Christmas Above All: Truths and Misconceptions (Ep 93)

Introduction and Host Welcome

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Jason: Welcome and thank you for listening. My name is Jason and I'm your host. Well, it's almost that time of year again. I'm both excited and a bit sad that December is coming to a close.

The True Meaning of Christmas

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Jason: But I'm definitely excited to jump in today's topic about the true meaning of Christmas and, and talking about some of the misconceptions about the holiday.

Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and wonder. But have you ever stopped to really think about why it's so significant to us followers of Christ? Beyond the twinkling lights, the wrapping gifts, and the cozy traditions lies a profound truth of Christmas. That moment when God himself stepped into our world.

John 1 14 says the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father full of grace and truth. This verse captures the very heart of Christmas. God's unfathomable love for humanity, sending his son to live among us, to redeem us, and to bring light into a dark world.

But as we celebrate this incredible truth, it's important to step back and examine what we really know about Christmas.

Examining Christmas Misconceptions

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Jason: Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? What about the wise men? Did they show up the same night in Bethlehem? And is Christmas truly rooted in some pagan tradition, as some people claim?

Today we're gonna explore these questions together, and I'll separate fact from fiction, address some common misconceptions, and rediscover the joy of keeping Christ at the center of Christmas. So grab a cup of hot cocoa, or settle in wherever you are. This is one Christmas conversation you don't want to miss.

The Significance of Jesus's Birth

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Jason: I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the meaning of Christmas to Christians. Christmas is more than just a holiday filled with festive traditions. It's the celebration of a moment that changed everything. It's the, at the heart of it, Christmas is about God's extraordinary love for humanity, His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, and the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Isaiah 9, verse 6, written hundreds of years before Jesus's birth, we read these powerful words. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. I want you to think about that for a moment.

This isn't just an announcement of a baby's birth. It's a declaration of hope. God had promised the Savior to rescue humanity from sin and through the birth of Jesus, he kept that promise. The child born in Bethlehem wasn't an ordinary baby. He was fully God and fully man, sent to bring peace, forgiveness, and salvation into a broken world.

Luke 2 verses 10 11 gives us another glimpse into the incredible meaning of this event. When the angel appeared to the shepherds trembling in the fields outside of Bethlehem, the message wasn't one of fear, but of great joy. Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.

Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This news was so deeply personal. The Savior wasn't just a king for the elite. He came for the lowly shepherds, for the overlooked, for you and for me. But as we reflect on this amazing gift of salvation, it's so easy to lose sight of its significance amid the hustle and bustle of the season.

Christmas has become so heavily commercialized that the story of Jesus's birth is often overshadowed by shopping lists, parties, decorations, food prep. I mean, these things aren't inherently wrong, but they can distract us from it. The heart of what we're celebrating. John 3 16 reminds us of the magnitude of God's love.

For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. What better time to reflect on this gift than Christmas? The greatest act of giving isn't found under the tree, but in a manger. And the most fitting response to this gift is worship, gratitude, and a heart overflowing with generosity.

So how can we celebrate Christmas in a way that reflects its true meaning? It begins with intentional, being intentional. Consider starting the day with scripture. Reading the story of Jesus's birth in Luke chapter 2 as a family. Pause to thank God for his faithfulness and love. Instead of focusing on what's on your wish list, think about how you can give to somebody else.

Especially those in need. As believers, we're called to reflect Christ's love. And Christmas provides a unique opportunity to do just that. Maybe it's serving at a local shelter, donating to a minister, or simply being present with your loved ones. Small acts of kindness can be a powerful reminder of the love God showed us through Jesus.

Another way to prioritize worship and gratitude is to step away from the noise of the season. Find moments of quiet to pray and reflect. Imagine yourself in that stable, kneeling before this newborn king. What would you offer him? What could you offer him? Would it be your time, your talents? your heart. As we focus on these things, we'll find that the joy of Christmas isn't in the gifts we unwrap, but in the Savior we worship.

