“WHAT WE KNOW AND DON’T KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS!”
We Don’t Know WHEN it took place!
Luke 2:1-3 (1) “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3) And all went to be registered, each to his own town.”
Caesar Augustus was born on September 23 BC and became Emperor of Rome in 26 BC and reigned as the Emperor of Rome from to until his death on August 19th, 14 AD.
Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was born in 51 BC and died in 21 AD. He was the Roman appointed Governor of Syria on two occasions including the time of Jesus’ birth.
Therefore, we know that Jesus was born between 23 BC and 14 AD. The most likely date for Jesus’ birth was 5 BC to 1 BC.
We simply do not know the month of day of Jesus’ birth.
Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25th because…
- Roman historian Sextus Julius Africanus had dated the creation of the earth on March 25th, so he believed that Jesus was conceived on that date. Adding nine months, he concluded that Jesus was born on December 25th.
- Around 300AD, the Roman Empire began to celebrate the Winter Solstice which occurred on December 25th of the year they adopted the Solstice holiday.
- In 336AD, after Emperor Constantine made Christianity the “official religion” of the Roman Empire in 313 AD, they adopted December 25th as the official date of Jesus’ birth.
We Do Know the “Who” “What” “Where” and “Why” It Took Place!
WHO?
Luke 2:10-11 “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Matthew 1:20-23 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).”
WHAT?
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
WHERE?
Micah 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
Matthew 2:1-6 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”
WHY?
“In spite of the fact that we have all sinned against HIM, GOD loves us and sent HIS SON JESUS to pay for our sins on the cross. When we turn away from our sins and believe in HIM as our SAVIOR AND LORD, GOD forgives our sins, changes our life, and will take us to Heaven when we die.”
- We have all sinned against GOD! Romans 3:23
- In spite of that, HE loves us! John3:16
- HE sent HIS SON JESUS to pay for our sins on the cross! John 3:16
- When we turn away from our sins… Luke 13:3, 5
- And believe in JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD… Romans 10:9-10
- GOD forgives our sins! Jeremiah 31:34
- GOD changes our life! 2nd Corinthians 5:17
- GOD will take us to Heaven when we die! John 14:1-3
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