Is Christmas
Christian?
Many nations throughout
the world have established national holidays for various purposes to honor
certain people or commemorate certain events. Some memorialize great victories
in battle or pay respects to great national leaders or founding anniversaries of
each nation. Holidays may vary from country to country but few countries have
national holidays established to honor God. In the United States, there is one
such holiday named Thanksgiving Day, which has been established as a day set
apart to give thanks to God for his many blessings of abundance and protection
over the country. In its foundational purpose, it is set apart as different from
all the other national holidays of the year.
The day after
Thanksgiving Day is also a special day. You might ask, "what is so special about
the day after Thanksgiving?" It’s not a national holiday. It’s not marked on any
American calendar as anything special. In fact, it’s marked on any normal
western calendar as no different than any other day of the year; but, in the
secular American society, it is a very special day of the year.
The day after
Thanksgiving marks the first day of the Christmas shopping season. Stores are
jammed with shoppers from early in the morning, even before sunrise, until late
at night, long after sunset. For three to four weeks, depending upon how the
days fall in a given year, most people will be in a frenzy, preoccupied with
thoughts of materialism in the quest to give and get presents on Christmas day.
Have you ever thought
about the mindset of people who go out of their way to rearrange their lives to
accommodate the winter holiday on December 25th? It is extremely difficult to
avoid being touched by the preparations for Christmas. If you listen to the
radio, there is Christmas music. If you watch television, there are Christmas
stories, Christmas movies, and advertisements for Christmas gifts. In fact, you
can hardly have a discussion with anyone in society without hearing the parting
farewell of "merry Christmas." It seems as though Christmas celebrations are
just about everywhere you turn. In the western world, Christmas is one of the
biggest traditions of the year.
Whether they call
themselves "Christian" or not, most people who celebrate Christmas and exchange
presents on that day think the day represents the birth of Jesus Christ and the
giving of gifts to the Christ child by the three wise men. They think the
holiday is authorized in the Bible and taken directly from the scriptures. Most
of us were probably reared with that belief and conviction but most people might
be quite surprised to find out the real truth of the matter.
The Whole Story
As we worship God the
Father on the Sabbath today as God commands us, we need to ask ourselves what
December 25th really pictures. Is it truly the anniversary of the birth of
Christ as the world supposes or does it picture something else? Let’s go to
God’s word to hear the truth of God about the birth of the savior he provided
for us. In order to understand the full story, though, we have to go back more
than a year before Jesus’ birth. The account begins in the first chapter of the
book of Luke.
(Luke 1:5-80 NASB) In
the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias,
of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and
her name was Elizabeth.
Stop there first. We see
that Zacharias was of the priestly line of the sons of Aaron. As a priest, he
served in the temple during the year. There were so many priests, however, that
there were too many to serve in the temple all the time. Because of that,
several hundred years before during the time of King David, the priestly service
time was split into twenty-four groups or divisions.
(1 Chr 23:1-6 NASB)
Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. {2}
And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the
Levites. {3} And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward,
and their number by census of men was 38,000. {4} Of these, 24,000 were to
oversee the work of the house of the LORD; and 6,000 were officers and judges,
{5} and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 were praising the LORD with the
instruments which David made for giving praise. {6} And David divided them
into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
We find their duties
enumerated a little later in verse 24.
(1 Chr 23:24-32 NASB)
These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' households, even the
heads of the fathers' households of those of them who were counted, in the
number of names by their census, doing the work for the service of the house
of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward. {25} For David said, "The LORD
God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem
forever. {26} "And also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the
tabernacle and all its utensils for its service." {27} For by the last words
of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.
{28} For their office is to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the
house of the LORD, in the courts and in the chambers and in the purifying of
all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God, {29} and
with the showbread, and the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened
wafers, or what is baked in the pan, or what is well-mixed, and all measures
of volume and size. {30} And they are to stand every morning to thank and to
praise the LORD, and likewise at evening, {31} and to offer all burnt
offerings to the LORD, on the sabbaths, the new moons and the fixed festivals
in the number set by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the
LORD. {32} Thus they are to keep charge of the tent of meeting, and charge of
the holy place, and charge of the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the
service of the house of the LORD.
Let’s see how they were
divided by David in chapter 24.
