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Table of Contents
The Nativity of Jesus, or the birth of Jesus, can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke in the Holy Bible. The two books state that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the time of Herod the Great, the King of Judea.
See the fact file below for more information on the Nativity of Jesus or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Nativity of Jesus worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Importance and Story
- The Nativity of Jesus plays a major role in the Christian ceremonial year.
- In Christian theology, the Nativity of Jesus is the birth of Jesus. It is the actual happening of the divine will of God to rescue the world from sin.
- Christmas is the traditional celebration of the birth of Jesus which is on December 25.
- Christian churches of the Western tradition start observing the Advent season four Sundays before Christmas.
- Other Orthodox Christians observe Christmas on January 7.
- Caesar Augustus issued an order that a census must be taken of the whole Roman world.
- This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
- Because Joseph belonged to the line of David, he went from Nazareth to Bethlehem. He went there to register with Mary. They were engaged to be married and were expecting a child.
- While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to a son.
- Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths and put him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inns or houses.
- An angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds who were in a field nearby. The angel told them that the Savior of the world had been born in the town of Bethlehem.
- The wise men from the east saw a huge star and they followed it. They knew the star indicated the birth of the king of the Jews.
- Herod, king of Judea at the time, talked with the Magi privately and asked them to report back after they saw Jesus. Herod told them that he wanted to worship the baby Jesus, but Herod secretly planned to kill the child.
- The Magi gave treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh when they saw Jesus. When they left, they did not go back to Herod. They had been alerted in a dream of his plot to kill the child.
Historical Analysis
- Many historical scholars preserve the traditional view that the books Matthew and Luke are historically correct such as the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem and the virgin birth.
- Biblical scholars James Hastings and Thomas Neufeld have said that Jesus’ birth was carefully kept secret between a small group of early Christians for many years after his death.
- Daniel J. Harrington, a theologian, said that the more significant task is resolving what the history of the Nativity of Jesus meant to the early Christians.
- Many modern scholars believe in Matthew’s book of an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, the wise men from the East, the killing of the innocents, and going to Egypt, which cannot be read in Luke’s book. Luke talks about the angel’s appearance to Mary, the Roman census, the birth of Jesus in a manger, and the choir of angels.
- Modern scholars believe the Marcan priority theory in which the books of Luke and Matthew originated from the Gospel of Mark.
- Raymond E. Brown states that there is no consistent agreement among scholars on the history of the accounts.
- Christmas has become a weird mixture of pagan beliefs, superstition, imaginative legends, and plain ignorance as some Christian scholars observed.
Impact
- The feast of the Nativity, which became Christmas, was a 4th century feast in the Western Church especially in Rome and North Africa. It is unknown where and when it was first celebrated.
- The earliest source revealing December 25 as the date of birth of Jesus was Hippolytus of Rome (170–236), which was written in the 3rd century. It was assumed that the conception of Jesus took place at the Spring equinox which was placed on March 25 and added nine months.
- By the 20th century, Christmas became a lifestyle signature of Christianity.
- Early Christians saw Jesus as the Lord and the word Kyrios, which means lord or master. It can be read more than 700 times in the New Testament.
- More than any other name given to Jesus, Kyrios established the relationship between Jesus and those who trusted in Him.
- The lordship qualities related with the Kyrios image of Jesus also indicated His authority over all creation.
- The 13th century saw a major turning point in the growth of a new kind-hearted image of Jesus within Christianity.
Christian Theology and History
- The theological importance of the Nativity of Jesus has been a key factor in Christian teachings from the early Church Fathers to 20th century theologians.
- Paul the Apostle in the Bible saw the birth of Jesus as an event of huge importance which ushered a new man who cleansed the sin caused by the fall of the first man, Adam.
- Luke’s book focuses on the discussion of the natures of the earthly and heavenly display of the life of Jesus. Matthew’s book centers on the goal and purpose of Jesus and His role as the savior.
- The birth of Jesus most likely didn’t occur in the year 0, but a bit earlier in about 4 to 7 B.C.
- There’s a theory that Jesus might have been born a few miles away from Bethlehem where there was a shepherd’s watch tower named the Migdal Eder.
- Many people believe that Jesus was most likely born in September or October during Sukkot which is the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles because the upper levels of the houses were already full.
- Historian Andrew McGowan insists that the Nativity date had more to do with Jesus’s death in the minds of early theologians.
- ACU scholar Stephen Carlson says that the word kataluma refers to guest quarters or rooms.
- Some scholars believe that the magi went to see Jesus in a house and their visit is as late as two years after Jesus was born. This is why most Christian churches observe the visit of the magi on Epiphany or January 6.
Nativity of Jesus Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Nativity of Jesus across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Nativity of Jesus worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Nativity of Jesus, or the birth of Jesus, which can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke in the Holy Bible. The two books state that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the time of Herod the Great, the King of Judea.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Nativity of Jesus Facts
- God-Given Gospels
- Family of Jesus
- Character Monologues
- Destination: Bethlehem
- Different Dates
- Scholars Say
- Missing Details
- Photo Prompt
- Christ is Born!
- My Christmas Diorama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nativity story of Jesus?
Herod was king of Judea when God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee. The announcement Gabriel had for a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, was that she would give birth to a child and name Him Jesus. The reason for this naming is because He was the Son of God and would rule over Israel forever.
Why is nativity important?
The Nativity Story, which is also called the Christmas Story or the Nativity of Jesus, tells of Jesus Christ’s conception and birth. For centuries now, Christians have celebrated this story every year as part of their Christmas tradition.
Why is Christmas called the nativity?
The word “nativity” comes from the Latin word for “birth,” which is “nativis.” Eventually, nativity came to describe the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. It was actually prophesied that the Nativity would take place long before Jesus was born.
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