What? What do you mean Jesus wasn’t born on the 25^th of December? Was he born at all?

No Christmas Celebration

I remember when I was first confronted with this news. A member of our church informed me that they don’t celebrate Christmas because Jesus wasn’t born on the 25^th of December. The spirit in them was gentle and, had the subject not come up, they would not have told me. This was their conviction which they never imposed on me or anybody else.

Christmas May Be a Pagan Festival

But not everybody I have met has been like that. I have had people “lay it on” how Christmas is a pagan festival. And if we celebrate Christmas, we’re joining in on a pagan ritual.

Jesus was Born In The Spring

It’s true that Jesus most probably was not born in December. Most scholars would suggest that He was born in the spring as opposed to the middle of winter. And, yes, perhaps the 25^th of December is a pagan festival day.

Cause For Celebration

But surely, the fact that Jesus was born is enough cause for a celebration. The gospels account of Jesus’ birth was not only celebrated but recorded for us. A miraculous conception, angels singing, wise men discovering, a mad king seeking to kill the baby Jesus makes for a compelling narrative! Never mind centuries of prophecy leading up to this event.

Don’t Be Condemned

In Colossians 2:16-17 the apostle Paul writes, “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality”.

Birthday Celebrations

I once had a conversation with a man that was abandoned as a baby and raised in an orphanage. He told me that nobody was sure when he was born and so his “birth date” was given as the day he arrived at the orphanage. And, each year, he celebrates his birthday, not on the day he was born, but the fact that he was born.

We Celebrate

We celebrate Christmas day as the day that our Lord was born. Not because it was the day of his birth, but the fact that he was born.

History Reminds Us

His birth day has become the day upon which all days are numbered and measured. Time is measured by what happened before He was born – B.C. and what has happened since He was born – A.D.

Celebrate The Saviour

So, what does it matter which day of the year it was? History and tradition has given us the 25^th of December – so, let it be a celebration of a Saviour, and not the celebration of a day!