(1 Chr 24:1-19 NASB)
Now the divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these: the sons of Aaron
were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. {2} But Nadab and Abihu died before
their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests [and
therefore, the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests down
through the centuries]. {3} And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and
Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for
their ministry. {4} Since more chief men were found from the descendants of
Eleazar than the descendants of Ithamar, they divided them thus: there were
sixteen heads of fathers' households of the descendants of Eleazar, and eight
of the descendants of Ithamar according to their fathers' households. {5} Thus
they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the
sanctuary and officers of God, both from the descendants of Eleazar and the
descendants of Ithamar. {6} And Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from
the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the
priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers'
households of the priests and of the Levites; one father's household taken for
Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.
Now, we can see that the
actual choosing of the divisions was made through an appeal to God by casting
lots as we see in verse 7.
(1 Chr 24: 7-19 NASB)
Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, {8} the
third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, {9} the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth
for Mijamin, {10} the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah,
[now, that’s the one we want].
If we read on, we would
find that there were a total of twenty-four divisions. During the year, the
priests comprising each division served in the temple for a period of two weeks:
one week in the first half of the year and one week in the second half of the
year. In addition, all priests served for one week at each of the three holy day
times as we read in Deuteronomy 16 and verse 16.
(Deu 16:16 NASB)
"Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in
the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast
of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD
empty-handed.
Keeping all of this in
mind about the division of priestly service, we should go back to the main story
in Luke. Speaking of Zacharias and Elizabeth, we read:
(Luke 1:6) And they
were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the
commandments and requirements of the Lord. {7} And they had no child, because
Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. {8} Now it came
about, while he was performing his priestly service before God in the
appointed order of his division, {9} according to the custom of the priestly
office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
{10} And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour
of the incense offering. {11} And an angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing to the right of the altar of incense. {12} And Zacharias was troubled
when he saw him, and fear gripped him. {13} But the angel said to him, "Do not
be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. {14} "And
you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. {15} "For
he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or
liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother's
womb. {16} "And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their
God. {17} "And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit
and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN,
and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord." {18} And Zacharias said to the angel, "How
shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in
years." {19} And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands
in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring you
this good news. {20} "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak
until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time." {21} And the people
were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.
{22} But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized
that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and
remained mute. {23} And it came about, when the days of his priestly service
were ended, that he went back home. {24} And after these days Elizabeth his
wife became pregnant; and she kept herself in seclusion for five months,
saying, {25} "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He
looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."
We learned above that
the service of the priests was divided into twenty-four courses or weeks of
duty. As we know, Abib or Nisan was the first month of the year in what equates
to our March/April. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread go from the
fourteenth to the twenty-first of Abib, with the Feast of Weeks occurring on
"the morrow after the seventh Sabbath following the Wave Sheaf offering during
the days of Unleavened Bread. All the priests were to serve for a week at each
of those holy day periods
If you were to make a
chart and count off the weeks, you would find that there were three divisions of
the sons of Aaron who served as priests during the three weeks of the first
month; then there were four more who served during the second month; then the
eighth division of Abijah served during the first week of the third month or
Sivan. Depending upon how the day of the Wave Sheaf offering falls during the
week of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits would probably fall
after the week of the eighth course of Abijah. So, Zechariah probably served in
the temple for two weeks back-to-back.. He would have returned to his home in
early to mid June and Elisabeth would have become pregnant shortly thereafter.
Now if Elizabeth’s
pregnancy began shortly after Zacharias finished his priestly duties in,
roughly, mid- June, we see that for five months Elizabeth hid herself. That
would bring us up to about mid-November. The account continues in the next verse
to tell us that in Elizabeth’s sixth month, or probably early December, Gabriel
again visited the earth with news.
(Luke 1:26) Now in the
sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called
Nazareth, {27} to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary [or, in Hebrew, Miriam].
{28} And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
{29} But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what
kind of salutation this might be. {30} And the angel said to her, "Do not be
afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. {31} "And behold, you will
conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. {32} "He
will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God
will give Him the throne of His father David; {33} and He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." {34} And Mary said
to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" {35} And the angel
answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring
shall be called the Son of God. {36} "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth
has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now
in her sixth month [again, we have corroboration from the messenger of God
that at this point in time, Elizabeth was six months pregnant].
Continue in verse 37.
