THE DATE OF JESUS
CHRIST’S BIRTH
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”
Is the notion that no one
knows the exact date of Christ’s birth true?
And should those who called
themselves Christians, use this as 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” (Lev. 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 as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and to
deny Him of His honor, glory 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 out the world. As one can see
they knew everything about Him, but denied Him of His reverence, honor and
glory.
According to the scriptures,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God who was made flesh, and dwelt
amongst 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 and time of
Christ’s birth 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!”
Now 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).
Was the birth of Christ a secret?
So, the question is, how
could such a remarkable day and event which is destined for the joy of all
people, and widely made known by those who witnessed it not be recorded in
history, except it is was a conspiracy to conceal it?
Jesus Christ like any Jewish
boy was circumcised on the eight day and was called Jesus, the name given by
the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke.2:21).
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 how could such a remarkable day, in
the life of such a remarkable individual, for the joy of all people be not recorded
in history!
Some people make excuses by
saying that, the date of Christ’s birth is not that important, it is His death,
hence the reason why His date of birth is not known.
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 (today) 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!”
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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