It's almost Christmas ... a special day. The day we celebrate the birth of Christ. In this special holiday UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson focuses on God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to us!
It's disputed, the date of Jesus' birth. The Bible doesn't offer many clues—not even the time of year!
Traditionally, Christians celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25th. But it wasn't always so.
Michael McGowan, President of Melbourne's Trinity College, in an article at Bible History Daily (the Biblical Archaelogy Society), suggests Jesus' birth was more likely in the "spring lambing season," because the shepherds were tending their flocks in the fields (Luke 2:8) rather than corraling them (which would be normal in December).
But other than that, there aren't any references to a birthday celebration. And there isn't much extrabiblical evidence from the first or second century either. Scripture focuses more on the death and resurrection of Christ than His birth.
In about 200 CE (AD), McGowan said, "... a Christian teacher in Egypt makes reference to the date Jesus was born. According to Clement of Alexandria, several different days had been proposed by various Christian groups. Surprising as it may seem, Clement doesn’t mention December 25 at all."
Clement did say, "There are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in the 25th day of [the Egyptian month] Pachon [May 20 in our calendar] ... others say that He was born on the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi [April 20 or 21].”
By the fourth century, McGowan said, "... we find references to two dates that were widely recognized—and now also celebrated—as Jesus’ birthday: December 25 in the western Roman Empire and January 6 in the East (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor)." Some date Jesus' conception to the dating of His death at Passover. Others connect the birth date to pagan festivals, reasoning, "If Christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the God whose birth it celebrated," McGowan said.
He shares a lot more about this, but I want to focus on a verse of scripture rather than a dispute over a birthday.
The Bible says,
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).
The fullness of time had come. What does that mean?
God prepared the way for Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, prophecied long before the Savior's coming. History and nations lined up to accomplish the sovereign Father's plan.
The faithful, promise-keeping God (Isaiah 55:11) prepared the world to see the fulfillment of His promise ... Jesus.
Although many people skip over Jesus' geneologies, they give a clue to the "fullness of time." In Matthew 1:1-16, His genealogy divides Israel's history into three distinct periods (Abraham to David, David to the Jewish exile, and from the exile to Jesus' birth).
God's promises to Abraham and David were not yet fulfilled, but in the fullness of time, they were! Jesus, the Son of Abraham and Son of David, fulfilled God's covenant promises.
God told Abraham he would bless the earth through Him (Genesis 12:1-3). David also received a promise (2 Samuel 7:11-16). His kingdom would endure forever. As a descendant of King David, Jesus became the Shepherd-King of Israel (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6) and His throne will last forever.
- In the fullness of time, God prepared a young woman to bear His Son. Jesus was conceived in her by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, 20).
- In the fullness of time, God prepared His people's hearts. Jews were anticipating the Messiah's coming. Roman rule, and false idols and pagan philosophies made them hungry for it, just as believers today are hungry for Jesus' return.
- In the fullness of time, our Father is prepared to fulfill all His promises to us, His children, too.
One of my favorite promises is the truth that I will become a partaker of His divine nature because of Jesus' work on my behalf (2 Peter 1:4). Another promise: Jesus is bringing His "reward" with Him when He returns, to give to faithful Christ-followers (Revelation 22:12).
The date of Jesus' birth isn't as important as the fact. Jesus came. And in His coming, He fulfilled at least ten specific, detailed prophecies.
Jesus came in the Father's will, at just the right time. He put on humanity and, again, when the time was right, He dealt with our sin and alienation from God. He redeemed sinners, condemned by the law, "so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Today, Jesus is still seeking hearts prepared to receive Him.
How does the truth that Jesus came to fulfill the Father's promises give you confidence that we can trust our Redeemer to come again, just as HE promised (John 14:2-3)?
Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Ministries, is the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God (with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. She is the President of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in MInistry (NEWIM San Diego). Dawn is the co-author of LOL with God and contributed "The Blessing Basket" in It's a God Thing. She and her husband Bob have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.
Graphic, "Christmas Nativity," Adapted, wallpho.com, #47201