(Luke 1:37) "For
nothing will be impossible with God." {38} And Mary said, "Behold, the
bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." And the angel
departed from her. {39} Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the
hill country, to a city of Judah, {40} and entered the house of Zacharias and
greeted Elizabeth. {41} And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's
greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit. {42} And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed among
women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! {43} "And how has it
happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? {44} "For
behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my
womb for joy. {45} "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a
fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." {46} And Mary said:
"My soul exalts the Lord, {47} And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
{48} "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold,
from this time on all generations will count me blessed. {49} "For the Mighty
One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. {50} "AND HIS MERCY IS
UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. {51} "He has done
mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the
thoughts of their heart. {52} "He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble. {53} "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH
GOOD THINGS; AND SENT AWAY THE RICH EMPTY-HANDED. {54} "He has given help to
Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, {55} As He spoke to our
fathers, To Abraham and his offspring forever." {56} And Mary stayed with her
about three months, and then returned to her home.
So, we see that Mary
stayed with Elizabeth an additional three months when Elizabeth would have been
in her ninth month or, probably, sometime in early March when Mary would have
been about three months pregnant. Mary then went home, to Nazareth in Galilee,
before Elizabeth gave birth in, probably, mid-to-late March, which would have
been about the time of Passover.
It is an interesting
sidelight to note that at the Passover Seder (or meal), a special place is set
for Elijah and the door is also left open to welcome him. Remember what Christ
stated in Matthew 11:
(Mat 11:10-14 NASB)
"This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE
YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.' {11} "Truly, I say to you,
among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the
Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. {12}
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, and violent men take it by force. {13} "For all the prophets and the
Law prophesied until John. {14} "And if you care to accept it, he himself is
Elijah, who was to come.
The Birth of Christ
So, as we followed the
clear chronology specified in the scriptures, it was very easy to see that John
the Baptist was, most likely, born about the time of Passover in late March. We
also read that Mary had stayed with Elizabeth for three months from the time of
Gabriel's announcement of Mary's conception of Jesus. Therefore, it is
reasonable to conclude that Jesus was born about six months after John the
Baptist (for more insight, please see our booklet, The Dates of our Messiah’s
Birth and Death).
Now, let’s go back to
Luke.
(Luke 1:57) Now the
time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she brought forth a son. {58}
And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His
great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. {59} And it came
about that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were
going to call him Zacharias, after his father. {60} And his mother answered
and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." {61} And they said to her,
"There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." {62} And
they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. {63} And he
asked for a tablet, and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were
all astonished. {64} And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed,
and he began to speak in praise of God. {65} And fear came on all those living
around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill
country of Judea. {66} And all who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What
then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly
with him. {67} And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
prophesied, saying: {68} "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has
visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, {69} And has raised up
a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant-- {70} As He
spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- {71} Salvation FROM OUR
ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; {72} To show mercy toward our
fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, {73} The oath which He swore to
Abraham our father, {74} To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of
our enemies, might serve Him without fear, {75} In holiness and righteousness
before Him all our days. {76} "And you, child, will be called the prophet of
the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; {77} To
give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their
sins, {78} Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from
on high shall visit us, {79} TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE
SHADOW OF DEATH, to guide our feet into the way of peace." {80} And the child
continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts
until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Continue in the second
chapter of Luke.
(Luke 2:1-39 NASB) Now
it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that
a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. {2} This was the first census
taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. {3} And all were proceeding to
register for the census, everyone to his own city. {4} And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, {5} in
order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with
child. {6} And it came about that while they were there, the days were
completed for her to give birth. {7} And she gave birth to her first-born son;
and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn [here we have a hint of the time of year because it
says "there was no room for them in the inn]. And in the same region there
were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their
flock by night [here we have another hint of the time of the year because it
says that the shepherds were "staying out in the fields, and keeping watch
over their flocks by night].
The book of Ezra gives
us a report on what the weather was like in Israel in the month of December. The
eight days of the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, which we know
today as Hanukkah, generally occurs in early to mid December. It is begins on
the twenty-fifth of the ninth month, Chislev. The following ancient weather
report was given just five days before at, roughly, the same time of year.
(Ezra 10:9 NASB) So
all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three
days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and
all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling
because of this matter and the heavy rain.
