Was Jesus born on the 25th of December? In this time, they used this date to worship and celebrate other gods. Pagans.
And we know the Bible says that behind other gods or idols are actually demons. Ancient cultures like the Celts, the Drids, and Norse honored green plants during the winter solstice, associating them with life and renewal in the darkest time of the year. It's interesting that also the German tribes, they had this custom of taking trees and bringing it inside the house as well in this time, just like Christmas trees today.
And so when these people look at the tree and also the tree decorations, they know the bells, candles, and some decorations were used in pagan worship. So what does the Bible say? Should we celebrate Christmas?
Hey guys, Was Jesus born on the 25th of December? Well there's no evidence of it. A long time ago, December 25th was actually the date of a pagan festival celebrating the winter solstice.
So some people are saying, well, we cannot celebrate Christmas because it is actually a pagan festival. I'll answer that later. And other people say they changed this pagan festival on the 25th of December to spread Christianity across the world.
Is that true? Well, let's go back in time. Emperor Constantine, who supported Christianity, brought it into Roman culture and declared the 25th a celebration of the birth of Christ.
In other words a lot of people who believe this, they would say, well, see, in this time, they used this date to worship and celebrate other gods, pagans. And we know the Bible says that behind other gods or idols are actually demons. So instead of just trying to remove it, they'll actually just replace it to spread Christianity around the world.
So the people will start to worship Jesus Christ, to focus on His birth. Other people say, well, the 25th of March was the anniversary of the creation of the world. And then Jesus's conception on that date would lead to His birth on December 25th.
Now this is a little bit far-fetched for me to be honest. And there can be a lot of theories as to why people think that Jesus' birth might have been on the 25th of December or why they did it. But the Bible doesn't give us a specific date for the birth of Jesus and I believe if God thought that this was .
. . this date was supposed to be important, that He would have given it to us.
But He didn't. What is more important than the date was the fact that He did come and also there's a lot of detail with the birth of Jesus that's more important. All the prophecies of where.
. that He would come from Bethlehem, born from a virgin. There's around 300 prophecies about Jesus.
Now, there are also other people who believe that the real date of Jesus' birth might have been between March and April. So this would be in the time of spring and it's based on the Gospel of Luke which describes shepherds watching their flocks in the fields at night. And so shepherding in that region was typically done in a milder weather possibly making the spring months more possible for being in the fields and protecting their sheep.
And to be honest I'm not sure about this because it doesn't really get that cold there. It would be possible that shepherds would be there in December as well. Other people say, well, they think it is around about September using the same argument of the shepherds.
But also looking at the Jewish festivals and also, John the Baptist. According to the Gospel of Luke, John was conceived 6 months before Jesus. John's father, Zechariah, served in the temple in the late spring.
So this suggests that John's birth was around early spring and Jesus's birth 6 months later in early fall. Now this could be. It could be in September - October - but the fact remains that we just don't know.
I do believe that they chose the 25th of December and that spread throughout the world in a time where it became Christian and they wanted to replace these pagan celebrations with Christianity. For example, Roman celebrations like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus might have been influenced by the early Christian choice of December as a symbolic celebration of Jesus as the light of the world. So let me explain this better.
In this time period, days would be shorter, it will be darker. And so now the seasons are starting to change. And the sun is out for longer so it's this kind of rebirth feeling of the sun now claiming victory over darkness, the light over darkness.
But now how can this connect with Jesus? Well, John 1:4 says: In Him was life. And the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. So Jesus is the light. He is the true light of the world.
Chapter 3:19 says: And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world and people love the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed.
So the early Christians in this time might have seen this opportunity and reframe it to focus it on Jesus Christ, so that the whole world can start to learn about Jesus, to focus on His birth. God that became flesh came into our existence. The light that came and set us free from darkness.
Now a lot of Christians say they're not going to celebrate Christmas because they still see it as a pagan festival and so when they look at a Christmas tree they know ancient cultures like the Celts, the Drids and Norse honored green plants during the winter solstice associating them with life and renewal in the darkest time of the year. It's interesting that also the German tribes, they had this custom of taking trees and bringing it inside the house as well in this time, just like Christmas trees today. And so when these people look at the tree and also the tree decorations, they know the bells, candles, and some decorations were used in pagan worship.
But then other Christians would say bells are played to ring out the good news of God's kingdom and then the candles, they're there to remind us that Christ is the light of the world. God loves the world in this way, that He gave his only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. And so the one group sees the evil.
They they want to make it good. Just like Romans 8:28 says that God will will work all things together for good. So God can use evil things and make it good.