By placing him at the center of our celebrations, we honor the true, true meaning of the season and proclaim the hope that was born that night in Bethlehem. So this Christmas, let's challenge ourselves to go beyond the surface level festivities. Let's embrace our deeper joy that comes from knowing Christ and sharing his love with others.

I mean, after all, Christmas isn't just a story. It's the greatest reality of all time. God with us.

Historical Context of Jesus's Birth Date

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Jason: Now, if you ask most people when Jesus was born, the answer is a quick and confident December 25th. I mean, after all, that's the date we've celebrated his birth for centuries. But what if I told you the Bible doesn't really tell us the specific date of Jesus's birth?

In fact, it's one of the mysteries of the Nativity story that has sparked curiosity for literally generations. But let's go back to that scripture I read a moment ago, but let's, let's expand it. Let's read Luke 2 verses 8 through 12, where we are given this beautiful snapshot of the night Jesus was born.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today, in the town of Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. That passage paints a vivid picture of the shepherds tending their flocks at night. But it doesn't provide Any specific season or date. I mean, some scholars suggest that the details about the shepherd's watch, their flocks could indicate a time of year when the weather wasn't mild.

Possibly a spring or fall. Since it would be less likely for flocks to be out in the cold winter months. But even this is speculative. So what do we know about Jesus birth? We find some clues to Jesus actual birthday by looking at John the Baptist. Now, if we look at Luke 1 verse 5, it tells us that Zacharias was from the priestly order of Abijah.

And then in Luke 1 verses 22, 23 and 24, we find out that his wife, Elizabeth, who was formerly barren, became pregnant with John the Baptist after his days of service in the temple. Then we see in Luke 1 verses 26 and 27, in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Gabriel went to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus.

Now, some theologians have approximated when Jesus was actually born by counting from the date Zacharias priestly services until the birth of Jesus. So, Jewish priests, they were divided into 24 courses that ministered throughout the year, and the order for Abijah was the 8th priestly course, which we see in 1st Chronicles 24, verses 6 through 19.

And this order served in the 10th week of the priestly cycle, and that, and the start of the 10th week coincides with the 2nd Sabbath in the month of Sivan, which runs roughly through mid May to mid June. Now, based on this, The approximate month of Jesus's birth should have been around the time of Tishri, which was mid to late September.

Now, we get there by starting with the conception of John the Baptist, Sivan or June, and then we count forward six months to arrive at Gabriel's announcement in Kislev or December. Then we count forward nine more months, which takes us to Tishri or September, when Jesus was probably born. So the question remains, though, how do we land on December 25th as the date to celebrate Jesus's birth?

I mean, the truth is, the choice of December 25th has less to do about historical accuracy and more, probably more to do about tradition. In the early centuries of Christianity, believers didn't focus heavily on celebrating Jesus's birth. Their emphasis was on his death and resurrection. So there, there may, there are many theories, but I think the one that feels more plausible is that by the fourth century, December 25th was chosen as the official date for Christmas.

Now, one reason for this choice was that it aligns with Roman festival of Saturnalia, a pagan festival or celebration of the winter solstice. Now, early Christians saw this as an opportunity to redeem the date, turning a time of pagan revelry into a celebration of the true light of the world. And December 25th just became a symbolic date to honor the moment when God's eternal plan for salvation began to unfold on earth.

There is also a connection to the Jewish calendar, and the idea that significant events in Jesus life might align with key moments in history. Some early Christians believe that Jesus conception occurred around March 25th, the date of the spring equinox. And if you count nine months forward, that brings you to late December, further reinforcing this tradition.

And then Micah 5 verse 2 gives us a little bit more of the puzzle. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Now this prophecy kind of pinpointed Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, a detail fulfilled in Jesus's birth, but it doesn't specify when it happened.

So what's the takeaway here? The exact date of Jesus's birth probably isn't the most important part of the story. What truly matters is that Jesus was born at the perfect time in God's plan to fulfill his promise of salvation. Whether it was in December or another time of the year, the miracle of Christmas remains unchanged.