A little later, in verse
13 we read:
(Ezra 10:13 NASB) "But
there are many people, it is the rainy season, and we are not
able to stand in the open. Nor can the task be done in one or two days,
for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
The Interpreter’s
Dictionary of the Bible records that, "broadly speaking, weather phenomena
and climatic conditions as pictured in the Bible correspond with conditions as
observed today (R.B.Y. Scott, Vol. 3, 1962, p. 625)." Describing the weather in
Bethlehem, Sara Ruhin, chief of the Israeli weather service, noted in a 1990
press release that the area has three months of frost: December with 29 degrees
Fahrenheit [which is minus 1.6 degrees Celsius]; January with 30 degrees
Fahrenheit [which is minus 1.1 Celsius]; and February with 32 degrees Fahrenheit
[which is 0 degrees Celsius].
Therefore, we have
established that the month of December is during the rainy season with average
nighttime temperatures slightly below freezing. Remember that the emperor in
Rome had called for a census to be taken of "all the inhabited earth" (which
means throughout his whole empire) as we read in verse one. Remember also that
the Roman empire reached all the way from the English Isles in the west to
Persia in the East and from northern Africa in the south to almost Germany in
the north. It was an empire that went from sea level of the Mediterranean to the
snow-capped mountains of northern Italy and France. Surely if it was cold and
rainy or possibly snowy in December in Bethlehem, there would be many parts of
the empire where it would have been colder and snowier with travel even more
impassable. Does it make sense that the emperor would call for an empire-wide
census at a time of year when travel was so difficult? Anyway, Christ’s birth
was at a time of year when the shepherds were still in the fields keeping watch
over their sheep at night.
Look at the account of
the shepherds in the field in Luke 2:9.
(Luke 2:9) And an
angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them; and they were terribly frightened. {10} And the angel said to
them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy
which shall be for all the people; {11} for today in the city of David there
has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. {12} "And this will be
a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a
manger." {13} And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying, {14} "Glory to God in the highest, And
on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." {15} And it came about when
the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began
saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this
thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." {16} And they
came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay
in the manger.
Notice that: when
the shepherds came to where Mary and Joseph were, the baby was still in the
manger. So, it’s obvious that the shepherds made their way into the town of
Bethlehem and found where Mary and Joseph were staying all within the same
night.
(Luke 2:17) And when
they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them
about this Child. {18} And all who heard it wondered at the things which were
told them by the shepherds. {19} But Mary treasured up all these things,
pondering them in her heart. {20} And the shepherds went back, glorifying and
praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
{21} And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was
then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the
womb. {22} And when the days for their purification according to the law of
Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the
Lord {23} (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY first-born MALE
THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"), {24} and to offer a
sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF
TURTLEDOVES, OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."
Let’s go back to that
reference in the Old Testament, in Leviticus and see what it says in its
entirety.
(Lev 12:1-8 NASB) Then
the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {2} "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying,
'When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean
for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean. {3}
'And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. {4}
'Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days;
she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary, until the
days of her purification are completed. {5} 'But if she bears a female child,
then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall
remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days. {6} 'And when the
days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall
bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting, a one year old lamb
for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.
{7} 'Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her; and
she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who
bears a child, whether a male or a female. {8} 'But if she cannot afford a
lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a
burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make
atonement for her, and she shall be clean.'"
So, we can see from
comparing the command given by God in Leviticus with the narration in Luke of
what kind of offering was actually given by Joseph and Mary, that they chose the
less expensive option. This should also give us some idea of their economic
state at that stage of their lives.
(Luke 2:25 NASB) And
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was
righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. {26} And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. {27} And he
came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child
Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, {28} then he took Him into
his arms, and blessed God, and said, {29} "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy
bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; {30} For my eyes have
seen Thy salvation, {31} Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all
peoples, {32} A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of thy
people Israel." {33} And His father and mother were amazed at the things which
were being said about Him. {34} And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His
mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in
Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- {35} and a sword will pierce even your
own soul-- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." {36}
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of
Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years
after her marriage, {37} and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And
she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
{38} And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and
continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem. {39} And when they had performed everything according to the Law of
the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
Now let’s go to the
parallel account in Matthew. We’ll find that Matthew adds some details that help
fill in the story.
(Mat 1:18-25 NASB) Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child
by the Holy Spirit. {19} And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and
not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. {20} But when
he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your
wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. {21}
"And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who
will save His people from their sins." {22} Now all this took place that what
was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, {23}
"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL
CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." {24} And
Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him,
and took her as his wife, {25} and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a
Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Continue in the second
chapter of Matthew.
