Our modern understanding of the Christmas Story is a mix of the biblical stories told by Matthew and Luke, plus centuries of adding on traditions. We then fill in any gaps with modern, Western, individualist assumptions. Let’s ponder a few with three postings this week:
- Post 1: Everybody knows when to celebrate Christmas
- Post 2: My Church Christmas Play versus God’s Cosmic Drama
- Post 3: The Characters in the Christmas Story (versus the child actors in my church play)
Post 1: Everybody knows when to celebrate Christmas, right?
Despite what Back to the Future suggested, Jesus was not born on Dec. 25, 0000. There is no year Zero. The Arabs hadn’t yet invented the number zero at the time Denis the Little created our Christian calendar. (Since there was no zero in our Christian calendar, the year 1 BC is followed by AD 1). Instead of critiquing Denis for not knowing a mathematical marvel, we should admire him for doing such a great job estimating the birth year (nearly 600 years after the fact). Denis only missed it a little. Jesus was likely born about 7 BC. Herod (who ordered the death of the babies) died in 4 BC.
As to the month and date, Emperor Constantine (in AD 336) established December 25 as the date to celebrate Christmas. Scholars argue why Constantine picked that date. Most think he was putting a Christian holiday in place to outshine Sol Invictus (the pagan festival for winter solstice and the “re-birth” of the sun god). Jews were already celebrating the Rededication of the Temple (Kislev 15, 164 bc). In the Gospel of John (10:22-42), we can see some fun parallels between Jesus and this Jewish festival. In any event, Constantine picked a date that was already a popular holiday time. So, Christmas Day is the date set aside annually to celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord.
If it isn’t actually the birth date, do Christians at least agree on the modern date for Christmas? Actually, not yet. Most Western Christians use the Gregorian calendar and celebrate on Dec. 25. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII made it the “official calendar,” but Christians in the East weren’t under his authority and kept the older Julian calendar. Thus, they celebrate on Jan. 7. The reasons for picking one date over another is probably political more than religious. Just recently, Ukrainian Christians switched from Jan. 7 to Dec. 25 because they want to be different from their Russian Christian family and more like their Western Christian family. I’ll leave you to decide their motives.
While we have superimposed a lot of our own worldview into the Christmas Story, nonetheless, the basic meaning hasn’t been lost. It is the story of “immanu-El” (עִמָּנוּאֵל, Isa 7:14; ἐμμανουήλ; Mt 1:23), which literally means “God-with-us.” It has been God’s constant message to us. He comforted Isaac (Gen. 26:3), encouraged Moses (Ex. 3:12), fortified Joshua (Josh. 1:5) and Gideon (Jdg. 6:16), and edified Solomon (1 Kg. 11:38). But it was the word of comfort and assurance to all of God’s people (Isa. 43:2). Matthew tells us it was Jesus’ final word to us: “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). The ultimate example of Immanuel (God-with-us) is Jesus. The story that began with Abraham and a Promised Seed (Gal. 3:16), nay, even earlier with a promise to Eve that her offspring will crush the Serpent (Gen 3:15) was culminated on that beautiful Christmas Day. The biblical story remains our story. Immanuel then is Immanuel now. God was with them then and is with us now.
randolphrichards 
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