Sequence in Chronology: 1 of 26
Topics Covered: The world's oldest prophecy concerning Jesus, preparation of the Magi, the miraculous conception of John the Baptist, Mary is miraculously impregnated by God, how are Mary and Elizabeth related.
Mary gives her Magnificat glorifying God, John the Baptist is born six months before Jesus, taxation fulfills Biblical prophecy, Jesus' prophetic birth proclaimed by angels, Jesus circumcised on the eighth day.
Bible References: Genesis 3, Matthew 1 - 2, Luke 1 - 2.
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The Oldest Prophecy
The Bible's first and oldest written prophecy, given directly by God, is found in the opening chapters of Genesis. It alludes to the miraculous birth of Jesus.
The Messiah is prophesied to oppose the devil, overcome his attacks and ultimately seal his eternal fate. The book of Genesis states the following.
And I will put enmity between you (the devil) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed (an illusion to the virgin birth); He (Jesus) will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15, HBFV).
The birth of man's Savior, more than two thousand years ago, is one of the most pivotal events to have ever occurred in the universe! This appearance of Jesus, sometimes referred to as the Incarnation, is an eternal witness of perfect love. It shows that God's love is so profound that he was willing to make the greatest sacrifice, through the birth of His Son, and take the greatest risk, in order that his greatest creation could live forever with him.
7 B.C.
Preparation of the Magi
Wise men or Magi "from the east" (Matthew 2:1) begin to see what appears to be a bright star appearing in the sky. They firmly believe that this miraculous beacon will lead them to the "King of the Jews" (Jesus) whose birth they can rejoice over (verse 2).
The Magi, and the large caravan that will accompany them, decide to undertake what will become a 1,000+ mile (1,609+ kilometer) journey. Preparations are begun to transport these important men (and many others) westward in a caravan laden with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Mid-May to
Early June 6 B.C.
Zacharias and the Angel
During his service Zacharias is chosen, by lot, with the rare honor of offering incense before God. As he carries out his duty before the temple's Holy of Holies an angel miraculously appears!
And it came to pass that in fulfilling his priestly service before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priestly service, it fell to him by lot to burn incense when he entered into the temple of the Lord . . .
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense (Luke 1:8 - 9, 11).
This appearance of the archangel Gabriel highly likely takes place on Pentecost since John's birth was a major fulfillment of prophecy.
Talking to God's Angel
Gabriel reveals to Zacharias that the child he and his wife have longed to produce will become a reality! This is in spite of the fact that Elizabeth was barren and that the couple was quite old (Luke 1:7). The miraculous son they will soon produce will be named John. He will be filled with God's spirit upon conception and will be raised under the requirements of a Nazarite vow (verses 5 - 15).
Zacharias, astonished and perplexed by what he is told, has a hard time wrapping his mind around what he was promised.
Then Zacharias said to the angel, "By what means shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (Luke 1:18).
Gabriel's response to Zacharias' lack of faith is to render him deaf and unable to speak until the words spoken to him are fulfilled.
"But behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day in which these things shall take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time." (Luke 1:20).
John Conceived
Zacharias' service at the temple ends at noon on May 29. John the Baptist is highly likely conceived between May 30 and June 12 (Luke 1:23 - 24).
Late November to
Early December 6 B.C.
A Miraculous Conception
Gabriel, in Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy (late November to early December in 6 B.C.), is sent to a young virgin named Mary in the city of Nazareth (Luke 1:26 - 27). She is betrothed to a man named Joseph. The archangel informs her that she will miraculously conceive and give birth, through the power of God, to the Savior of mankind (verses 28 - 37)!
Gabriel also reveals that Elizabeth, Mary's first cousin, has been healed of being barren and is in the sixth month of her pregnancy (Luke 1:36). This miraculous act makes John the Baptist and Jesus second cousins.
Mary, though amazed at what she is told, accepts God's will for her (Luke 1:38). God's power then overshadows her to miraculously conceived Jesus in her womb. Mary, after Gabriel leaves, rushes to the home of her cousin Elizabeth.
How Are They Related?
What is the familial relationship between Mary and Elizabeth? The New Testament labels Elizabeth as Mary's cousin (Luke 1:36). The two righteous women were related to each other through their mothers as the below chart shows!
