Yeshua’s (Jesus) Birth

Birthdate

Although the bible never provides a specific date for the birth of Yeshua, there are numerous accounts that have specified that he was born the 21st day of Nisan in the sign of Aries, which in the modern day Gregorian calendar would be in April.

So why do we celebrate his birth in December? The choice of December 25th to celebrate Jesus' birth likely arose from a combination of practical and symbolic reasons: integrating pre-existing pagan festivals, aligning with the symbolic return of light, and theological calculations. It became firmly established as part of Christian tradition by the 4th century.

More Possibilities:

• Before Christianity, December 25th was already a significant date in Roman culture. It coincided with festivals celebrating the winter solstice, such as:

  • Saturnalia: A Roman festival honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, marked by feasting, gift-giving, and merrymaking (sound familiar?).

  • Dies Natalis Solis Invicti ("Birthday of the Unconquered Sun"): A celebration of the sun god associated with the return of longer days after the winter solstice.

• As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, the Church may have chosen December 25th to replace these pagan celebrations with a Christian holiday. This made it easier for converts to adopt the new faith.

• The winter solstice marks the "rebirth" of the sun as daylight begins to increase. Early Christians may have seen this as a fitting symbol for the birth of Jesus Christ, whom they viewed as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12).

• The first recorded celebration of Christmas on December 25th was in Rome in 336 AD, during the reign of Emperor Constantine, who had converted to Christianity.

• Over time, the December date spread to other regions and became a universally accepted date for celebrating Jesus' birth in Western Christianity.

Virgin Birth

Was Yeshua born of a virgin? I personally do think that he was born of a virgin named Mary Anna (most only know her as Mary). There are many references in ancient documentation to “Light Conception” which means simply impregnation without sexual intercourse. Meaning that spirit created the conception not humans. If Mary Anna was a virgin and had a “Light Conception” then Yeshua would have been born to a Virgin.

According to Essene texts that have been unearthed, Mary Anna was a “Light Conception” to Anna (Mary’s mother and grandmother to Yeshua).

Additionally, these same texts say that other actors in this story like John The Baptist, Miriam, Sara, Mary Magdalene were also “Light Conceptions”. All part of the larger cosmic plan.

Joseph

The bible presents Joseph as an initial unwilling participant in the story of Yeshua’s birth. It mentions about him wanting to divorce her quietly. In the Essene text it states that Mary Anna, Joseph, Anna and Joachim all had visions and dreams at the same time that Mary Anna would be with child from a “Light Conception”. Based on that text, Joseph was aware of what was happening and was a willing participant.

Misconceptions in the Bible

Many modern depictions of the nativity, influenced by Christmas cards and pageants, include elements not found in scripture. For instance:

• Mary riding a donkey: There's no mention of a donkey in the Bible. Given their humble means, Mary and Joseph likely traveled on foot. In the Essene texts, it mentions that when Caesar Augustus called for a census, a large group of Essenes traveled in a group for safety to Bethlehem. It mentions that Rebekah who just had Mariam and Mary Anna rode in a cart. Other elderly and very young also rode in carts. Others rode donkeys and camels and others walked.
  
  The same text says that while Joseph and Mary Anna were in the crazy census location waiting, Mary Anna went into labor and Joseph took her to Elizabeth’s home on a donkey.

• The stable birth: The Bible notes a manger but does not specify a stable; it could have been a storage area in a family home. There is some evidence that Yeshua was born in Elizabeth’s small abode which was a room above a stable. It is described as 3 buildings with a courtyard that was owned by Zenos, Zacharia’s (Elizabeth’s husband) brother.

• The timing of the Magi: The Magi arrived long after Jesus' birth, possibly months or maybe even year(s) later. If you read closely the Magi mention about following the star and then later are happy to see it appear again. This means that whatever they were initially following must have disappeared and then either the original cause of the star came back or something similar happened again at a later time. This would indicate there was some time that passed from the time they started till they arrived in Bethlehem.

• The number of Magi: There is also no biblical evidence that there were only three wise men—this assumption comes from the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There is some Essene documentation that states there were 12 Magi and each had a wife with them. Three of them referred to as hierophants represented the 24.

• Gifts from the Magi: The Magi had with them a Parthian named Balthazar. He reached into a small trunk made of hardwood and polished brass. He carefully removed another box and other silk rapped containers. He lit frankincense and myrrh in a small censer. He gave to Mary Anna precious oils and ointments. He presented a robe of purple silk, embroidered with gold and iridescent rainbow-colored fibers. A robe for a king and small for a child.
  
  Balthazar also gave as a gift a beaded collar of lapis and gold which belonged to the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. Beneath it was a menat, the ceremonial necklace of Hathor.

• Little Drummer Boy: There is no mention of a little drummer boy, but there is mention of a 12 year old shepherd boy who gave as an offering a new born lamb to Yeshua.

  Remember when you see images and live nativity, what really happened that night.

The Magi

Who Were the Magi?

The Magi were likely members of a priestly class from Persia, well-versed in astronomy, astrology, and ancient prophecies. Some speculate their knowledge of a coming Messiah could trace back to the influence of the Jewish prophet Daniel, who once served as an advisor in Babylon. Daniel’s prophecies, particularly the "seventy weeks" timeline (Daniel 9:24-27), may have fueled expectations of the Messiah's imminent arrival.

The Star: Natural or Supernatural?

The Star in Scripture

The account of the Christmas star is recorded only in Matthew 2:1-12. The Magi, or wise men, claimed they saw "his star in the east" and followed it to find the newborn King of the Jews. King Herod, disturbed by this news, sought information from his scribes, who pointed to Bethlehem as the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah. The star then "went before" the Magi and "stood over" the place where Jesus lay.

Is there a natural explanation?

The night sky treats stargazers to rare events. As recently as December 21, 2020 a close alignment of Jupiter and Saturn, known as the Great Conjunction happened. Many wondered if such an event could resemble the biblical "Star of Bethlehem" mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. Could this celestial event provide insight into the Christmas star that guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus? Let’s explore the possibilities—both natural and miraculous.

Many have sought natural explanations for the Star of Bethlehem, but challenges remain for each theory:

1. Conjunctions: Alignments of planets like Jupiter and Saturn are among the most popular explanations. Kepler noted a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC, which some associate with the star. Others point to conjunctions involving Venus and the star Regulus in 3–2 BC. While intriguing, conjunctions fail to account for the star's behavior, such as leading the Magi southward and standing over a specific location.

2. Novas or Supernovas: Some propose a nova (a sudden brightening of a star) as the Christmas star. Chinese records note a possible nova around 5 BC, but there's no conclusive link to Bethlehem.

3. Comets: While comets can be striking, their erratic paths and ominous reputation in ancient times make them less likely candidates.

4. Astronomical Ambiguities: The phrase "his star in the east" has been interpreted in multiple ways. It could mean the Magi saw the star while they were in the East, saw it in the eastern sky, or observed its rising. This ambiguity leaves room for various interpretations but complicates a purely natural explanation.