Was Jesus Christ born on Dec-25
Was Jesus Christ born on Dec-25
Why is this even a question? Wasn’t Jesus born on Dec-25?
Says who?
Eastern Orthodox church celebrate christmas on Jan-7!! Seriously? Yes!
Why is that?
According to general information on the net it says
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th. This date is in accordance with the Julian calendar, which was in use when the Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. The majority of Christian traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church and many Protestant denominations, observe Christmas on December 25th according to the Gregorian calendar.
It can be deduced that the angels announced the news of Jesus’ birth no later than October
So they got the calendar wrong, right?
But isnt it around the same time of the year?
Maybe or maybe not.
Date no later than October
The Bible says in Luke 2:8–9. “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
According to Bible commentator Adam Clarke, it was traditional for the Jews to send their sheep to pasture from the spring until early October. As the cold winter months began, the flocks would return from the fields for protection and warmth. Since the shepherds were still tending their flocks in the fields around Bethlehem it can be deduced that the angels announced the news of Jesus’ birth no later than October.
Most likely September
To determine the approximate month of Jesus’ birth, we can look at the birth of John the Baptist as described in Luke 1. Zacharias, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth, who was barren, became pregnant with John the Baptist after Zacharias’ temple service. Gabriel visited Mary when Elizabeth was six months pregnant and announced that she would give birth to Jesus. By counting from the date of Zacharias’ priestly service to the birth of Jesus, we can find additional clues to answer the question of when Jesus was really born.
In those times, Jewish priests were divided into 24 courses that served in the temple throughout the year. The order of Abijah was the eighth priestly course (1 Chronicles 24:6–19) which served in the temple during the 10th week of the priestly cycle. The 10th week started on the second Sabbath in the month of Sivan, which falls approximately from mid-May to mid-June. After Zechariah returned from his priestly duties, Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist.
Luke 1:24–28, 31 chronicles these events, “Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’…And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.”
Based on the Bible text and knowledge of the priestly courses, we can estimate that Jesus was born around the time of Tishri, which falls in mid to late September. This approximation is reached by starting at the conception of John the Baptist, which occurred in Sivan (June). Then, we count forward six months to arrive at Gabriel’s announcement of the conception of Jesus, which happened in Kislev (December). Finally, we count forward nine more months, which is the average time it takes for human gestation, to reach Tishri (September) when Jesus was born.
So why December 25?
The day and month of Jesus’s birth are even more challenging to establish. Theologians typically agree that December 25 is far from likely. In the late Roman Empire, there was a festival called “Sol Invictus” (the Unconquered Sun) that celebrated the sun god on December 25th. Some have suggested that the choice of this date for Christmas was influenced by the desire to Christianize or replace this pagan holiday — conceived as an effort to establish a pagan substitute for a date that already held a degree of importance for Roman Christians.
Another argument takes a different view. December 25th falls close to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In many pagan traditions, the winter solstice was a significant event associated with the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. Some festivals, like the Roman festival of Saturnalia, were celebrated around this time, often involving feasting and gift-giving. Saturnalia, in particular, is often cited as a possible influence on the dating of Christmas. Saturnalia was a Roman festival that celebrated the god Saturn and included various festivities, including gift exchanges and feasting. Some argue that the early Christians chose December 25th to celebrate Jesus’ birth to co-opt or replace Saturnalia with a Christian holiday.
When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, it was easier for the newly formed church to repurpose the pagan observance of the winter solstice between December 17–25 since citizens were already prepared to celebrate the day. Thus, a celebration and festival filled with family and friends exchanging gifts meant these traditions would continue as Christmas.
Another tradition for the birthdate of Jesus to be 25 December, was first asserted officially by Pope Julius I in 350 AD
Is there hope?
Well, it is dissapointing that we do not know the exact date or month of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ but there is enough historical evidence that Jesus was indeed born — God among his people, Immanuel — Whatever the day you would want to set aside to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. He was indeed born in the line of David in the foretold town of Bethlehem. He is indeed the Savior who will crush the serpent
Genesis 3:15 (ESV) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head…
It is through him that we receive the forgiveness of sins and to be called the sons of God — Acts 13:38–39 (ESV) 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
May His name be forever praised
