Don't Focus on the Day

Wise men still seek Him!

As Christmas dawns on us and Christians join in celebration of the birth of the Son of God, it is important to keep in mind that it is the event we should recognize, not the historicity of it. In fact, history, given no Scriptural evidence in regard to the date, indicates Christ would have been born in the summer or fall of the year. In fact, the preponderance of evidence points to September. Here is some of the evidence:

1. December nights in Judea are rainy and cold. The Gospel of Luke (2:7-8) tells us shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks at night, Under the usual December conditions, they would have most likely have their flocks under shelter.
2. The rough temperatures, dropping at times below freezing, would make travel more difficult. We know Joseph was traveling with his wife to Jerusalem for the Roman census. (Luke 2:1-4) The Romans were too efficient to take a census when conditions would impede those under their rule to register.
3. John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus. We know this because Elizabeth was in her sixth month when Mary conceived. Luke (1:1-24) speaks to John’s conception and calculations put it near late June. This would put his birth in March and adding six months would place Jesus’ birth at the end of September.
4. Early Church fathers placed Jesus’ verse all over the place. Clement placed it in November, Irenaeus viewed it in March, a document from Africa placed it in March and Hippolytus went so far as to pick a day - Wednesday. Had there been any evidence to point to a December birth, this would not have been the case.

So, why do we celebrate it in December? There appears to be no reason other than to align Christ’s birth with a popular pagan religious observance. December was already being celebrated as the pagan European, especially German birthday of the sun and winter solstice, the Scandinavian Jul, and the Roman Saturnalia. The High Middle Ages saw Christmas reach prominence.

If Christmas is so connected with (and its customs derived from) pre-Christian and pagan worship, why should we observe it at all? Since the arrival of European settlers to the New World, America has seen a definite ebb and flow regarding this question. It was not until the mid-19th century that it became an increasingly significant and institutionalized holiday. Economics played a major part, but the religious celebration of the date cannot be disregarded.

Why celebrate on December 25th? In the end, our best guesses are all we can muster. Yes, there are very good arguments for fall, but without a reliable date provided in Scripture, best guesses are not fact, no matter how well-reasoned. The event is worthy of celebration in and of its own right. The Son of God left His rightful heavenly throne and entered our world to fulfill His Father’s redemptive plan. 

This is, after all, the real message of the season. God loved and valued His creatures to the point He would come to set them free from the curse of sin. Forget the pagan connection and the economic excesses. Admit that we do not know the when of His birth anymore than we know the when of His return. Don’t focus on the day, but the event. We know He came and that He will return. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad!