Myths of Christmas

-
We are all familiar with Nativity Scene during the Christmas Season. The traditional account has Jesus, Mary & Joseph along with shepherds, angels and the three wise men all at the manger on Christmas Night. Much of this is erroneous and most of the account is chronologically and locationally inaccurate according to the Bible. This study is my attempt to put the accounts of Matthew 1 - 2 & Luke 1 - 2 in chronological order and give a more accurate account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

I. Chronology of Events
1 - 2 years     Luke 1:5 - 25   Jerusalem - Gabriel visits Zacharias,
before Christmas                Elisabeth conceives.
9 mos.          Luke 1:26 - 38  Galilee - The Annunciation &
                                Immaculate Conception.
6 - 9 mos.      Matt. 1:18 - 25 Galilee - Angel, probably Gabriel,
                                appears to Joseph.
                Luke 1:39 - 56  Jerusalem - Mary visits Elisabeth &
                                Magnificat.
6 mos.          Luke 1:57 - 80  Jerusalem - Birth of John the Baptist.
1 week          Luke 2:1 - 6    Mary & Joseph travel to Bethlehem.
Christmas       Luke 2:7 - 20   Bethlehem - Birth of Jesus.
                                Angel appear to shepherds.
                                Heavenly host glorifies Jesus.
8 days after    Luke 2:21 - 38  Jerusalem - Simeon & Anna see Jesus at
                                the Temple.
couple of wks.  Luke 2:39       Jesus, Mary & Joseph return to Galilee.
3 - 6 mos.      Matt. 2:1 - 8   Jerusalem - Wise men arrive & see Herod.
3 - 12 mos.     Matt. 2:9 - 12  Galilee - Epiphany at the house of
                                Mary & Joseph.
                                Presentation of gifts by the Magi.
                                Departure of wise men.
12 - 18 mos.    Matt. 2:13 - 15 Flight into Egypt.
1 - 2 yrs.      Matt. 2:16 - 18 Slaughter of the Innocent.
3 - 10 yrs.     Matt. 2:19 - 23 Return to Nazareth.
12 yrs.         Luke 2:40 - 52  Jesus Found Teaching in the Temple.


II. Three Wise Men

Matthew account of the Magi never gave the number of three. We don't know how many, but it was at least two. Three is a guess because of the three gifts, gold, frankincense & myrrh. The meaning of the three gifts.


    

  • Gold - King
    • 

  • Frankincense - Priest
    • 

  • Myrrh - Prophet
    • 


III. Mary a Perpetual Virgin

The misconception that Mary remained a virgin throughout her marriage to Joseph is unbiblical. Both Christmas accounts state that Jesus was the only the firstborn.



Matthew 1:24 & 25 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.



The fact is that Mary & Joseph had four sons and more than one daughter.



Matthew 13:55 & 56 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? 



...Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? ...










































Comments








Post a Comment













Popular posts from this blog









Introduction






-















   This is a blog of my Bible lesson outlines and thought on God Word. I thought I would share them and hope they might be a blessing to some. It helps me study the Word of God and remember what the Lord has opened to me.  Almost forty years ago, I got saved and God called me to Bible College while I was a Marine. I wanted to study math, after getting out of the Corps. But, I remember kneeling by my bunk one night and feeling God wanted me to learn His Word first, even though I didn't feel I was called to the ministry. If I learned everything else but did not know God and His Word, it wouldn't really matter. I realized that the most important thing I could learn was the Bible.  I attended Pensacola Bible Institute and received a Bachelors of Divinity. Fifteen years later, God granted me the opportunity to receive a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. While I make a living as a programmer, it is my faith and knowledge of the Word that gives me a reason to live. God has used me...








Read more










The Ten Commandments






-















While the Bible is inspired by God, it was written by men hand, 2 Peter 1: 21 . But the Ten Commandments are unique in that they are written by God own hand. Exodus 31: 18 . Since God took time to write them, we need to look at them a little closer.   Exodus 20:1 - 17  I. And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  III. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for...








Read more










No Christmas Without Christ






-















Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.   The world today is trying to take Jesus Christ out of Christmas. But without Jesus, there is no season of rejoicing. Christ is the reason for the season. A Holy God becoming a Man is the miracle of the holiday. Jesus is the Savior of this world, but the world rejected Him at His birth and crucified its Lord.   John 1:10, 11 & 14,  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.   I. No Clothes  Jesus was born to die. At His birth, His mother wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger. At His death, Mary wrapped Him in linen and laid Him in a borrowed tomb.   Mark 15:46 & 4...








Read more