Mary and Elizabeth were first cousins as their mothers were sisters. This makes John the Baptist and Jesus Christ second cousins through Mary!
Joy from the Womb!
Mary's arrival at Elizabeth's home causes John, while still in the womb, to leap for joy!
"For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the babe in my womb leaped in exultation. And blessed is she who has believed, for there shall be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord" (Luke 1:44 - 45).
Praise to God!
Mary then launches into what is sometimes referred to as her Magnificat.
Then Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has exulted in God my Savior.
"For He has looked upon the humble estate of His handmaid; for behold, from this time forward all generations shall count me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things to me, and holy is His name." (Luke 1:46 - 49).
Mary's Magnificat runs from verses 46 to 55 of Luke 1. It first praises God (verses 46 - 47) then acknowledges his mercy toward the humble (verse 48). It then rejoices in God's greatness (verses 49 - 50) and his righteousness in humbling those who are proud (verses 51 - 53). It finishes with thanking Him for fulfilling his promise of mercy first made to Abraham (verses 54 - 55).
Early December 6 B.C.
to Early March 5 B.C.
Mary stays with her cousin Elizabeth for three months then goes back home (Luke 1:56).
Early March 5 B.C.
John is Born!
John the Baptist is born between February 27 and March 11 in 5 B.C. (Luke 1:57).
Neighbors and kinfolk, on the day John was to be circumcised, assume Elizabeth's baby will be named after Zacharias. The relatives, after Elizabeth states his name should be John, motion to Zacharias asking him what the name should be. After writing the name of John on a tablet he is miraculously healed and begins to praise God (Luke 1:59 - 64)!
Is It Adultery?
Mary is three months pregnant with Jesus when John the Baptist is born. Joseph, who is betrothed to be her husband, discovers she is pregnant. He then ponders what he should do.
It was Joseph's legal right, as Mary's husband, to expose her act of what clearly looked like adultery. If he did so she would be publicly humiliated, punished (or even killed, see Deuteronomy 22:23 - 24) and the marriage ended. He could also, as an act of mercy, quietly obtain a divorce and spare her further punishment (Matthew 1:18 - 19).
An angel, as Joseph ponders what to do, appears to him in a dream and tells him the child in Mary's womb was miraculously created by God.
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, because that which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:20).
Joseph believes the angel and decides to stay married to Mary. He also chooses not to have sex with her until after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:20 - 25).
Late August to
Early September 5 B.C.
Taxation Fulfills Prophecy!
In 5 B.C. the Romans require all male Jews living in the regions of Galilee, Samaria, Judea and elsewhere to travel to their ancestral home to be taxed. Joseph's ancestral home, because he was a descendant of King David, was Bethlehem. Although Mary did not have to accompany Joseph on the trip, she likely did so because she was close to giving birth (Luke 2:1 - 5).
The couple travel roughly 80 miles (about 129 kilometers) to get to Bethlehem from Nazareth. Once in the city they find it inundated with people where lodging is hard to find. They are forced to stay in a stable where Mary gives birth to Jesus and lays him in a manger (Luke 2:1 - 20).
When Is Jesus Born?
Jesus' birth takes place between August 27 and September 9 in 5 B.C. It likely occurs in the middle of this period which is Saturday, September 2. This date is special in that it is not only the first day of the Hebrew civil year, but also the highly symbolic Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)!
Proclaiming Birth of the Savior
An angel proclaims to shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem that man's Savior has been born! He also tells them that the unique location of his birth, along with what he is wrapped in, will be the sign that they have the right child.
Now there were shepherds in the same country, who were dwelling in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night; And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shined round about them; and they were seized with great fear.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I am announcing to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; For today, in the city of David, a Savior was born to you, Who is Christ the Lord.
"Now this is the sign for you: you shall find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men of goodwill." (Luke 2:8 - 14).
The shepherds, after countless angels appear in the sky to praise God, travel into Bethlehem to look for Jesus (Luke 2:13 - 16). After they find him they spread the news of his birth far and wide (verses 17 - 20).
Circumcision
Mary and Joseph, in accordance with God's law, have Jesus circumcised on the eighth day after his birth (Leviticus 12:3, Luke 2:21). This circumcision likely took place on September 9th.