Was Jesus born on December 25th? Or Spring? Or Summer? And when did December begin being held as his birthday?

We will answer these in this video, plus give you a bonus.

Intro

Most scholar believe Jesus was born about 4 B.C., and some as early as 6 B.C.  But was it December 25?

The first time December 25 was mentioned as a possible birthday was in the 200s A.D., almost 200 years after is birth. A man called Hippolytus of Rome made this statement, “The first advent of our Lord in the flesh, when he was born in Bethlehem, was December 25th, Wednesday”

We also know that December 25 was being celebrated as Jesus’ birthday around 336 A.D.

Both the celebration and the year of its beginning was so far removed from the actual time that neither can be considered as credible.

It should also be noted that Christmas may be a Christian-replacement for a pagan holiday. It has been suggested that the Romans celebrated a feast called Sol Invictus, the “Unconquerable SUN”. It marked the date of the winter solstice. So Christians devised their own celebration based on the then common designation of Jesus. SON of Righteousness. It allowed them to celebrate Jesus instead of a false god. So, Christmas on December 25 was more of a replacement celebration than the actual time of his birth.

What is known is found in the Bible, a God-breathed book mostly written before A.D. 70.

His birth was predicted more than 600 years earlier, with specifics of the town and a virgin (show Micah & Isa ref Right). Matthew said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

And Matthew recorded, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,”

There are strong indications in the Bible that strongly hint that it was NOT December 25. Luke wrote, Luke 2:8  And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”  It should be remembered that Joseph and Mary were traveling to Bethlehem for a census. A census in the winter would be self-defeating.

And don’t forget the relationship between John the Baptizer and Jesus, cousins about 6 months apart. Zacharias, John’s father, was told by an angel during his work in the temple about his wife’s upcoming pregnancy. His work was being done during the month of Abijah, about mid-June. If he went home and she became pregnant soon, John would have been born in March-April. Jesus was born 6 months later, making it September or early October.

So here is a bonus for you.

The absolute fact is this. We were not told. It is not recorded. Why? Maybe it is because his birth is not the main thing to be remembered about Jesus. Christians were instructed to “remember the Lord’s death” Paul wrote, “1 Corinthians 11:23-26  For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,  (24)  and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  (25)  In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  (26)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 

His death, burial and resurrection are far more important than his birthday.

Yes, Jesus really is the reason for the season. And he is the reason Christians have a hope of living eternally.

All of us here at Timeless Talks want you to have the very best this Christmas, and all the rest of the years too.

Thank you for watching and Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!