WAS YESHUA (JESUS) BORN ON DECEMBER 25?
by Dave R. Mode, Jr.

The birth of the Messiah has been celebrated for centuries on the 25th of December. Due to this fact, some have believed that the Messiah was actually born on December 25th. However, most people claim that December 25th is not the actual day that the Messiah was born, but only a date chosen to celebrate his birth. So, when was the Messiah born? Although it is difficult to locate the exact date, the Scriptures provide the means of discovering the month and week in which the Messiah was born. 

First, let us look at the scriptures that point to Yeshua (Jesus) being born at a time other than December 25th. 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:8-11 NIV). 

In this account, shepherds are guarding their flocks in the fields at night during the time of the Messiah's birth. The point of the shepherds in the fields guarding sheep indicates that December was not the month the Messiah was born. According to the regulations of the Jewish religious leadership of that time in Israel, shepherds did not bring their sheep out in the fields during the winter months. Only from the beginning of March until the end of October did the shepherds bring their sheep out in the fields. During the cold winter months of November thru February shepherds kept their flocks sheltered from the rain and snow of the harsh weather of winter. 

After considering such information we must conclude that the Messiah could not have been born during the month of December. 

Now let us look at the scriptures that reveal the time of Messiah's birth. 

“When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" (Luke 2:22-23 NIV) 

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God...” (Luke 2:25-28 NIV). 

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