Now this perspective can help us focus less on the calendar and maybe more on the incredible truth of what Christmas represents. The birth of Jesus isn't just a historical event, it's the fulfillment of God's love and faithfulness. A moment that set the stage for redemption and hope for all humanity.

As we celebrate Christmas, let's remember that the season isn't about the precision of the date, but the depth of its meaning. It's about the Savior who came to live among us, to rescue us, to bring eternal life to those who believe. So whether you gather with family on December 25th or another day, the joy of Christmas lies in the reality of Emmanuel, God with us.

Common Christmas Misconceptions

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Jason: Now when it comes to Christmas, there's no shortage of traditions, symbols, and even controversies that swirl around the holidays. From nativity scenes to carols, trees to twinkling lights, it's easy to wonder what's true, what's tradition, and what might we be misunderstanding. Let's take a closer look at just some of the common misconceptions about Christmas and uncover how they point us back to Christ.

One of the most beloved images of Christmas is the wise men, or magi, kneeling before baby Jesus in the stables. But if we look closely at scripture, this scene doesn't align with timeline. Matthew 2 verses 1 through 12 tells us after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.

The passage goes on to describe how the Magi visited Jesus in a house, not the manger. Now, historical and astronomical evidence suggests that the Magi likely arrived months or even years after Jesus birth, guided by the star that marked his arrival. While the nativity scene we cherish combines these moments for simplicity, Understanding the timeline reminds us of the lengths to which people went to honor Christ.

Their journey underscores the importance of seeking him, no matter the distance or time involved. It's also important to note that there weren't exactly three wise men. In fact, we don't know just how many there were because we only have the three wise men giving them gifts to Jesus. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The quantity of those gifts is unknown, and it's possible he received other gifts, but those three were incredibly significant. Gold was very precious. It was a metal they used for jewelry, ornaments, currency, even idols throughout human history. And this gift pointed to Jesus royalty as the King of Kings, the King on Earth.

Frankincense was a pretty expensive fragrance made from trees in India and Arabia, often used in perfumes. And this represented his divinity and symbolized his priestly role. And then myrrh was another rare item made from hard to find bushes in Arabia and Ethiopia, and was often used as an embalming fluid.

And this represented his humanity and foreshadowed his death. And then there's another common critique that Christmas has pagan roots. Yes, as we mentioned earlier, the Christians may have chosen December 25th to coincide with existing cultural celebrations, such as the Roman Festival of Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice.

This wasn't an attempt to blend paganism with Christianity. It was an intentional act of redemption. Early believers saw an opportunity to take a season associated with darkness and bring the light of Christ into it. They transformed cultural traditions to point to the Savior, showing that Christ is Lord over all, even the calendar.

In Colossians 2, verses 16 and 17, it reminds us, Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a new moon celebration, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things that were here to come. The reality, however, is found in Christ. This redemption of cultural practices isn't about compromise.

It's about proclaiming the gospel in a way that resonates with the world, while staying grounded in God's truth. Now, there are other Christmas symbols that are often associated with Pagan roots, Christmas trees, lighting candles, ringing bells, and the list goes on. And truthfully, many of these customs can indeed be traced back to some Pagan tradition.

Early Pagans would light candles to drive away the cold and dark forces. Yet when Christians do this, it's to rejoice in the Savior, the light of the world found in John 1 verses 4 through 9. Now, ringing bells can also be traced back to pagan traditions as a ritual to drive out evil spirits. Yet when bells are rung on Christmas Eve, it's to welcome in the spirit of Christmas with joyful noises.

As in Psalm 95, verse 1. If your heart is on fire for Christ, if you're ringing bells and lighting candles to honor the Savior, I see no issue with enjoying these symbols and traditions. However, if you truly feel convicted, and you just don't feel like you can, in good conscience, observe a particular Christian tradition, well, don't observe it.

It's fine.

Have you ever heard someone say, Don't take Christ out of Christmas by calling it X mas? Well, it's an understandable concern. The history of the term actually tells a different story. The X in Exmas isn't an erasure of Christ, but a representation of him. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word for Christ begins with the letter chi, which is basically the English letter X.

