The following series provides us Scriptural detail of when Jesus was birthed. My Beloved Brother Arthur was given the task by The Holy Spirit to write “The Combined Gospels” and the following are excerpts of his work. We are actually celebrating the physical arrival of Jesus onto the earth but it is not what the vast majority think timewise. When does physical life start? At conception, not 280 days later.
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FORTELLS THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke1:5-10 There was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now stricken with years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went Into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luke introduces the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth, and provides us with an understanding of their lineage and why they were chosen to be the parents of the prophet whom Jesus said, “Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt:11:11)
We know from Luke that Zacharias was serving “the course of Abia” in the Temple, which provides us with very precise timing as to the month of the year this event took place. The “course of Abia” normally took place in the third week of the month of June. From this single piece of information, some of the most respected Biblical Scholars have been able to ascertain that the “course of Abia,” took place, at this time, during the week of June 13-19. To many, this detail may appear insignificant. However, bearing in mind that John the Baptist would be conceived, shortly thereafter, and that our Lord’s immaculate conception would take place six months after that, this tiny piece of information, in and of itself, speaks volumes, as to the actual date of birth of our Lord and Savior.
Luke also tells us John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth was a direct descendent of Moses brother, Aaron, and that both Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias were also, “both righteous before God.” That Is an incredible statement in that we are clearly given to understand that both of John the Baptist’s parents, besides having an Impeccable pedigree, walked, “In all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.”
By declaring that Zacharias and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God”, Luke has placed them, in God’s eyes, in precisely the same category as Abraham and Sarah, the parents of Isaac. In the Epistle of James, the brother of Jesus, James tells us that “Abraham believed God, and it was Imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.” (James:2:23).Not only are Abraham and Sarah, and Zacharias and Elizabeth, declared righteous, but both Sarah and Elizabeth were “barren“. Neither of them had been able to bear a child. In addition, like Abraham and Sarah, both Zacharias and Elizabeth were “stricken with years”. They had both passed the “child bearing years”. For Elizabeth to conceive at this time in her life was not plausible.
THE ARCH ANGEL GABRIEL APPEARS TO ZACHARIAS, IN THE TEMPLE
Luke1:11-17And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of Incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, “Fear not Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zacharias, as part of his function in “the course of Abia” is burning Incense, upon the altar of Incense, in the Holy Place, In Herod’s Temple, when the Arch Angel Gabriel appears. One can only imagine Zacharias’ “fear”, when the Arch Angel Gabriel manifested himself before him. Gabriel immediately tries to put Zacharias at ease, by telling him not to be afraid, and to give him understanding that the reason he has been sent, is to tell Zacharias that his “prayer” has been heard by God, and his wife Elizabeth will “bear” his son.
Luke also, in these verses, reveals the profound attributes that God will invest In John the Baptist – he will be a Nazarite as was Samuel and Samson, (no strong drink), he will “be filled with the Holy Ghost,” in Elizabeth’s womb, he will have “the spirit” and “power” of the prophet “Elijah” and will cause, “many of the children of Israel”, to “turn to the Lord their God”. Most importantly John will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Jesus Christ). John the Baptist is being predestined to prepare the people of Israel to receive Jesus.
ZACHARIAS “DOUBTS” GABRIEL, IS MADE “DUMB” AND ELIZABETH CONCEIVES
Luke1:18-25And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand In the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple. And when he came out he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision In the Temple, for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless. And It came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own home. And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Zacharias Is doubting Gabriel. He is asking Gabriel how he expects him to believe this for he and his wife are old and well beyond child bearing years. Gabriel’s response Is very specific. He, Gabriel, “Stands In the presence of God” and was sent by God to speak to Zacharias and tell him “these glad tidings.” Because of Zacharias’ disbelief Gabriel is affronted and pronounces judgment on Zacharias by telling him that “thou shalt be dumb” until the day John Is born.
Zacharias, in spite of the fact that he has been struck dumb, completes his week’s duties in the “course of Abia” and afterward, returns to his home in a city in the hill country of Judah. Shortly thereafter, “after these days”, Elizabeth conceived and promptly hid herself for the next “five months.” Elizabeth “hid herself” since she knew John was to be a Nazarite, and therefore she could eat no unclean food, drink wine or in any way partake of or do anything that would break the NazarIte vow that had been ordained for the child that she carried In her womb.
Elizabeth knew that her conception was identical to the conception that Sarah was blessed with, when her son Isaac was conceived. Both conceptions were miracles. Both women were too old to conceive and they knew it. Elizabeth would do nothing to jeopardize her pregnancy with John, and she truly believed God had “taken away” her “reproach among men,” by allowing her to be with child.
Luke’s Gospel is the only Gospel that addresses the conception and birth of John the Baptist. It Is very apparent from the verbiage Luke uses, that he was privy to Elizabeth’s own personal understanding of what took place in the events surrounding her impregnation with the child who would become known to us as John the Baptist. Clearly Luke obtained that information from Mary, the mother of Jesus, who Scripture tells us spent the last three months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy at Elizabeth’s side.