Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, right? Actually, it does not, and the reason may surprise you.

Jesus was incarnated through Mary, taking on a physical body, and His divine existence precedes all creation. The Son of God has no beginning or end and therefore no true birthday. Was that the answer you were expecting? Probably not. The conception was miraculous with Mary providing the human element, the Holy Spirit providing the sinless blood, creating the perfect union of God and man.

The early church never celebrated the birth of Jesus. The concept of Christmas as we know it today arose from pagan traditions in Babylon that honored Tammuz. This practice was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church under Emperor Constantine when pagan festivals were merged with Christianity. December 25th, originally a pagan holiday, was rebranded as the birth of Jesus. A fact with which many Christians are familiar and the answer you originally expected, right?

But there are other facts in play as well. Jesus was not born in winter because the shepherds would not have tended sheep outdoors in December, and Caesar Augustus would not have ordered a census to take place during the harsh travel conditions of winter.

We can with a high degree of accuracy set the birth of Jesus around John the Baptist. The cousin of Jesus was conceived in June and born in March, around the time of Passover, symbolic of his prophetic role as the forerunner of Christ. Six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, placing the conception of Jesus in December and His birth approximately nine months later in September during the Feast of Tabernacles. This festival celebrated God dwelling among the Israelites, befitting the symbolism of Jesus’ incarnation and dwelling among humanity.

Jesus is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. The Son of God upholds creation by the word of His power, meaning that every atom in existence is held together by His divinity. Even more amazing, while incarnated in a human body, Jesus continued to govern the cosmos and carry out the redemptive plan.

The purpose of Christ is revealed in His mission. He came to seek the lost, reveal the heart of God the Father, fulfill the Mosaic law and the prophets, destroy the works of the devil, and offer abundant and eternal life to all who believe. His death and resurrection bridged the chasm between sinful humanity and a holy God. He established the Kingdom of God within believers and promised a future reign on earth during the millennial kingdom.

Print out the sermon outline and let's examine the Scriptures together Sunday morning at 9:00 AM PST.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor John S. Torell