(Mat 2:1-23 NASB) Now
after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, {2} "Where is He who
has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come
to worship Him." {3} And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him. {4} And gathering together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be
born. {5} And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been
written by the prophet, {6} 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO
MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A
RULER, WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" {7} Then Herod secretly called
the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. {8} And he
sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child;
and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship
Him." {9} And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star,
which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood
over where the Child was. {10} And when they saw the star, they rejoiced
exceedingly with great joy. {11} And they came into the house and saw the
Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening
their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and
myrrh.
Look at that: we
just read that the magi "came into the house." What house? The newborn infant
was laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. The manger wasn’t in
a house on the night the shepherds came to find Mary and Joseph. Unlike the
nativity scenes showing the shepherds and the magi together as is pictured in so
many places in the world today, it doesn’t take any great insight to see that
they were actually two separate incidents occurring at two separate times. On
the day that Christ was born, the implication is that Joseph had tried to find
accommodations at the inn but had to settle for the stable because the inn was
full of people. By the time the wise men came along, which was days or weeks
after the birth of Christ, Joseph had found more permanent accommodations and he
and Mary and the child were living in a house.
Notice also that the
magi brought presents to the newborn child. Many today claim that this is the
Biblical justification for giving presents on Christmas but let’s look at the
account closer to see what actually happened. Verse two quotes them as saying,
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" So, they were searching to
find the King. Yes, it has long been the custom, when visiting a
King or head of state, to take presents of honor and great value to give as
gifts to the King. The gifts have been seen to be a "door opener" to be granted
an audience with or to gain favor before the King. The magi brought expensive
gifts of "gold and frankincense and myrrh" in order to show honor to and to be
granted favor by the newborn King and his parents. They did not exchange
gifts with the child or his parents. They did not say, "Here are your gifts, now
where are our gifts?" They did not exchange gifts among themselves. They
brought "treasures" of very expensive gifts and they presented their expensive
treasures before the one whom they knew had been born as "King of the Jews."
Now, continue the
account in Matthew 2:12.
(Matthew 2:12) And
having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for
their own country by another way. {13} Now when they had departed, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the
Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you;
for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." {14} And he arose
and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; {15} and
was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through
the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "OUT OF EGYPT DID I CALL MY SON." {16}
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very
enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in
all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he
had ascertained from the magi.
Here we have another
clue which shows that the magi arrived in Bethlehem at some time after Christ
was born. Why else would Herod have given the order to kill all the male
children "from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
ascertained from the magi." Why would Herod have chosen a period as much as two
years if they had arrived on the night of his birth?
(Matthew 2:17) Then
that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, {18}
"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR
HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
{19} But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt, saying, {20} "Arise and take the Child and His mother, and
go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."
{21} And he arose and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of
Israel. {22} But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place
of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a
dream, he departed for the regions of Galilee, {23} and came and resided in a
city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be
fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Are we, then, the only
ones who can see that all the pieces to the puzzle don’t fit? Let’s hear what
other authorities have to say on the subject.
In Adam Clarke’s
Commentary, we can read "as these shepherds had not yet brought home their
flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and
that, consequently, our Lord was not born on the 25th of December, when no
flocks were out in the fields; nor could He have been born later than September,
as the flocks were still in the fields by night. On this very ground the
nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in
the fields is a chronological fact, which casts considerable light upon this
disputed point (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, note on Luke 2:8)."
In their commentary,
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown state: "From about passover-time in April until
autumn, the flocks pastured constantly in the open fields, the shepherds lodging
there all that time. From this it seems plain that the period of the year
usually assigned to our Lord’s birth is too late (Commentary Practical and
Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, pg. 991-992)."
Speaking of the
shepherds in the field, Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: "They were
employed now, not in acts of devotion, but in the business of their calling;
they were keeping watch over their flock, to secure them from thieves and beasts
of prey, it being probably in the summer time, when they kept their cattle out
all night, as we do now, and did not house them (note on Luke 2:8)."
The International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: "There is no certainty as to the month
or day of the birth. The Christmas date, December 25th, is first met with in the
West in the 4th century [that’s AD, more than 300 years after the event]… and
was then possibly borrowed from a pagan festival. December, in the winter
season, seems unlikely, as unsuitable for the pasturing of flocks… A more
probable date is a couple of months earlier (International Standard Bible
Encyclopedea, article Jesus Christ, Part 1, Date of the Birth of Christ)."
According to the
Catholic Encycolpedia, "The census would have been impossible in winter: a
whole population could not then be put in motion. (Catholic Encyclopedia,
article Christmas)."
