Have you ever wondered about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus? In this article, we’ll discuss the significance of the star of Bethlehem, Herod’s plot to kill the child, and the shepherds’ presence. We’ll also look at the Day of Preparation and the star. Then, we’ll discuss how the nativity of Jesus is described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Let’s have a look at some of the key events that unfolded that day.
The star of Bethlehem
Many people wonder what the star of Bethlehem was and how it was related to the birth of Jesus. The star in this story isn’t Star Wars-related, and it actually represents a type of comet. A star is a very common feature of the night sky, and in fact, it is the most frequently depicted celestial body. While the star in the birth story of Jesus may be a comet, there are also examples in the Bible of it being a planet.
Herod’s plot to kill the child
King Herod planned to kill Jesus because he wanted to be the one and only king of the Jews. Herod was a cruel ruler who killed anyone who tried to overthrow him. His own family and people from other lands had been killed by him. However, he did not succeed in his plot. In fact, he did not even find Jesus! Read on to learn more about Herod’s plot to kill Jesus.
The presence of shepherds
As the first messengers of the Messiah, the shepherds’ message at the birth of Jesus stirred wonder among those who heard it. They marveled at what they saw and heard, and Mary treasured their words. As the shepherds returned, they glorified God for all they had seen and heard. The angel’s message mentions “good news,” “a Savior,” “the Lord,” and “peace.” The word kept refers to guarding or contemplating; the phrase pondered means to think.
The day of Preparation
The Day of Preparation for Jesus’ birth is a weekday in the Bible, which begins on the evening of Thursday before Christmas Eve. It consists of Jesus’ last Supper in the upper room, his discourses with his disciples, and his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus then died and his soul went into the earth. He was buried before the High Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. Interestingly, on the very same day, he rose from the dead and appeared in the sky again.
The presence of animals in nativity scenes
Although most nativity scenes feature humans, some depict animals. In fact, donkeys were introduced in the 7th century BC and are mentioned in the Book of Habakkuk, the eighth of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. Interestingly, these animals are not mentioned in the gospels, but the use of these images may have been influenced by the biblical texts.
The significance of the three magi
There are many interpretations of the gifts given by the Magi to Jesus at his birth, but the gifts that the Magi brought are especially meaningful. While the gifts were significant at the time, they also have significance for us today. Gold, which is a precious metal, is one of the most expensive gifts, and frankincense is a fragrant fragrance made from a tree native to Arabia and India. Myrrh, another expensive fragrance, comes from rare thorn bushes in Ethiopia and Arabia. Both are used in embalming fluid and as an antiseptic anointing oil.
The true date of Christ’s birth
The early Christians were not very interested in the real date of Christ’s birth. They were more concerned with when Christ would die and be resurrected. Since the Bible places Christ’s death at the time of the Jewish Passover, it seems likely that the early Christians had trouble reconciling their calendar with the Jewish lunar calendar. In addition, the early Christians would not have appreciated the value of a birthday, which makes the true date of Christ’s birth all the more curious.