“… behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day… a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10 & 11.
Its indeed good news that Christ the Lord, “… died for our sins… and buried; and rose again on the third day… ” I Corinthians 15: 3 & 4. So that whosoever believeth on Him should have everlasting life… ” John 3: 36.
What isn’t good news is that the way the Christmas – supposed who is jesus christ to be birthday of Lord Jesus Christ – is being celebrated. It has become a ritualistic festival with many pagan (non-Christian) customs being observed as a tradition on that day, thereby diluting the very essence of Christ’s birth and His mission on this earth. I Peter 2: 24; Colossians 1: 14; and Isaiah 53: 5 & 6.
Even the ardent believer whose faith in the Word of God is unshakable seems to have fallen victim to the ritualistic celebrations, which is indeed abhorrence to Lord God.
For Christmas does not mean the birth of Christ. The word is made up of Christ + Mass which means Christ’s Mass. The Mass is a much-sanctified religious service of the Roman Catholic Church, the performance of the sacrament of the Eucharist, i.e. ceremony performing Lord’s Supper. And Mass is a Latin Word meaning dismiss.
Further, there is no precedence in the Bible where Christ’s birth was celebrated. But the Lord did ask His people to remember His death. Luke 22: 19 & 20; and I Corinthians 11: 24 to 26.
No one can dispute the fact about Christ’s birth. But it was definitely not on 25th December as believed by Christians throughout the world.
The Possible Scriptural Evidence
There is possible evidence to believe that Christ was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, which falls in the intervening months of September\October. Of course, one only has to study the Scriptures diligently and relate all the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus Christ and place all the feasts of the Lord in proper perspective in relationship to the Savior, (like Passover is related to His crucifixion and First fruits to His resurrection etc.) and interpret it correctly in the light of the Gospels.
Well, as of December and 25th; it is written in Luke 2: 8 to 11 that… shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night were told by the Angels of the Lord about Christ’s birth. But this incident couldn’t have happened in December. In Judea, at that time December was cold and at that a rainy season, which is most unlikely that shepherds were out in the field by night.
Also in verse 1 of the same chapter Luke says, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the entire world should be taxed or registered for census purposes; and in subsequent verses 3 to 6, “all went to be taxed… Joseph also went up… to be taxed with Mary. This incident also cannot be traced to the month of December because middle of the winter was not fitting for such a business, especially for women with child, and children to travel in those days.
Even Christ has warned his disciples. “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.” Mathew 24: 20. If winter was so bad (like hell) even to flee, then it was certainly not fit time for shepherds to be in the fields nor for women and children to travel.
Thus in the light of this argument we could well say, that Christ’s birth and the occurrences of the events in Luke Chapter 2, could not have taken place during winter or more precisely in the month of December as was believed by Christians throughout the world.
Then how come December 25th has come into wide acceptance as the day of the birth of Christ?
The Significance of December 25th
To get at the root of this, one should go back to the ancient times and have a look at their customs and traditions that has unique relationship with the day of 25th December.
* December 25th was the day on which was celebrated the accouchement of the Queen of Heaven, the celestial Virgin, and the birth of her child, the sun-god.