In Mystery Babylon
The Great, Darrell Conder writes, "Most every historian, Christian as well
as agnostic, states as fact that the birth of Christ was not celebrated for the
first three centuries after His birth. Perhaps the early Church of God knew that
Christ Himself didn’t want the day of His birth to be more important than His
message – the Gospel of the Kingdom of God – which it has now become!
So when was Christ born? Certainly NOT on the 25th of December… The evidence to
prove this comes from many sources: first from the Bible itself. We can read
there, for example, that when Jesus was born the shepherds were watching their
flocks in the field. This shows definitely that it was not winter, December 25th
- it would have been too cold, based on historical accounts of the region in the
days of Christ. We need not, however, argue the point from the "Bible, because
some of the most damning evidence against the December 25th date is supplied by
the VERY CHURCH that instituted the Christmas custom to begin
with! The Encyclopedia Americana and many others, states that the Roman
Catholic Church ordered the birth of Christ to be observed on December 25th, the
old Roman feast of the birth of the pagan deity SOL, (Sol Invictus) also called
Mithra, the sun-god (Mystery Babylon The Great, Darrell W. Conder, pg.
89)."
Who was the pagan
sun-god Mithra and what did his followers believe? Mithraism was a
male-only religion that excluded women. It taught that Mithra was the mediator
between God and man. From the Catholic Encyclopedia we learn that "this
function first arose from the fact that as the light-god he is supposed to float
midway between the upper heaven and the earth. Likewise a sun-god, his planet
was supposed to hold the central place amongst the seven planets… Mithraists
were strongly inclined towards asceticism; [the self-denial of] abstention from
food and absolute continence seemed to them noble and praiseworthy, though not
obligatory. They battled on Mithra’s side against all impurity, against all evil
within and without. They believed in the immortality of the soul, sinners after
death were dragged off to hell; the just passed through the seven spheres of the
planets, through seven gates… leaving at each planet a part of their lower
humanity until, as pure spirits, they stood before God… Sunday was kept holy in
honour of Mithra, and the sixteenth of each month was sacred to him as mediator.
The 25 [th of] December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the
rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigours of the season (Catholic
Encyclopedia, article Mithraism)."
There were ranks in
Mithraism, actually seven degrees of initiation into the mithraic mysteries. The
first stage was a crow, the second an occult, the third a soldier, the fourth a
lion, the fifth a Persian, the sixth a solar messenger, and the seventh or top
rank was that of a father or pater. Mithraism originated from the
Persians. When Babylon was conquered by Persia, the Babylonian mysteries became
entwined with Mithraism. When Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great,
mithraism was drawn toward the west as it was a religion readily adopted by
soldiers because of its manly rites. When Greece was conquered by Rome, Mithra
was brought into the capital by returning soldiers where it was readily received
because of its association with the Roman god Saturn, the god of agriculture,
who had similar traditions embodied in the winter festival of Saturnalia.
Harper’s Bible
Dictionary states: " Mithraism originated in Persia. Mithra was a foe of
evil, a savior of righteousness, and a guarantor of life in the seven heavens to
come. He was presented as a mighty hero, and as such made a strong appeal to
soldiers, who frequented his shrines… This cult was a formidable rival to
Christianity (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, Miller & Miller, article
Mystery, pg. 471)."
In the book 4000
years of Christmas, Earl W. Count states that even though the Saturnalia was
an "abomination in homage to a disreputable god… the Christians… were dedicated
to the slow uphill task of converting these roistering pagan Romans. The habit
of the Saturnalia was too strong to be left behind… When a river meets a boulder
which will not be moved, the river flows around it. If the Saturnalia would not
be forbidden, let it be tamed. The Church Fathers now sought to point the
festival toward the Christian Sun of Righteousness (4000 years of Christmas,
E.W. Count, pg. 12)."
The trend is best summed
up in Gieseler’s Ecclesiastical History: "In exact proportion as paganism
has disappeared from without the church, in the very same proportion it
appears within it (Ecclesiastical History, Gieseler, Vol. II, pg.
45)."
