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There's no proof that Jesus was born on
December 25. So why should we celebrate Christmas?
There is no escaping the fact that the
New Testament gives no indication of the fact that the early Christians
observed Christmas. What's more, many authorities believe that Jesus was most
likely to have been born in the early autumn. The argument goes that the most
probable date was September 29, the first day of the great Jewish feast of
Tabernacles, a time when thousands of pilgrims descended upon Jerusalem. This
would have been a good time for the Roman census, with the weather still warm
and most of the harvest already gathered in. Shepherds would still have their
flocks in the field, which also would have been unlikely in winter time.
It
is fascinating to note that if you count back 280 days (the normal period of
human gestation) from September 29, you reach December 25. Perhaps the great
miracle of the incarnation was not the birth of Christ, which was a fully
normal human birth in every respect, but rather the miraculous conception!
On
the other hand, even in a world of Santa Claus, Christmas trees and rampant
commercialism, there is much about the traditional Christmas that makes it a
legitimate way to focus on the birth of Jesus. Christmas is seen as a time for
family reunion, for getting in touch with old friends, and putting aside our
differences. This must be an appropriate remembrance that "God
put the world square with himself through the Messiah" (II Corinthians
5: 19 - The Message).
The
emphasis on children at Christmas reminds us of the amazing fact that, when God
became a man, he first became a baby. And the practice of exchanging gifts at
Christmas is a wonderful reminder that "God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 - NIV).
Let's face it, the date when Jesus came to this earth
is not the most crucial thing. What matters is that he did... And that is
surely a cause for celebration. Whatever you believe, have a blessed and happy
Christmas!
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