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Luke is one of the greatest historians of all time. Over and over again we keep discovering that he was right after all. We have seen so many scholars tell us that Jesus was born in 4 BCE. or earlier. Luke explicitly states that Jesus began his ministry at age 30 and John began his ministry on the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius which was in 29 AD.
Scripture calls both Jesus and John “Rabbi.” It has always been true that only a rabbi can provide a new interpretation of Scripture. If Jesus was not a Rabbi no one would have listened to Him and He would have been condemned as a Mesith. Just for a minute let's assume that both Jesus and John were rabbi’s, that means that they could not begin their ministry until they were 30. That means that they were both born in 2 BCE. not 4 BCE.
Luke also tells us that it was during the first implementation of the Roman Poll tax. The poll tax was collected half way between the land tax collections. Both the Poll and Land Tax occurred every 14 years. We know from Josephus that there was a land tax riot in 6 AD and that means the first poll tax would have been in 2 BCE. (don’t forget that there was no year 0). Luke also tells us that Quirinius was the governor of Syria at that time and we now know that he in fact was from 3 to 1 BCE. Gee, maybe Scripture is right after all!
This blog makes that assumption and takes a new look at the amazing number of things that suddenly make sense. We now know directly from Scripture the exact date Jesus was born, it tells us in Leviticus! We now also see that Jesus’s birth directly points to His death! We now know when Joseph found out Mary was pregnant (what a love story!). We also know how Mary, a 14 year old, got from Nazareth to Ein Karem 92 miles away.
Let's take a new look at the life and death of Jesus and be amazed. Leave your preconceived notions behind and follow the facts, Jesus wasn't born in a cave, the Last Supper was on Tuesday not Thursday, and He didn't die at 3pm, but oh how he followed the law and fulfilled the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets! Let's start a discussion and discover how incredible Jesus was and how amazing is His story. Let's learn from each other.
