The Birth of Jesus

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:1-7


Luke gave us an historical timeline of when the baby Jesus was born. Now even though scholars and theologians disagree on when Jesus was actually born, Augustus was Rome's first emperor and credited for what is known as Pax Romana, Quirinius actually was appointed governor over Syria (twice) and that there were in fact mandated censuses done in all the Roman held provinces around that tme.

But because all the prophecies about the messiah have to be fulfilled, these historical events have to take place and were written down for us, so that even thousand of years later we could still see how the Lord caused these things to happen to fulfill all of the ancient prophesies.

Lastly it is important to note that even on the day of His birth, the world was too busy to give time, much less room for Him. The messiah came into the world and was placed in a manger, which is an open box used to feed animals.

This was because there was no room for any human to spend the night in. Joseph and Mary probably eventually camped out where animals were housed. And significantly, there was no other alternative crib to place the baby Jesus in. They had to use a box which was used to feed animals. Little did they know, that the baby would grow up and call Himself the Bread of Life -- spiritual nourishment for humankind (who rejected Him then, and still rejecting Him today).


"Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day." John 6:35-39