Herod is the main reason that many scholars believe Christ was born earlier. The only problem is that Jesus was probably born before 4 B.C. ( anno Domini “in the year of the Lord”). Today we see history through the lens of B.C. Jesus’ significance is seen in how His presence divides history. Looking at the conception and birth of John the Baptist, many believe Jesus was probably born in the fall. Many scholars question the accuracy of this date, and doubt the shepherds would be out with the sheep at night during the coldest time of the year. Over time it became the accepted date for celebration, offering an alternative to many pagan festivals happening at this time. The entire world celebrates Christ’s birth on December 25, but is that His actual birthday? Probably not.Įarly Christian leaders like Hippolytus and John Chrysostom began observing Christ’s birth on this date. Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25 “They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I came down from heaven”’?” (John 6:42)Ĭhrist comes from the Greek for Christos, which means “anointed one.” 4. People identified others by referencing their parents: In first-century Palestine, people didn’t have last names. We hear “Jesus Christ” so often that it’s easy to think that Christ is Jesus’ surname. Hidden in that common name is the truth that “Yahweh saves.” 3. When Christ walked on the earth, He didn’t chase after prominence-and that’s even demonstrated in the name that He chose.īut that doesn’t mean that Jesus’ name is meaningless. The name “Jesus” was the John Smith of the first-century. If God was going to become a human, you’d think that He’d choose a powerful and rare name.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever his kingdom will never end’” (Luke 1:28–33) 2. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. “The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.īut the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary you have found favor with God. Here are some fascinating details they give us. The gospels of Luke and Matthew offer the only pictures of Christ’s childhood.

Facts about the birth and childhood of Jesus Here are 40 interesting facts about Jesus’ life. And for the 2.3 billion Christians in the world, the gospels tell the remarkable story of God coming to earth to rescue humanity.īetween the well-known stories and parables are little details that illuminate points of interest about Jesus, his disciples, and first-century life in the near east. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25, New International Version).Įven if the gospels don’t offer a complete and unabridged biography of Christ’s earthly life, they’ve given the world enough information to keep poring over His story. The only in-depth account we have of Jesus comes from the gospels, and John tells us that they only record a fraction of all Jesus did: Jesus through the Centuries His Place in the History of Culture (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985) If it were possible, with some sort of super-magnet, to pull up out of that history every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of his name, how much would be left?” “Regardless what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western culture for almost twenty centuries. Jaroslav Pelikan, Yale University’s professor of history, agrees: Time magazine calls Jesus the most influential figure in history.

I am god i am satan i am jesus christ