This has been used as a symbol for Christ for centuries. Early Christians used this abbreviation as a form of reverence, not disrespect. I would be more concerned about the cultural need to secularize it by calling Christmas Winter Holidays. instead of Christmas. That being said, it's always good to honor Christ explicitly.

But understand this historical context can help us avoid unnecessary divisions and instead focus on the true meaning of the season. It's one of my favorites, and the last one I'll bring up is some people have pointed to Jeremiah 10 verses 3 and 4 as evidence that Christmas trees are unbiblical. The passage reads, For the practice of these people are worthless.

They cut out a tree of the forest, and craftsmen shape it with its chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold, and they fasten it with a hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. This verse is not describing a Christmas tree. It's addressing the making and worshipping of idols. Christmas trees, when used appropriately, are not objects of worship, but a symbol of life and joy.

Reminding us of the everlasting life we have in Christ. There's also no evidence of any pagan religions decorating a special holiday tree for their midwinter festivals. Now, Romans did celebrate winter solstice with a festival called Saturnalia. I mentioned that moment ago. This was to honor Saturnus, their god of agriculture.

For that festival, they did decorate their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. But then in late Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreens inside of their homes or just outside the doors to show their hope in the coming spring. The first actual Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in the 16th century Germany.

And our modern Christmas tree evolved from those German traditions. It's believed that those customs came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution or possibly with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio. That being said, Romans 14 verses 5 and 6 provides some helpful guidance.

One person considers one day more sacred than another, another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind, whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. If we use traditions like Christmas trees to glorify God and focus on Christ, They can be meaningful additions to our celebrations.

Reflecting on Christmas Traditions

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Jason: So what do we do with all these misconceptions and ideas and stuff? The answer isn't to abandon traditions altogether or to cling to them without question. Instead, we are called to approach them with wisdom, humility, and an open heart. Ask yourself, do the traditions you observe draw you closer to Christ?

Do they help you reflect on his love, his humility, and his gift of salvation? And if the answer is yes, celebrate freely. And if you're unsure, take some time to research and reflect. As believers, we are called to focus on the substance, not just the symbols of our faith. Ultimately, Christmas isn't about every tradition being right or avoiding every misconception.

It's about keeping Christ at the center. When we do, we honor the one who came to redeem, not just our holiday, but our hearts. And that is something worth celebrating.

Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

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Jason: The true meaning of Christmas isn't found in dates, decorations, or traditions, but in the incredible reality of Jesus's birth. Matthew 1 21 reminds us of this significance.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Christmas is about celebrating God's love, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the arrival of our Savior. It's an invitation to focus on Christ over cultural distractions and to let his light shine through us in a world that desperately needs it.

I want to challenge you to start including these three things in your household traditions this time of year and going forward. First, read the nativity story together as a family from Luke, Chapter 2, reflect on the humility of Christ's birth and how it demonstrates God's plan for salvation. Number 2, serve others in need as a way to reflect on Jesus's love.

Whether it's volunteering, donating, or simply showing kindness, let your actions embody the spirit of giving that Jesus modeled for us. And last number three, but not least keep worshiping keep worship and gratitude at the heart of your celebration It's easy to get lost in in planning parties prepping food wrapping gifts and all that stuff But take time to pause to pray and to thank god for his grace incredible gift.

Let's pray together as we prepare our hearts for this Christmas season. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving us so deeply that you sent him to save us from our own sins. As we celebrate this Christmas, help us to keep our focus on him, on his humility, his grace, his light.

Guide us to live out his love by serving others and worshiping you with Grateful hearts. May our traditions and celebrations bring glory to your name and may the joy of Jesus fill our hearts and our home. In His precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope this Christmas is filled with worship, joy, and an overwhelming sense of God's love.

Until next time, remember to love each other. Remember to read your Bibles and may the Lord bless you and keep you. Merry Christmas and God bless.

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