Christmas Controversy #3
Dr J Hernes M Abante
Luke 2:8-14 : “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
[9] 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.
[10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [
[11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
[12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
[14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
The Old Testament concludes with the Silent Years, a period when divine Revelation was notably absent from prophetic voices. This era marked a period in history when God permitted the displacement or dispersion of His chosen nation, Israel, placing them under the dominion of foreign powers. This transition signifies the beginning of Gentile rule over Israel.
During this time, God temporarily suspended His direct interactions with humanity, possibly to allow the consequences of Israel’s collective disobedience to unfold and to give His people time to recognize their sins against the Almighty God.
From approximately 400 BC until 4 BC, Israel experienced a complete absence of prophetic voices. This absence coincided with significant cultural, religious, and political transformations. The spiritual silence is often attributed to Israel's deteriorating spiritual state and persistent disobedience.
Possible reasons for this spiritual drought include Israel's unfaithfulness, their integration with surrounding pagan cultures, and abandoning true worship, which may have caused God to withdraw prophetic guidance. The people's complacency, overly focused on ritual observances rather than genuine relationship with God, further contributed to this silence. Being under Gentile dominance was likely a consequence of their spiritual apathy and neglect of covenant faithfulness.
Throughout this period, the Jewish people endured intense persecution and oppression by various empires, notably Persia and Greece. Under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Temple was desecrated, which ignited the Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BC). This revolt briefly restored Jewish independence before Israel fell under Roman control in 63 BC, setting the geopolitical stage for the birth of Jesus.
Despite the prophets' silence, spiritual activity persisted in other forms. Writings such as the Apocrypha emerged, and groups like the Pharisees and Essenes developed distinct religious ideas, indicating ongoing engagement with faith, though not direct divine revelation.
The end of this silent period was marked by the angelic announcement to the shepherds regarding Jesus' birth. Although the Bible does not specify the exact date, most scholars estimate Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC, based on King Herod's reign and corresponding historical events.
This divine announcement likely occurred on the night of Jesus' birth, as described in Luke 2:8-14. Shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem witnessed an angel declare the Savior’s arrival. Some scholars suggest this event occurred around 2 BC, based on mild Judean winters and rabbinic rules regarding sheep grazing near Bethlehem in winter.
Every aspect of Jesus’ birth was purposeful. Bethlehem, where He was born, was also where sacrificial lambs were raised in accordance with Jewish law. The manager was not a decorative hay-filled crib but a carved stone feeding trough for farm animals such as sheep, goats, cows, and donkeys.
Such mangers, designed to minimize waste and facilitate feeding, featured smooth surfaces and rounded edges for easy cleaning—distinct from the typical depiction in nativity scenes, where it is portrayed as a soft, straw-filled crib. From the outset, Jesus was being prepared as the perfect sacrificial Lamb, foreshadowing His future atoning death on the cross.
An orchestrated attempt to prevent Christ’s birth was carried out by Satan, using King Herod, who ordered the massacre of all male children two years and younger in Bethlehem in an effort to eliminate the Messiah.
However, Jesus was protected and ultimately spared from death, fulfilling God's redemptive promise. The first Christmas, therefore, was far from the joyful celebration it is remembered as today, bearing deep spiritual and prophetic significance.
(To be continued)