According to the World Book encyclopedia, “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25th. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services.”
The encyclopedia also states that, “The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in AD 336 in an early Roman calendar which indicates December 25th as the day of observance. This celebration was probably influenced by pagan [unchristian] festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year end celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid December to celebrate the end of the harvest season”
But is the notion that no one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth true?
And should we make this an excuse to honor pagan gods, in the name of Jesus Christ?
One of the instructions the Lord gave the children of Israel when they left Egypt was this; “I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe my judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 18:2-5).
We are reminded in the New Testament that, “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and truth.” Therefore, is there any veracity in celebrating December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth?
If the saying that, “No one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth” is true, then this must be a conspiracy to conceal His true identity, and to deny Him of His honor and reverence.
The gospel of John chapter seven verses twenty five to twenty seven tends to suggest something of this nature. Because on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles when Jesus spoke openly in the temple, knowing that they were plotting to kill Him: some of the people who heard Him spoke said, “Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this Man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from.”
This seems to suggest that the notion, “When the Christ appears, no one will know where He [Christ] comes from” has gain acceptance and credibility through the world.
But according to the scriptures, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God who was made flesh, and dwelt among us was well known by the authorities, they affirmed this by saying, “Yet we know where this man comes from” and so the whole details of His date of birth was not a secret.
On the exact day on which Christ was born we are told that, “In the region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day [today] in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8-12).
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!”
As soon as the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ‘And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they [widely]made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them”(Luke 2:13-18).
So then, was the birth of Christ a secret?
How could such a remarkable day and event which was widely made known not be recorded in history: If it is not through a conspiracy to conceal it?
Now at the end of eight days, we are told that He was circumcised, and was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21).
Also, when the days of Mary’s purification was completed, which according to the law; thirty three [33] days for a male child, Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord [as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord].
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was just, and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).
So again, I beg to ask the question, how could such a remarkable day, in the life of such a remarkable individual not be recorded in history!
Some people make excuses by saying that, the date of Christ’s birth is not that important, hence the reason why His date of birth is not known.
But the irony of truth is; if Jesus Christ was not born on the day on which He was born, we would not have had a Savior, and we would still be in our sins. And what further proof and pronouncement does one need other than that of the angel who said to the shepherds, “For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord,” and that of the multitude of the heavenly host who praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST INAUGURATED HIM AS THE KING OF KINGS
The prophet Isaiah prophesying about the birth and reign of the Prince of peace wrote, “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, Prince of peace.” ‘Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
When the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem seeking for Jesus, they did not say “Where is he who is born to be the king of the Jews?” but rather, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him.” And when they came to the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold [to honor Him as a king], frankincense [to honor Him as God], and myrrh [to honor Him as man].Therefore Jesus Christ was a king from birth (Matthew 2:1-3, 110-12).
During His earthly trial before Pilate, Pilate called Him and asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?"
Then continued and said; “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom was of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are you a King then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born: and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:33-37).
Therefore, the logical question is, since Jesus Christ was born a king, and for this cause He was born and for this cause He came into the world, there is a Feast of the Lord called the Feast of Tabernacles, who is this feast honoring? And what is the rationale for observing this feast? Is it not to honor Jesus Christ as the King of kings? So how can one say that they do not know when Jesus Christ was born?
The date of Jesus' birth is so important that, in the future everyone will have to observe this feast or face severe punishment. For it is written: “Every one that survives of all nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of Tabernacles. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain upon them. And if the family of Egypt do not go up and present themselves, then upon them shall come the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19).
To be continued
With brotherly Love
Lucius Joseph.
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