CHRISTMAS PART I

It is only natural to accept traditions that has been handed down for so long, especially when it seems to surround our Lord Jesus Christ. And Christmas, a time of giving, surrounding ourselves with loved ones, beautiful songs, candles lit, the smell of pine, how can it be anything else but Holy? But is Christmas really the time of Christ birth? Where does the tree, the mistletoe, St. Nick come from, Jesus? Is this day as holy as all the churches puts it out to be? What does the Bible say about the Birth of Jesus? Where did we arrive at December 25th being the Birth of Christ, have you ever thought of what all the extras, such as mistletoe, the evergreen tree, gifts came from? We all as Christians should look into every tradition we accept into our lives, even Christmas.

1.) In what setting was Christ born?

Matthew 1:21-23
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was one, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Luke 2:4-7
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judaea, called Bethlehem;...And she brough forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 2:8-12
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

The Bible tells us of the beautiful glorious story of the Birth of Jesus. The manger, the virgin birth, the story, the sheep, the star, the shepherds, we see it is all true! What could be false, pagan, heathen? If you read carefully the shepherds were in the fields watching over there flocks, but according to facts concerning the weather of the land of Palestine, this never could have happened there in the month of December. The shepherds always brought their flocks from the mountainsides and fields in for protection from the cold rainy season no later than October 15. There is no way possible that Christ was born in December, Luke alone explains it very clear that Christ was born before October 15th.

Then how did the Christians come to arrive at the date of December 25th for the birth of Christ? December 25th fell near the end of the ancient pagan seven-day ceremony of "the Saturnalia, later changed to the Brumalia, by imperial Roman decree. This riotous festival was in celebration of the winter solstice of the sun, and honored Tammuz, or Nimrod, the "sun god." This was the beginning of December 25th, a "holy day?"

2.) Were gifts exchanged at the time of His birth?

Matthew 2:1,2
"...behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 2:10-11
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrth.

The people of the East never approached the presence of a king without a gift in their hands, and continues to this day in many countries, which has nothing to do with a birth. You will notice the shepherds were looking for "The King of the Jews".