WHY CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS ON 25TH DECEMBER?

 Dr. Blackson Makhumba B

There has been a great debate on Christ’s historicity and His birthday that refuses to die ever since Christians started celebrating Christmas around the 4^th century. The argument is in regard to the exactly date when Jesus was born. Critics ask,Did Jesus really existed; “Was He born on 25^th December; do Christians really celebrate the birth of Jesus or the birth of some pagan king?”  I put forward in this paper some information regarding this argument.

Historicity of Jesus Christ

Though many critics and some religious groupings accept the historicity of Jesus Christ, there are still many more who do not believe He ever existed. They have many theses that disprove   many things concerning Chris, such as His existence. To them Biblical evidence is not enough because someone might have just made a gimmick out of it. They call for an outside evidence to supplement that from the Bible.

In this case, I give here brief historical evidence for Jesus existence from contemporary secular sources. We cannot speak about the birth of Christ without convincing ourselves that He, indeed, existed. How amazing it is to hear how secular contemporaries of Jesus described Him. Many of these contemporaries had great hostility towards Christ and His followers (Christians).

1.Flavius Josephus

Flavius Josephus is our primary witness in this case. He was a Jewish turncoat-Roman historian. Born in 37 A.D, Josephus was a Jewish noble that led rebel troops against the Romans in Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt between 66 and 73 A.D. However, he later betrayed the Jews, and became a Roman citizen. “Jewish Antiquities" is one of his two massive historical works in which he mentions many figure and places mentioned in the New Testament.

Apart from mentioning Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, Ananus the High priest, John the Baptist and his baptism, Josephus also mentions James the Just (brotherof Jesus). Not less than twice he mentions Jesus Christ:

·         "...Jesus, who was called Christ…delivered to the Jews to be tortured…..”

·         “The brother of Jesus...whose name was James was accused before the Sanhedrin, and "delivered to be stoned". Here, we see that Josephus identifies James by his more well-known brother- Jesus.

Josephus speaks a great deal of his mention of Jesus in the Jewish Antiquities, and we learn that:

·         Jesus lived

·         He was a teacher and miracle worker

·         He had followers both among the Jews and the Gentiles

·         He was condemned to the cross by Pontius Pilate

·         His followers didn't stop following him even after the crucifixion

·         The "tribe" of Christians, founded in Jesus' name, still existed at the time of the writing of "Jewish Antiquities" (93-94 A.D.)

2. Thallus

He was one of the 1st century historians (52-122 A.D. Thallus was quoted by several of the Early Church Fathers (his works are lost today). He clearly accepted the historical existence of Jesus, although he tries to find a natural explanation for events described in the scriptures as divinely inspired. He is best quoted by Julius Africanus (c. 221 A.D) as described in “The Chronology of Julius Africanus".

3. Phlegon

He wrote “The Chronicles’ around 140 A.D. Like Thallus, he clearly accepted the historical existence of Jesus, and (also) tries to find a natural explanation for events described in the scriptures as divinely inspired. He is also quoted by Julius Africanus (221 A.D) and Origen. This is how Origen quotes him:

"Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to

Jesus a knowledge of future events (although falling into confusion about some things which referto Peter, as if they referred to Jesus), but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions. So that he also, by these very admissions regarding foreknowledge, as if against his will, expressed his opinion that the doctrines taught by the fathers of our system were not devoid of divine power." (Origen, "Against Celsus", Book 2.14)

4. Pliny the Younger

Pliny the Younger was a Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor. He wrote a letter to the Emperor Trajan in 112 A.D. regarding the Christians in his province. This letter verifies that Christians in 112 A.D. both worshipped Christ "as to a god", and were willing to die for their belief in Christ.

5. Cornelius Tacitus

He was born between A.D.52-55, and served as senator, under Vespasian, and later (112-113 A.D.) governor of Asia. In "Annals" (c. 116 A.D.), he verifies the details of Christ's death at the hands of

Pontius Pilate.

If Jesus existed, then He was born

With the evidence above, I feel free to tell about the birth of Jesus Christ, whom we all agree (by evidence) He really existed. In fact, His historical birth and existence was predicted long ago, in the very beginning of ages. It is not the purpose of this paper to give all the quotations and explanations of His existence and birth. I will give, but, only few of these to serve the real purpose in this regard.

First, the Bible speaks of the purpose for Jesus Christ’s coming to be among His people- it was to defeat Satan and redeem the captives from Satan’s authority. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." (Gen.3:15). The Lord God was speaking to Satan who used the woman to bring down the human race. God is saying that He would use the same woman as an instrument to bring the Redeemer into the world who will save the human race from Satan’s bondage. At the cross of Calvary Jesus defeated Satan and all his cohorts, He atoned for all sin, and set man free (Col.2:14-15).

Second, the Bible speaks of how the Redeemer (Jesus) will be born and come to exist among His people: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sin; Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:15). I and many other Bible scholars see this prophecy to be one of the greatest, indeed, if not the greatest of all, in the Bible.  This prophecy was given to Ahaz, king of Judah by God through Isaiah as a disproof to the effort of Satan working through Syrian kings, Ephraim (Israel) and the son of Remaliah to unseat him (see verses 4- 7). The great sign to this assurance of salvation to Judah was that the virgin would bear son. This was something never heard of.

However, the greater part of this prophecy concerned the virgin-birth of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah who was born some 750 years later. The virgin (Heb. Haalmah) Mary was theonly one that ever was or ever will be a mother in this way. The Son who would be born would be ‘the Son of God” (living with His people) – Emmanuel.