So they say, well, this is not pagan for us at all. We see Jesus Christ in everything we do. So this is nothing to do with paganism.
Other people say well it's still paganism so there's this continual fight between the two groups. It can go back and forth like this for hours, even like a Christmas father that brings you the presents. They see I think it was St.
Nicholas from the fourth century had a lot of kindness and was well-known for his generosity. He donated his wealth to the poor and sick and defended people from legal injustices and also supposedly performed miracles. So the connection here of course with father Christmas is thought his name is Nicholas right?
St. Nicholas. There's one story of him where he saved three girls from prostitution by throwing money through a window.
Then other people will say well it's got nothing to do of that because this is just focusing on or symbolizing the time of the Romans, where they celebrated Saturnalia, you know, to the god Saturn, where they would exchange gifts and everything on this festival day as well. Saturn in case you didn't know in that time, they believed that Saturn was the god of agriculture I believe. But then there's another group of Christians and of course they would say well, no, Christianity, they changed everything.
The early Christians, they changed this practice now just to focus on Jesus Christ. It now represents the gifts brought by the Magi to Jesus when he was born and Jesus Himself who came to give us the biggest gift of all - the gift of dying for our sins on the cross, sacrificing Himself. He is the gift and He gives us eternal life.
And then of course they say when they see the Christmas tree, it symbolizes the cross. Sometimes in some gospels, refer to as the tree, that Jesus hang on the tree. And that is also why they put the Bethlehem star on the top as Jesus is the light of the world that comes from Bethlehem.
And then the other side would say, well, that is exactly why it's wrong. Because that's what these other pagan nations did with the trees, to bring it in the house and what they made of it. They say you've got to read Jeremiah 10:2.
It says: Thus says the Lord. Learn not the way of the nations nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens, because the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are vanity.
A tree from the forest is cut down. You see, so here they see the Christmas tree. A tree from the forest - is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
They decorate it with silver and gold. They fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field and they cannot speak.
They have to be carried for they cannot walk. Do do not be afraid of them for they cannot do evil. Neither is it in them to do good.
So what does the Bible say? Should we celebrate Christmas? Well nowhere in Scripture does it give that command to celebrate Christmas.
We should always celebrate Christ every single day of our lives. Well let me just explain this. I don't think there are people who bring a tree in and they decorate it and they believe that is a god now and worship it.
I don't believe that happens. Well there might be some strange people somewhere in the world that might do that and that is wrong. I don't believe that we should do that.
But I also believe going all the way the other side now and say well this is a pagan day, so I'm not going to worship God on this day is also wrong, because we should celebrate Christ every single day of our lives, especially those of you who believe you should only do it on the sabbath. Psalm 118:24 says: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
So not just on the sabbath - Tuesday, Wednesday, every day of the week. You say this is the day that I will worship God. Hebrews 4:7 says: Again He appoints a certain day today (meaning every day) Saying through David, so long afterward in the words already quoted.
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. So every day - not tomorrow or one day a week or one day a month - every day. But I also believe there are certain things with Christmas you know that even many Christians start to focus on and it can be wrong.
So be very, very careful of how you celebrate this day. My family - in Afrikaans, Christmas is translated as Kersfees - but we don't say that. We say Christusfees.
We say Christ Feast because that is the day that we just focus on Christ. Hebrews 13:15 says: Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. That is the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
Now I believe it is not wrong to take a day and celebrate the fact that Jesus did come into our dimension. That He was born to come and set us free to be the light in our world. It is not wrong.
You can do it one day. You can do it every day. You can do it not on the 25th of December but any day you want.
It - the day - does not matter at all. But how you do it does. I also believe that you can use this day effectively, especially with unbelievers.
I spent a lot of time in Asia and a lot of people have no idea actually who Jesus is or what the 25th of December is all about, but they are curious. And so you can use this as a door to share the gospel to them effectively. For example, even in China they have Christmas, although it's not a Chinese thing.
They still have Christmas because people buy gifts and it's all about making money for a lot of businesses, especially with the new generation. But it is also the perfect opportunity to explain why some Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on this day. I explained this to people when I was in China because they had no idea and wanted to know and you can do it wherever you are in your country.
Now, may God lead you to worship Him and thank Him that He came 2,000 years ago to die for us on the cross. It is a miracle. And we should celebrate Him every single day of our lives.
And if you're curious about where Jesus was before He came into our dimension, in the flesh, because He was always there and also in the New Testament, watch these videos here. If you don't know it is going to shock you in a good way. I'll see you there.
Remember to subscribe. And never forget that God loves you. And I love you too.
Bye.