The pattern continued as
the Roman church encountered new potential "converts" on the frontiers of the
empire such as the teutonic tribes in the area of Germany. Darrell Conder
writes, "Some few people will know that the old Germanic god Woden is honored in
the day of the week called Wednesday, a corrupted form of WODENSDAY. But very
few people realize that history clearly shows that Woden was renamed St. Nick or
Santa Claus, and is the real god of modern Christmas. In 4000 Years of
Christmas we read, ‘Of most interest to us, however is the fact that Woden
has become Santa Claus or, as he is better called, St. Nicholas’… The beliefs
and customs of Woden’s followers would not be forgotten when they entered the
new ‘Christian’ religion. They were not forgotten and NEITHER WAS WODEN! The god
Woden was said to have had a sacred tree, which when approached at yule tide
(December 25th), would bestow a special GIFT. Also, as with the Babylonian
Religion [with] the obelisk, [the] tree, mistletoe and holly, were part of his
worship. There was also the great feast in VALHALA, where Woden was ‘LORD of the
Feast.’ All types of revelry, similar to Saturnalia, was practiced there. Woden,
presiding over the revelries, was often pictured as sitting on a throne… with a
wreath of holly around his head, just like the Santa Claus of the recent past.
The Germanic peoples had found in the Roman Saturnalia, now called Christmas,
and the Catholic ‘savior,’ enough of their beliefs to make their entrance into
that church quite easy. It was then that Woden entered the Roman Saturnalia
giving it his customs and worships, and making it uniquely his own (Mystery
Babylon The Great, Darrell W. Conder, pg. 99)."
This winter festival was
not merely to be found in Germany. Many of its traditions spread throughout
Europe and were intertwined with old local customs, now under a new name.
"During the midwinter
feast in Norway, evergreen branches, mistletoe and holly were used long before
the Christmas tree became a tradition. Not until the first half of the 1800’s
[AD] did this German tradition come to Norway. Today the Christmas tree has a
central place in the celebration of Christmas in Norway… In ancient times,
Christmas was a mid-winter sacrificial feast a festival of lights marking the
transition from the dark winter to spring and summer. Christmas was a time for
celebrating the harvest, fertility, birth and death. In the 900’s [AD] King
Haakon I decided that the heathen custom of drinking Jul (Yule) was to be
moved to December 25th, in honour of the birth of Jesus Christ. Gradually, the
pagan feast was Christianised. The name Jul was retained, but the holiday
was dedicated to Jesus Christ, the babe in the manger. Christmas is thus a
mixture of ancient heathen and Christian traditions (Norway Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, article: Christmas in Norway)."
American Observances
In his article,
Christmas in America Becomes Battleground, author Joe Kovacs shows that the
secular holiday celebrations we see today in America are not the way December
25th has always been observed. He writes, "The fact that atheists view Christmas
with disdain is not astonishing, since they've attempted to remove the phrase
"under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God we trust" from U.S.
currency, as well as Ten Commandments displays from numerous publicly owned
places. What may be surprising, though, is that some devout Christians, many
dating all the way back to the days of Jesus, never celebrated the birth of
Christ, nor sought to. America's early colonists banned observance of Christmas,
and still today, there are many Christians abstaining from what millions more of
their brethren joyfully celebrate as God's coming in human form. The Catholic
Encyclopedia states, '"the word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes
Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131." It
explains, "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church,"
pointing out "first evidence of the feast is from Egypt" around A.D. 200 with
attempts by theologians to assign not only the year of Christ's birth, but also
the precise date. Historians agree that through the subsequent centuries,
traditions from ancient pagan (non-Christian) religions became intertwined with
those of Christianity, and depending upon one's point of view, either paganism
became Christianized, or Christianity became paganized. In 1644, the English
Parliament outlawed the holiday, compelling shops to be open that day, and
condemning plum puddings and mince pies as "heathen." In his Pulitzer Prize
finalist, "The Battle for Christmas," historian Stephen Nissenbaum at the
University of Massachusetts documents the American development of the holiday
now ensconced in popular culture. "In New England, for the first two centuries
of white settlement," writes Nissenbaum, "most people did not celebrate
Christmas. In fact, the holiday was systematically suppressed by Puritans during
the colonial period and largely ignored by their descendants. It was actually
illegal to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681 (the
fine was five shillings). Only in the middle of the nineteenth century did
Christmas gain legal recognition as an official public holiday in New England."
