Christ Mas

WHEN IS JESUS' BIRTHDAY?

What a stupid question! If Christmas celebrates Jesus' birthday, then his birthday must be on 25th December!

Wrong! The fact is, no one knows for sure when Jesus' birthday was, since it's not recorded in the Bible.

However, it's certainly not in December, for it's far too cold in Bethlehem (where Jesus was born) for shepherds to watch over their flock out in the fields (which the Bible says they were doing, the day Jesus was born.)

So why celebrate his birthday on 25th Dec?

According to a website (http://www.new-life.net/chrtms10.htm ), the date was made popular in Rome by a Pope around 354 AD and became the rule in the West in 435 AD when the first "Christ mass" was officiated. This coincided with the date of a celebration by the Romans to their primary god, the Sun. Some believe that the Roman Church chose 25th December to celebrate Jesus' birthday to facilitate the acceptance of the Christian faith by the pagan masses who were worshipping the Sun.

Now that we know this, why do we continue celebrating his birthday on 25th December?

Actually, the date of celebration is not as important as the significance of Jesus' birth. So what's the significance?

In Jesus, God enfleshed Himself in time and space (1 John 4:2). God Himself walked among us, died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Now He's waiting for each of us to repent from our sins and obey Him as our heavenly Father.

This then is the true meaning of Christmas: God was (and is) with us! He is not far away! He's right here with us, and He cares enough to become one of us and suffer for us.

As we share and receive gifts this Christmas, may we remember that we already have the Greatest Gift. It's because of this Gift that we have the wonderful privilege to become children of God and be with Him forever, even when our physical bodies perish.

When we say "Merry Christmas", let us not forget what will make us eternally merry : )