Scripture Of The Day - Conception Of Christ
"Let it be according to your Word" (Luke 1:38).
All the prophets of old prophetic utterances came to a fullness of time juncture when the young virgin agreed with Heaven and the Word became flesh and dwelt among men and brought with Him the fullness of the Father's prosperity.
What the world calls "the Christmas Season" was not the birthing of Christ; He was conceived during the season of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is known as the Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights. It was the beginning of the supernatural manifestation of God becoming flesh and dwelling among men (John 1:14). The Father sent His sperm seed (1 Peter 1:23) with the wisdom of all the ages in it, to impregnate a young virgin and she would bring forth the God-man child.
At this time the fullness of God's prosperity was given to mankind. From the very moment of His conception, the process of reconciliation began between mankind and the Father. Therefore every born again child of God can prosper in all seven aspects (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, socially, and financially) of their life.
Amen,
The Scriptures show us that Jesus Christ was born “in the days of Herod the king” (Matt.2:1). Herod was so fixated on the fact that wise men from the East queried him about a child born to be “King of the Jews,” that he pretended that he, too, desired to worship him (Matt.2:7-8). The wise men were warned not to return to Herod, and departed into their own country, and Joseph and Mary took Jesus and fled to Egypt.
When the wise men did not inform Herod of where the prophesied King was, Herod “was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men” (verse 16).
Jesus, then, had to be born before the death of Herod the Great. The gospel of Luke confirms this fact. Luke recorded, “There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zecharias” (Luke 1:5). During this time, the gospel continues, John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ were born.
Thus Jesus was already born when Herod was still alive. But when did Herod die? Says the Critical-Experimental Commentary:
“As Herod is known to have died in the year of Rome 750, in the fourth year before the commencement of our Christian era, the BIRTH OF CHRIST MUST BE DATED FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE DATE USUALLY ASSIGNED TO IT, even if He were born within the year of Herod’s death, as it is next to certain that he was” (Commentary on Matt.2:1-12).
Hastings Bible Dictionary also points out “Herod called the great . . . He died B.C. 4” (“Herod,” vol.2, p.353). Says The New Bible Dictionary, “Herod the Great, king of the Jews 404 BC: (“Herod,” p.521).
The year Herod died there was an eclipse. Josephus records, during Herod’s final year, that at the time he slew the high priest Matthias, “that very night there was an eclipse of the moon” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, XVII, VI, 4). Says the editor, William Whiston, in a footnote:
“This eclipse of the moon (which is the only eclipse mentioned by Josephus) is of the greatest consequence for the determination of the time for the death of Herod Antipater, and for the birth and entire chronology of Jesus Christ. It happened March 13th, in the year of the Julian period 4710, and the 4th year before the Christian era” (ibid., p.365).
Thus Jesus was at least born before the spring of 4 B.C. But what time of year was He born? There is much conjecture on this subject, but there are enough clues in the gospel accounts and history to give us a very good idea.
Christ Is Born: Luke 2:1-7, The Angels Announce Jesus To The Shepherds: Luke 2:8-14, The Shepherds Visits Jesus: Luke 2:15-20, Christ Is Circumcised: Luke 2:21-24. Simeon's Prophecy Luke 2:25-35,
Anna's Testimony Luke 2:36-38, Jesus Returns to Nazareth Luke 2:39-40, Jesus Celebrates the Passover Luke 2:41-50, Jesus Grows in Wisdom Luke 2:51-52.
Love always, Walter and Debbie
