University of Mobile Christmas Spectacular 2012
Carol of the Bells
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Category Archives: Christmas
Fact not Fable
Before we leave all thoughts about Christmas behind for another year…
“Think about the familiar words from Luke 2. If you study other religions and read about the birth of Hercules or the birth of the gods in Hinduism or the birth of the gods in Shintoism the stories are nothing like Luke 2.
In those days [a certain time in history] a decree [something that the Romans issued from time to time…] went out from Caesar Augustus [a known world figure] that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria [an extra bit of history which shows that Luke is trying to be meticulous, even if scholars today aren’t sure where to place Quirinius chronologically]. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph [a historical person] also went up from Galilee [a specific region], from the town of Nazareth [a specific town], to Judea [another specific region], to the city of David [more historical background], which is called Bethlehem [another specific town we have record of], because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child [more background information]. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
There is nothing in here that sounds like fairy tale and everything to prove that Luke means this to be verifiable, accurate, precise, historical fact.”
– Kevin DeYoung
Why Christmas?
“He was poor, that He might make us rich. He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God. He took our flesh that He might give us His Spirit. He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven that He might bring us to heaven.
“That the Ancient of Days should be born or that He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle. He who rules the stars should suck the breast and that a virgin should conceive.
“Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand until we come to heaven. If our hearts not be rocks, this love of Christ should affect us. Behold love that passes knowledge (Eph 3:19).”
Taken from Thomas Watson’s (1620-1686), “A Body of Divinity”
When was Jesus Born?
I quote the following article with this as a word of introduction:
“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed…” Acts 17: 10-12
Because a teaching or article is found here it should not necessarily imply that I would endorse everything written or taught by the author/speaker elsewhere. However, it does mean that what you find here has been a blessing to me.
The Scripture speaks of the noble attitude of the Bereans who (1) eagerly received the word but (2) tested it (even when the teacher was the Apostle Paul) – by comparing what they heard with the word of God. I would ask you to employ the very same discipline or methodology in all you hear or read. This should be the case both for my articles and for any posted here. May God richly bless you as you walk in the light of His Word.
When was Jesus Born? by Pastor Mark Driscoll
So Jesus was born on December 25, in the year AD 1, right? Or was it year 0?
In fact, there is simply no clarity regarding the timing of Jesus’ birth. The Scriptures do not speak directly to the issue, and the presence of flocks in the field has caused many to question the traditional December date of Christmas. This is because grazing in the field seemingly indicates a milder climate than that of winter, although there are reports of occasional breaks, for upwards of a few weeks, in the rainy winter season.
Commentator William Hendriksen raises an interesting point as well: “At this season of the year many roads in that region are impassable. No government would have forced people to travel then to the places where they must be registered” (New Testament Commentary: Luke, vol. 11, 150).
On the other hand, New Testament scholar Darrell Bock shows that while “some Jewish traditions argue for grazing in the period from April to November,” others note that “these restrictions are limited to sheep ‘in the wilderness’” (Luke 1:1–9:50, 226–227).
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