The Christmas Story?
Many folks will plan to attend Christmas services this time of year. As a child, I recall participating in an annual Christmas concert at the denominational group I attended. Each year, someone was appointed to read what was labeled the "Christmas story", the birth of Christ as recorded in Luke's gospel.
The Christmas story? Well, I don't call it that anymore. And, I don't celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, as I once did. Did I lose my faith? No, I didn't. Do I not believe what the Bible says about Jesus being born? Yes, I do. In fact, that is why I no longer celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ - I now believe what the Bible says about His birth.
There are several misconceptions about the birth of Christ in the religious world. Let's look at the details of Jesus' birth and see what the Bible, not popular thought, says.
December 25th?
Just a few days ago, a little boy who is in our home often told me that Jesus' birthday was coming soon. This is what he was told at school. Was Jesus born on December 25th?
Luke 2:8 reads,
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night
Overnight temperatures in Jerusalem have averaged about 6 C over the past 30 years, coupled with heavy precipitation.1 It is cold; it is wet. Why do I mention that? Quite simply this: the shepherds mentioned in Luke 2:8 were living in the fields when Jesus was born. The end of December is not the time of year for shepherds to sleep out in the fields with their flocks. Nay, the sheep would be in their fold; the shepherds in their homes.
The Bible does not tell us when Jesus was born. In fact, most acknowledge that "December 25 is not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth, and the date may have been chosen to correspond with either a Roman festival or with the winter solstice."2
Had God wanted us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, then He would have told us the day of His birth. He did not. He wants us to celebrate Jesus' death, and we do so each Lord's day as we share the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26; Acts 20:7).
We Three Kings...
I'm sure you've heard the song, maybe you've even sung it. But is it accurate? Matthew 2:1-3 reads,
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.' When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
1 The Weather Network
2 Wikipedia
“There are several misconceptions about the birth of Christ in the religious world.”
I'm curious - would the presence of three magi cause such a stir that the WHOLE CITY was troubled over their presence? Herod was no doubt troubled over the news itself, that these foreigners came looking for someone who would be born as "King of the Jews". That threatened his position. But for the whole city to be upset over the appearance of three wise men - I just don't see it. Perhaps if there were thirty or three hundred, but three? More importantly, the inspired text says nothing about how many there were, whether three, thirty, or three hundred. There are three gifts mentioned (gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Matthew 2:11), which is perhaps where the thought of three wise men came. However, that there are three gifts mentioned does not necessitate just three magi.
Wise Men & The Manger
We know that the shepherds saw the Lord Jesus laying in a manger in Bethlehem (Luke 2:12, 16). However, is that where the magi found Him?
Luke's gospel doesn't mention the wise men at all. However, by looking at both Luke's and Matthew's account, we can determine where and approximately when they found the Lord Jesus.
The wise men were sent to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5-8), but we're not told that they found Him there. Matthew 2:9 states that "the star which they had seen in the East went before them." From Jerusalem to Bethlehem?? That's only 5 miles! Is it not more likely that they went to Bethlehem, and did not find Him there, but then followed the star to where He was?
Also notice, they found Him "in the house" (Matthew 2:11). According to Luke, Jesus was in the stable of an inn at His birth. What house is this? There is no reason to think that Joseph owned a house in Bethlehem, but it is likely that he had one in Nazareth, where he lived. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were not in Judea indefinitely, but would have returned to their home after the days of purification were over (Luke 2:22; cf. Leviticus 12:2-4). In fact, Luke's account tells us that when they were finished at the temple, "they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth." (Luke 2:39)
Herod had spoken secretly with the wise men, seeking to determine the age of the Child (Matthew 2:7). When he realized that they were not coming back to tell him where the Child was, he "put to death all the male children who were born in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men." (Matthew 2:16) He had determined that the Child was as much as two years old. However, Jesus was no longer in Bethlehem - they had left there 41 days after His birth.
What is the point of all this? Simply that we need to be careful to not replace Bible truth with popular fiction. may we accept what God says about things, whether it be the birth of Christ, or any topic. His word is truth.
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Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
Was the tomb opened or closed when the women arrived? Luke 24:2; Mark 16:3-4 and John 20:1 all say it was open, but Matthew 28:1 indicates that it was closed. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Indeed, Mark, Luke and John all clearly indicate that the stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb when the women arrived at it. The questioner contends that Matthew's gospel says otherwise. Let us look at what Matthew says.
Matthew wrote:
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:1-6
I must have missed it. Where in that text does it say that they arrived before the angel rolled the stone away from the door? Matthew 28:1 acknowledges that they came to the tomb that morning, but it does not say that they found the stone covering the door to the tomb. It simply declares that they came to see the tomb. Matthew 28:2 explains how the stone was rolled away from the door, but it does not indicate that the women were there prior to the angel doing so.
Matthew does not state as clearly as the other gospel accounts the fact that the stone was rolled away prior to the women arriving, but it certainly does not say that the stone was still in place when they arrived. Matthew provides different, but not contradicting details about the events in question.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.