power of our amazing God. A virgin conceived. God clothed Himself in human flesh. The Redeemer of the world was born. Can history dispel all the mystery surrounding our Savior’s birth? No. Nor would we want it to.

Notes:

1. http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/origin-of-christmas.htm
2. http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance.htm
3. http://www.probe.org/content/view/881/91/.
4. http://www.carm.org/questions/massacre.htm.
5. http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/mythsaboutchristmas.html.
6. Maier, Paul L. In the Fullness of Time: A Historian Looks at Christmas, Easter and the Early Church. Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1997. pp. 24-50.