Nissenbaum agrees with other historians that the first recorded observance since
the New Testament recounted Christ's birth took place hundreds of years after
Jesus' resurrection. "It was only in the fourth century that the Church
officially decided to observe Christmas on Dec. 25. And this date was not chosen
for religious reasons but simply because it happened to mark the approximate
arrival of the winter solstice, an event that was celebrated long before the
advent of Christianity. The Puritans were correct when they pointed out - and
they pointed it out often - that Christmas was nothing but a pagan festival
covered with a Christian veneer." Christmas in America saw huge growth during
the 19th century, starting with Washington Irving's 1820 book "The Keeping of
Christmas at Bracebridge Hall." A week before Christmas in 1834, Charles Dickens
published "A Christmas Carol," and in 1860, American illustrator Thomas Nast
created Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, based on European stories
of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children.
Mr. Kovacs continues:
Today, followers of ancient paganism strive to remind the public about the
heathen origins of traditions that many may never have questioned. They've
published books, given speeches, and created websites proffering a heathen
history of modern customs. CircleSanctuary.org is among the Internet addresses
run by nature-worshipping pagans. Wiccan high priestess Selena Fox discusses the
state of being pagan and celebrating the lengthening of days during the Northern
Hemisphere's darkest time of year. [She states] "Yule, the winter solstice, is a
festival of peace and a celebration of waxing solar light. I honor the new sun
child by burning a[n] oaken yule log in a sacred fire. I honor the great goddess
in her many great mother aspects, and the father god as Santa in his old sky
god, father time, and holly king forms. I decorate my home with lights and with
holly, ivy, mistletoe, evergreens and other herbs sacred to this season. I ring
in the new solar year with bells (Worldnetdaily.com, Christmas in America
Become Battleground by Joe Kovacs, December 14, 2002)."
God’s Perspective
We need to ask, however,
is it pleasing to God to have old festivals celebrating worship of pagan gods
renamed in honor of the one true God, our Father, and of his son, Jesus Christ?
Jeremiah 10:2 shows us just what God thinks when we adopt the ways of the
Gentiles in preference to his ways.
(Jer 10:2-5 NKJV) Thus
says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at
the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. {3} For the
customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The
work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. {4} They decorate it with
silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not
topple. {5} They are upright, like a palm tree, [the palm tree was the sacred
fertility tree of the Egyptians like the evergreen was to the German’s god
Woden] And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by
themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do
any good."
The whole nation of
Israel was taken captive by the instrument of God, the Assyrians.
(2 Ki 17:7-15 NASB)
Now this came about, because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD
their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand
of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods {8} and walked in
the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of
Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.
{9} And the sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right, against
the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all
their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. {10} And they set for
themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green
tree, {11} and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations
did which the LORD had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil
things provoking the LORD. {12} And they served idols, concerning which the
LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this thing." {13} Yet the LORD warned
Israel and Judah, through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from
your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law
which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants
the prophets." {14} However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck
like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. {15} And they
rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and
His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became
vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the
LORD had commanded them not to do like them.
Remember God’s second
commandment:
(Exo 20:4-6 NASB) "You
shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven
above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. {5} "You shall
not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the
fourth generations of those who hate Me, {6} but showing lovingkindness to
thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Elijah asked the
rebellious people of the northern House of Israel a very pertinent question for
their time and one which we should seriously consider for our day as well.
(1 Ki 18:21 NASB) And
Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate
between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow
him."
Even Christ spoke of
behavior that nullified the law of God.
(Mat 15:7-9 NASB) "You
hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, {8} 'THIS PEOPLE
HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. {9} 'BUT IN
VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"
Tradition is what God
speaks of as driving the ways of this world around us.
(Rom 1:20-25 NASB) For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power
and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has
been made, so that they are without excuse. {21} For even though they knew
God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in
their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. {22} Professing to
be wise, they became fools, {23} and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible
God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed
animals and crawling creatures. {24} Therefore God gave them over in the lusts
of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.
{25} For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed
forever. Amen.
The apostle John speaks
of our duty to God.
(1 John 2:15-17 NASB)
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is
not from the Father, but is from the world. {17} And the world is passing
away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides
forever.
What is that will of
God? We can see a clear definition in the book of James.
(James 1:27 NASB) This
is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit
orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the
world.
Remember the first
commandment in the law of God.
(Exo 20:2-3 NASB) "I
am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of slavery. {3} "You shall have no other gods before Me.
So, the question for
anyone who keeps Christmas is: "By your actions, Whom do
you really worship on December 25th?"
Sermon given by Philip
Edwards
December 16, 2006