I wrote this study years ago and shared it on FB. Just thought I would share it here and see if anyone feels I got something wrong in the study.
Many believe that December 25th is the date of the birth of Christ. This is not true. December 25th is the day of CONCEPTION not BIRTH. As I was studying, I had an interesting thought. This fact alone bridges with our hot topic of these days – Abortion. When life begins.
Satan has a way of getting into our lives, all of our lives. What better way to skew the truth and have it result in questioning when life begins. If the generations before us had known that Christmas, December 25th, was the day of conception, not birth and the day that “the Word became flesh”, there would be no question as to when life begins.
Having said this, if you would like to have a deeper explanation and how I believe this to be true, keep reading.
The first Chapter in Luke is where you can find this truth. Luke was a medical doctor and his name means “light giver”. He was very specific in his writings.
There is an important correlation between John the Baptist and Jesus Christ’s conception and birth. For their conception is very specific in Luke’s writings. (John, the forerunner, was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth and born 6 months before Jesus.)
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
NOTE: Abia (or Abijah) is noting time - This was the eighth of the priestly courses of ministration in the Temple (I Chron. 24:10). It lasted 7 complete days, beginning on the Sabbath. Abia would fall on June 13th through June 19th.
Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
NOTE: Zacharias was a Levite and he could only marry a Levite in order to serve as a priest. Elisabeth, being the daughter of Aaron, was a full blooded Levite.
Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Note: Advanced in years.
Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
Note: His course = Abia June 13th through June 19th.
Luke 1:9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luke 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Note: him meaning Zacharias.
Luke 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Note: Take note here – filled with the Holy Ghost – while in the womb.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Note: John the Baptist did indeed turn many to the truth and prepared people for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Note: He is questioning Gabriel (Gabriel - Mighty Man of Jehovah), not good.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Note: Here you see Gabriel didn’t like the fact that Zacharias challenged him and therefore punished him for doing so.
Luke 1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Note: The people praying at the temple wondered what took Zacharias so long in the temple.
Luke 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
Note: As Gabriel said, he could not speak. Zacharias came out of the temple and was trying to explain to them what had happened, but he could not speak.
Luke 1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Note: This would be June 20th, since Abia lasted throughout the full day of the 19th. You can also find that Zacharias lived approximately 30 miles from the temple. With his progressed age and the terrain he needed to travel, it would take about 2 days to get home. June 23rd or 24th, he would return home.
Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Luke 1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Note: Being that she was older, I infer that she hid herself to avoid chatter among her neighbors and also to take care of herself to be sure that she would be able to come to full term. So this would bring the time to November 24th. (June plus 5 months)
Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Note: 5th month is November and the 6th month would be December. (12/24 -25)
Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Note: Espoused means engaged. Joseph was of the house of David, not a Levite. Doesn’t say Mary was of the house of David.
Luke 1:28 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.
Luke 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Note: Remember – this is December 25th
Luke 1:32 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:
Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Note: Seeing how she is not married.
Luke 1:35 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.
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.
Note: Again Luke mentions the 6th month – for emphasis.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Luke 1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Note: As noted earlier, Elisabeth’s son (John) leaped in her womb and filled with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Note: She being Elisabeth.
Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
So, in summary, Christmas, December 25th, is truly a date to be celebrated! For our Savior, Jesus Christ, began dwelling on earth, in the flesh, on this date. The Word became flesh (Matt 1:18) BUT, I do not celebrate His birth on Christmas, but His conception. And if we, as a whole people of Christianity, knew Christmas was the conception of Jesus, would there be an argument about when life begins? Would we not know that abortion is murder? Something to think about, something to pray about, something to ask God for a clearer understanding. Satan has a plan to deceive God’s children. And there are many ways that he will try. Please take the time to research and study His word. For it will come to pass…as it has and always will. I can promise you this, God’s truth, God’s light will prevail! May God bless you all and have a very blessed Christmas season.
December 25th is when The Word became flesh (Matt 1:18, 20). December 25th is the date of conception, not birth.
