It has been surprising to me how many Christ-followers do not know the timing of events related to the birth of their Savior. A mixture of tradition and good storytelling have confused many, so Think-Biblically.com is taking a moment to explain the timeline of events that may contain a surprise or two even for the seasoned believer.

It is important to note from the outset that the Bible itself does not provide specifics in many of the areas this document will be specific. Some of the dates and order of events are sourced from external documents, such as the works of Josephus, and from other known historic events and their dates including Jewish feasts and celebrations. This account will not attempt to provide the proofs for this timeline, only a summary of the findings and resultant conclusions.

Our story beings in early June of 4 BC, a time of the early harvest when fields were ripening and John the Baptist was first conceived. Word of Elizabeth’s pregnancy reached Mary who was herself looking forward to being married to her betrothed. Then, six months later, Mary is visited by an angel informing her that she is miraculously pregnant and will give birth to the savior of the world. She informs her fiancé Joseph, who wants to back out of the engagement quietly and have Mary move away until after the child is born. An angel then appears to Joseph, to confirm that Mary has not been unfaithful and to enlighten him of his duty to raise the Son of God.

At this point, life for the couple moved quickly. They decided that it was best for Mary to leave Nazareth before she began to show and so she went to stay with Elizabeth in Galilee. Though it was a long journey, it was made easily enough at the start of her pregnancy. Upon her arrival Elizabeth would have been in her third trimester and in need of Mary’s help. John the Baptist was born in early March.

It was decided that Joseph would remain in Nazareth and continue to work and prepare for their future. Since they both were required to return to Bethlehem for a census during that Roman calendar year, they decided to combine the two events into a single trip. Joseph would come to her late in the pregnancy and together they would travel the short distance from Elizabeth’s home to Bethlehem. Once there, they would register for the census and give birth to Jesus in the City of David. It seemed like a good plan at the time.

What the couple hadn’t counted on was Jesus being born on Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Jewish high holy days. Many had come to Jerusalem to celebrate and all the places the couple could have normally stayed were filled to capacity. They settled into a kind of barn, which was probably more like a cave in a hillside, and there Jesus was born on September 11th, 3 BC. Incidentally, it is part of Jewish tradition that Adam and Eve were created on Rosh Hashanah. It is appropriate that the Second Adam would be born on this day.

At the birth Angels came and were delighted to see the miracle. They informed the shepherds who also came and took part in the events of this night. The shepherds then ran and told others that the Messiah had been born.

At that time Magi, learned men from the Far East, took note of the astronomical signs surrounding the birth of Jesus and began a journey to Jerusalem. The trip took a little over a year and upon their arrival they appeared before King Herod to inquire of the location of the newborn king of the Jews. Herod had no idea what they were talking about. He asked them to inform him once they found this “king” so that he might pay his respects as well. They didn’t believe Herod’s intentions were noble and so slipped out of the region along another route after finding Jesus and giving Mary and Joseph the gifts they had brought with them.

Herod, not wanting anyone to challenge his right to the throne, then orders that all male children age two and younger be executed. An Angel warns Mary and Joseph and the two set out immediately for Egypt, escaping Herod’s trap. It is unknown how long they stayed in Egypt. Herod died in 1 BC, shortly after his failure to kill the King of the Jews. Mary and Joseph likely waited until they were assured the new ruler would not be hunting them, and even then they chose to return to Nazareth rather than Bethlehem. Jesus was at least four years old when he came to the city that would be considered his home town and lending him the distinction of being Jesus of Nazareth.