Merry Christmas - Joyeux Noel - Felize Navidad...
For too many years people have said, "Of course we don't know when Christ was actually born-but the time of year is not really important." Doubters and critics have declared that Christmas was "invented" in the fourth or fifth centuries. The supposed goal was giving a "Christian" facade or influence to the wild pagan holiday observances during the winter solstice (the shortest days of the year).
What's the real story? Is there any real evidence that Jesus Christ was born at Christmas? A careful examination of a number of seemingly unrelated Bible passages gives clear indication that Jesus was indeed born at Christmas time (late December). Every word in the Bible is there because God put it there. He has a purpose for every word. So, seemingly casual listings of periods of time, genealogical references, etc. have significance.
In Luke Chapter 1, the Bible records some seemingly unimportant details about what a priest named Zacharias was doing when an angel announced to him that he and his wife were to have a child (John the Baptist). The Bible records that the Lord Jesus was conceived in the sixth month after John the Baptist was conceived. So, if the time of the conception of John the Baptist can be determined, the birth date of the Lord Jesus can be calculated.
The scriptures say in Luke 1:5 & 8 "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth." "And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course," At this point Zacharias demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to his duties as a priest. Even though he had been given the wonderful news that he and Elizabeth would have a son, Zacharias stayed in the Temple until his course was completed.
Luke 1:23-24 "And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, ..."
The passage then describes how an angel came to Mary to announce that she was to be the virgin mother of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. The scripture says in verses 26-27: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."
Then in verses 39-40, we read: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth." Within these passages are scriptures which point to the exact time when Jesus was born. Remember that God puts every word and every detail into the Bible exactly as He wants it and for a purpose.
In Luke 1:5 and Luke 1:8, we are told that Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia and that he fulfilled his priestly duties in the order of his course. To understand the importance of the course of Abia and its bearing on the date of John the Baptist's conception, it is necessary to turn to 1 Chron. 24:1-10. This passage describes how, a thousand years before Christ was born, King David established the courses for priestly service in the coming temple. Twenty-four courses were established and numbered by drawing lots - twelve courses for sanctuary service and twelve for the government of the house of God.
Members of each course would serve during a month starting with the Hebrew month of Nisan. (Because of the way the Hebrew calendar fluctuates, the month Nisan can start anytime between early March and early April.) The sons of Abijah were in the eighth course. Priests of Abia, like Zacharias, would therefore, have each ministered for some days during the eighth month which in some years because of the fluctuations in the Hebrew calendar started as early as the fifth day of our month of October. Zacharias would have returned home when his days of service were ended and John the Baptist would have been conceived sometime between October 15 and the end of the month.
After conception the scripture says that Elizabeth hid herself for five months. Then in the sixth month of her pregnancy (which, based on the above calculation, would have been between March 15 and April 15) the angel announced to the Virgin Mary that the Lord Jesus would be conceived in her womb by the Holy Ghost. If this took place on or about April 1 a "normal" pregnancy period of 270 days would have then had the Lord Jesus due on or about December 25. How about that!
There are other scriptural and natural indicators that confirm that the Lord was born at Christmas time. In the account of His birth in Luke 2:8, we read: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." These were more than likely sheep to be sacrificed at the Temple. Being held for sale.
I have read that the only time shepherds spend the night in the fields with their sheep is during the time when the lambs are being born. The ewes become attracted to the rams in the month after June 21, the longest day of the year. The normal gestation period is five months so the ewes start lambing about mid-December. Isn't it natural that the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world would be born when all the other lambs are being born?
The shepherds have to be in the fields day and night to clean up and care for the lambs as soon as they are born or many would die in the cold damp weather. God's Lamb, who was to die for the sins of the world was born when all the other lambs are born. Because He came and died the centuries old practice of sacrificing lambs for sin could end.
There is another confirmation that God had His Son born at Christmas. The days at the end of December are the shortest (and therefore the darkest days) of the year. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." So at the time of the year when the darkness is greatest, God the Father sent God the Son to be the Light of the world.
Galatians 4:4 declares that when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life and was therefore qualified to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind (which is death).
He paid it all - but all do not automatically benefit from the wonderful gift God bestowed on mankind at Christmas. It must be accepted. Will you accept His free gift of salvation? If you already have accepted Him, what gift will you give to Him Who gave everything for you?
