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December 25, 2005
A reason to celebrate?
It has long been a contentious issue, the question of this day, this Christmas. Should we celebrate? Should we ignore it? Is it pagan? The questions will likely not cease until the return of the One about whose birth we argue.
It is certain that Jesus was not born on December 25. Arguments are made for different dates, but the truth is, no writer of scripture thought it important to note when He was born, only that He was born and how and why.
But what of the argument that, since nothing like “Christmas” is found in scripture, we ought not to celebrate this day? Would not the Father have told us if He wanted us to celebrate?
This, it seems to me, grossly misunderstands our Father. How is it that the One who loves us deeply and delights in us would be offended that we wish to celebrate his Son and our Savior? How is it that God would disapprove of our desire to honor the Son?
And then there are those who say this is an adaptation of a pagan holiday, and therefore should be shunned, lest we inadvertently honor a pagan god. But this claim is nonsense. It is impossible to “accidentally” or “inadvertently” worship anyone. Worship is by definition an act of our choosing.
So should we celebrate this day? Yes! A thousand times yes! Let me tell you why.
This day celebrates the greatest event in the history of humanity. Never before and never since has anything like this occurred, where God, the one true and living God, the creator and sustainer of all that is, became a man. He became a man, just like me. This simple statement -- God became man -- is simply beyond us. It is far past anything I can understand.
But this I do understand: When He came, He changed the course of history. When He came, the world changed from a place without hope to a place of light and hope. It became a place where there was a reason to live.
Before this day – whenever it was, it doesn’t matter – before this day there was darkness. God was silent, and had not spoken for four hundred years! Those few who worshipped him groaned to see their redemption.
And then, in one day, in one seemingly insignificant birth, history changed! Hope entered the world! We are no longer in darkness! We are no longer in a world where God is silent. The Word of God came and dwelt among us! God has spoken, and the Light has come!
Hallelujah! Celebrate! Celebrate! We have hope!
Posted by Larry Baden at December 25, 2005 11:59 AM
Comments
How can we be so certain that Jesus was not born on 25 December?
There's at least a 1:365 chance that he was.
Posted by: Steve Hayes at December 27, 2005 09:08 PM
How do u know that Jesus was not born on this day??? what evidence do u have to back this theory??? ohh and how come we it says in the bible that he was born on the 25th of December?????????????
"Before this day – whenever it was, it doesn’t matter – before this day there was darkness. God was silent, and had not spoken for four hundred years! Those few who worshipped him groaned to see their redemption."
Youreach that God has come into the world yet u do not know when he entered!!
ohh and it wasn't God who entered it was the Son of God!!!!!
Posted by: Chole at January 17, 2006 03:05 PM
The month of dec,is around the jewish month kislev, It is a time of planting of grain and that relates to bread.So I believe Jesus was concieved on this date.I feel Mary was impregnated by the Holy spirit on this date.But as for the physical birth of Jesus. I would say was more likely around sept -oct because of its relation to Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. This would be nine months from Dec,and really does not disagree with the word. The Day of Atonement is the Offering for the sins.Passover is a sacrafice that takes the place, of someone else.If you look at all three, you see how easy they slip into place, in agreement, with the Word.
Posted by: George in MA at February 8, 2006 08:27 PM
