Millions of Christians do not know the real story of Jesus!
Now the startling history behind Christ's birth and the mysterious Magi is at last revealed.
You probably never heard the true facts behind Christ's birth! You only hear the overworked "holy family" story, or the "babe in a manger" theme. Nothing wrong with the birth story of Jesus — as recorded in the Bible — of course.
But you are not told the surprising facts behind what the Bible says!
Today, you do not hear the story as it happened 2,000 years ago. You are not told the world's greatest empire moved exactly according to God's plan, preparing for the birth of Jesus! You are not told how great rulers and masses of people were electrified by the birth of a world Savior!
These world-shaking events are deliberately left out of the "story" you hear today. Historic proof of those events is too often purposely ignored, suppressed, forgotten!
Why were you never told before? Why were the facts hidden?
Untold Problems
The truth is an untold story of current events — as they were 2,000 years ago — showing how God intervened in history to fulfill prophecies hundreds of years old.
Think of these staggering problems surrounding the greatest event in history — the birth of the Son of God!
How will God bring Jesus' family to the prophesied birthplace (Bethlehem) — at the right time? How will He announce the birth? How will He convince people this birth is special, different from all others — that this birth is genuine? How will He make kings and rulers know that the King of kings is born? How will He make those rulers responsible, inexcusable — later on — for killing the Son of God?
We will answer those questions. But first, go over the story of Christ's nativity again. Think as God does — think big! Watch God solve these problems.
You will be astounded at the story!
A Great Story
The Old Testament prophesied many years earlier that Jesus would be a descendant of David. God caused Joseph and Mary (both of David's line, both obedient to God's laws, both good child-rearers) to be married. First problem solved.
But now, God faces a huge obstacle. The Old Testament also prophesied the Christ would be born in the City of David: Bethlehem. How will God move Jesus' family from their home in Nazareth to the prophesied birthplace?
The answer has never been understood in its proper light!
"And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus [44 B.C. — A.D. 15], that all the world should be taxed" (Luke 2:1-2). Who did you say? Augustus Caesar? Why, he is the emperor of a world empire!
You are right!
God moves a whole empire, and the greatest leader of the world sets up a whole new government office (the taxing-census bureau), has senators and nobles roaming throughout the Roman Empire — just to move Joseph and Mary to the city where Christ must be born.
Notice what the decree causes: "And all went to be taxed everyone into his own city" (Luke 2:3-4). A legal requirement of the census was to go to the family's city of origin. So, because Joseph "was of the house and lineage of David," he left Nazareth and went to "the city of David which is called BETHLEHEM." Second problem solved.
But wait a minute.
Atheists and Bible critics claim there is no historic proof for Luke's "First taxing under Cyrenius" (see any modern Bible translation). Luke does not date this first taxing, and godless historians falsely claim no source outside the Bible mentions it. Therefore, critics assume, no census existed. This supposed "error" of Luke of course casts doubt on Jesus' birth! Is there, as is claimed, no proof outside of the Bible?
Far from it! God preserved the proof through archaeology and history!
The Great Story Proved
The proof of history is in the Chronicle of John Malalas, translated by Matthew Spinka (Univ. of Chicago Press, 1940). John Malalas was a historian of Antioch, Syria (c. 491-578 A.D.). On pages 32-33 he writes: "In the 39th year and the 10th month of his [Augustus'] reign he commanded the taking of a census of all his lands, including all that the Romans held during the consulship of Agrippa II, and of Donatus. And all the earth under the Romans was registered by Eumenes and Attalus, the Roman senators." Using the October to October calendar Malalas used, that dates the issuance of the decree for the census to July, 5 B.C.
Suidas — another reliable authority — and many others, add information about Augustus' decree, which proves the census in Palestine was conducted the very next year — 4 B.C., the very time Christ was born!
Abundant evidence from both early Christians and early pagans corroborate this census (see the excellent article in Unger's Bible Dictionary under "Chronology").
The Next Problem
How will God announce the birth of His Son? The world must not doubt the fact of Christ's birth. Suppose Joseph announces the birth of a Holy Child. Imagine Joseph saying "Say, people . . . I am the father of the very Son of God!"
Ridiculous! Who would believe him? Joseph would be considered at best a liar; at worst, a wild-eyed fanatic! No, Joseph won't do.
How about Mary? Suppose Mary says "Say, I am a virgin, but I am also the mother of God!" Preposterous! Can't you hear suspicious, carnal-minded humans chortling sarcastically, "Of all the nerve," "Fallen woman" . . . What a mockery that would be! No, neither Joseph nor Mary can announce the birth of Jesus Christ. God's plan will confound the wisdom of men.
Notice. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid" (Luke 2:8-18).
God sends an angel to a humble group of shepherds — in contrast to the noble Augustus and Cyrenius. Here is the first tiny link in an unbreakable chain of proof for the miraculous birth of Jesus. We need to analyze this oft-repeated but little understood story.
The Truth about the Shepherds
God gives a very startling, but personal announcement. "For unto You is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord" (verse 10). Their interest piqued, the shepherds want to see this Savior who is announced as their Messiah. Now notice how God absolutely convinces the shepherds and the people of Bethlehem.
First, notice the shepherds are "in the same country," but not right on the slopes above Bethlehem. We know they are at some distance because of the expression "let us go even unto Bethlehem." "Even unto" can be translated "as far as." The distance gives proof of the vision.
How so?
Think a moment. What if the shepherds had been right on the same hill above the manger? They could come down the hill, meet people they know very well, then claim to have an angelic vision. When they find the child a few feet away, what do people think? Naturally they think the shepherds are in "cahoots," in collusion with Joseph and Mary! No, shepherds nearby wouldn't do. But distance rules out a conspiracy with Joseph and Mary.
Second, the angel says: "And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). Notice the angel gives a sign, but no address.
Why? So the shepherds will begin to ask everyone they meet: "Where is the newborn Savior?" "Where is the Christ Child?"
Can't you imagine people's reactions? "WHAT Christ Child?" "In a manger — are you serious?" "A Savior? . . . born in a barn?"
But that is precisely the point. God wanted the herdsmen to ask, to question, to focus people's attention on His Son's birth. If God had given them the address of the manger, they would ask no one. The announcement would not be broadcast. This natural way — God's way — the announcement is broadcast! Finally, with the help of one or more local citizens, the shepherds actually do find the swaddled baby in — of all places — a stable! (Luke 2:16) The sign is confirmed! The angel told the truth!
Now analyze what God has done. God has masterfully confirmed the angel's message to three parties: The shepherds themselves, the independent townspeople; plus Joseph and family!
Strange as the message first sounded to the shepherds, they did find a child in a stable after all. Finding the child, as the angel said, adds weight to the angel's announcement that He is "Christ the Lord." The message is confirmed to the independent townspeople who know that the shepherds were honestly looking, that they were not "primed," that they sincerely sought a baby they believed to be Christ — and all this in a strange and unlikely place, a manger. Joseph and family — who realized no one knew they were there, who told no one of the birth, also see God's hand, God's proof. Such circumstances cannot be concocted by mere man.
Armed with irrefutable proof, the shepherds boldly announce Christ's birth to many people. "They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child" (verse 17). The Jewish people were amazed.