December 25 is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. The Bible does not specifically say when He was born but does give clues to when it might be. As I mentioned in my post “Good Friday,” Jesus was not born in the winter.
According to what we do know from the Bible, Jesus was not born in the winter. Would Caesar Augustus send out a decree for everyone in his empire to travel to his hometown during winter? People would not be happy that they would have to pay taxes during registration. They would be even more unhappy if they had to make the trip during the cold season.
According to Luke, shepherds were in a nearby field keeping guard over their flocks. Would shepherds be out in the cold with their flocks in the winter? They should be keeping them warm in caves. Rabbis say that Bethlehem was a place where Levitical shepherds kept sheep for temple sacrifices. They would be out as late as the middle of October. So Jesus would be born either September or October. Some say He would have been born during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Some people have tried to use Zechariah’s time of service in the holy place as a way to set the date of Jesus’ birth but because of changes in calendar dates and other priestly matters I don’t understand, I won’t go into this unless requested.
I’ll just say that December 25 would not be the date of Jesus’ birth. It would most likely be in the spring or fall when shepherds are out in the fields. Since we don’t know the exact date Jesus was born, we just celebrate His birthday on this date. We should remember what Jesus did for us every day, not just one day of the year.
Prayer
Almighty God in heaven,
Thank You for loving us so much that You would send Your only Son to die on the cross for us. We don’t deserve Your mercy and grace that You shower us with every day. Help us to remember and act in a way that pleases You every time, not just this time of the year.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Verses
John 1:14 So the Word became human and lived among us
Isaiah 9:6 A son is given to us. He will be called Mighty God, Prince of Peace
Luke 2:1-3 A decree was given for everyone to return to their ancestral town to register for the census
Luke 2:8 That night shepherds were guarding their sheep in the fields nearby
Luke 1:5 There was a Jewish priest, Zechariah, a member of the Abijah order
Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple for his order was on duty that week
Romans 5:1 We have been made right in god’s sight because of what Jesus has done for us
Galatians 5:4-5 God sent His Son, born of a woman, to buy freedom for us
Song
“Noel” by Chris Tomlin featuring Lauren Daigle is a wonderful song about Christmas. I enjoy her songs that make me reflect.
Call To Action
If you have already prayed, read the verses, and listened to the suggested song, then read the first chapter of John to at least the 18th verse if you haven’t read the story of the first Christmas in Matthew or Luke. Can you imagine the love Jesus has for us in order to humble himself to be born as a baby and then die the most horrible and humiliating way at that time?