Coming In His Two Natures

“For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" ( Isaiah 9:6).This prophecy gives us the idea about the unipersonality of Jesus-  was born as is required for every human, yet He was born of a virgin (isa.7:14); was given as the  “Son’ of the Father (John3:16).  The union of these two natures of deity and human in Jesus Christ, each in its totality, is known as “hypostatic union". Thus, this verse refers to the same person as being born unto us and given or sent unto us.  As a son of a virgin He was born on earth one day; and as the Son of God He was given unto us. This is a good reason enough for Christians (his followers) to celebrate His annunciation and His coming to us.

Speaking about this unipersonality of our Lord Jesus, Dr. Johnson Phillip and Silas c Nair write, “The person of Christ is not the sum of these two natures, but the divine person, the eternal Second person of the trinity. The human nature of Christ was only in and for the union. Apart from the union it has no independent subsistence. This union also does not create a double person. When these two natures are united in the person of Christ, the human is never without the divine, nor the divine without the human. Yet one does not swallow another or cancel another…”

Jesus Christ died. God cannot die. Man can die. Yet the one who died on the cross of Calvary is Jesus Christ, the God-man. The blood of Christ (Heb.9.14) is the blood of the Lamb of God but at the same time it is the blood of God (Acts 20.28). Therefore it avails for the whole of humanity. The eternal priesthood of Christ is also dependent on the fact that he is man and at the same time God.

Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh (1 Tim.3.16). The Lamb that takes away the sin of the world is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. We don't understand this fully but accept this on faith. But to say like some that God cannot become man is nothing but arrogance.

Was He Born on 25 December?

Many Christian teachers and Bible scholars suggest different dates all over the calendar because no one knows the exactly date and even year when Jesus was born. For example, one man named Hippolytus who lived between 170 and 236 AD claimed that Jesus was born on Wednesday, 25th December 4 BC. Clement picked 18th November. Anonymous document believed to have been written in Africa around 243 AD placed the date on 28th March. Among all the dates, 25th December became popular for certain reasons. It was popularized as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day, but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun.

Therefore, today Christmas is celebrated religiously by the vast majority of Christians and culturally by non-Christian people everywhere in the world. It has become an integral part of the holiday season. It is celebrated on 25^th December in the Gregorian calendar by the western and third world Christian church. Some eastern Christian churches celebrate it on 25^th December on the Julian calendar which corresponds to 7^th January on Gregorian calendar. 

Why December Is Not Fitting Here?

Careful analysis of weather and seasons of Israel and of Scripture clearly indicates that December could not be the month for Christ's birth for two primary reasons:

First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7- Shepherds were not in the fields during December because it is during winter and weather is so cold and rainy in Judea, that people are mostly indoors. Thus, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" It would be unusual for shepherds to be “abiding in the fields at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from spring to autumn.

Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4) Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles).The Complete Book of American Holidays ,states that Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall (p309).

Jesus’ Approximate Birth Date

The approximate time of year Jesus was born can be properly calculated if we know when John was born. John's father, Zachariah, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5) Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).It was during this time of temple service that Zachariah learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child.

Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-3) After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:23-2) Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus (Luke 1:35-36), brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth. Therefore, biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.

If the conception of John took place in June, it is most probably that the conception of Jesus took place in December when the angel visited Mary and then Jesus was born in September.” The probability is that the mighty angel leading the heavenly host in their praises that came to the shepherds was Michael the archangel. Then this occasion was later commemorated by the early church as Michaelmas (‘Michael sent’), on September 29, the same as the date of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It would have at least been appropriate for Christ to have been born on such a date, for it was at His birth that ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14).

Why Celebrating Jesus Birth On 25th December?

Although it is difficult to determine the first time anyone celebrated December 25 as Christmas Day, historians are in general agreement that it was sometime during the fourth century. This is an amazingly late date. Christmas was not observed in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, until about 300 years after Christ's death. Its origins cannot be traced back to either the teachings or practices of the earliest Christians.

However, as suggested above, it is rather commonly believed (though not certain) that Jesus’ birth was around the last of September. The conception of Christ, however, may have taken place in late December of the previous year. Our Christmas celebration may well be recognized as an honored observation of the annunciation of ‘the Word made flesh’ when the angel announced to Mary about the conception. Thus, it might well be that when we today celebrate Christ’s birth at what we call Christmas (i.e., ‘Christ sent’), we are actually celebrating His miraculous conception, the time when the Father sent the Son into the world, in the virgin’s womb.

Essence of Christmas

Christmas means ‘Christ sent’ not Christ’s birth as others suggest. Essence of Christmas is to celebrate that Christ came into the world to atone for our sin; He died on the cross, was buried together with our sin, then, was resurrected to eternity and is alive today. He came during the darkest time of the year—the time of the pagan Saturnalia, and the time when the sun (the physical ‘light of the world’) is at its greatest distance from the Holy Land—which was surely an appropriate time for God to send the spiritual ‘light of the world’ into the world as the ‘Savior, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:11).

It is no sin to celebrate the coming into the world of the Son of God in any time of the year seen appropriate. We are doing the right thing as declared by Zechariah, “Shout and be glad O daughter of Zion, for I am coming, and I will live among you….” Zechariah 2:10. That is how Christmas became a central feast to every liturgical year.

Resource Material

1.       Christology- Silas C Nair & Dr. Johnson C. Phillip, Indus School of Apologetics and Theology Resources

2.       A Biblical Defense Of His Deity, Josh McDowell; Here's Life Publishers