CHRISTMAS
by Greg Williamson (c) 2010
The Birth of Jesus
| The Birth of Jesus
"Immanuel: God with Us" - Birth Narratives - Historical Events - Genealogies - Magi/Wise Men
Immanuel: God with Us
Two missionaries were captured and imprisoned in the same cell but forbidden to speak to each other.
Christmas came.
One of the missionaries, shivering and silent, sat on the floor covered with hay. As he was playing with bits of hay around him, he thought that he discovered a silent way of communicating with his friend. He spelled out the word Immanuel.
As soon as his friend saw the word, immediately he lit up with joy. They were captives, but they both believed that God was with them and that ultimate triumph would be theirs. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
BackToTop
BIRTH NARRATIVES
The events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ are recorded in the first two chapters of the NT gospels written by Matthew and Luke, the former being a specially chosen disciple ("apostle") of Jesus, the latter a physician, historian, and companion of the apostle Paul. It appears that each writer used different sources, with "Matthew concentrating more on Joseph's side of the story, while Luke shows an intimate knowledge of Mary's experiences which it is generally agreed could only have been derived, directly or indirectly, from Mary herself." [ref]
Jesus entered into this world under some very difficult circumstances: "a miraculous but nevertheless embarrassing conception, an earthly father who was considering a quiet divorce, an outraged king resorting to infanticide, an early childhood in a strange culture, and a return to a homeland that remained hostile and dangerous." [ref] And that was just the beginning! We can draw much comfort from the fact that despite the tremendous hardships associated with life in this world, Jesus gladly entered into it to save us. That is what Christmas is really all about. And that is the message we, no less than Jesus' first followers, are commanded to take to everyone everywhere.
The incarnation is in itself an unfathomable mystery, but it makes sense of everything else that the New Testament contains.
- J. I. Packer [ref]
Matthew 1 (NASB) + Commentary
If Joseph had lacked faith to trust God or humility to perceive the holiness of his spouse, he could have disbelieved in the miraculous origin of her Son as easily as any modern man; and any modern man who believes in God can accept the miracle as easily as Joseph did.
- C. S. LEWIS [ref]
Luke 1 (NASB) + Commentary
BackToTop
HISTORICAL EVENTS
While some critics prefer to speak of the birth narratives as being non- or, at best, semi-historical, there are several arguments against this:
-
To view the birth narratives as being comprised of anything other than real, historical events is 1) to divorce them from the remainder of the gospels of which they are an indispensable part (steeped as they are in actual historical events), and 2) to ignore certain key facts that are shared by both evangelists (the betrothed couple Mary and Joseph, the virginal conception, etc.) despite the fact that the two accounts otherwise have less rather than more in common. [ref]
-
The miraculous events surrounding Jesus' birth should be no more difficult to accept than the many and various other miracles recorded in Scripture in general and the NT gospels in particular. [ref] While some would argue that beginning with a presupposition against anything miraculous is the only sure way to discover the truth, in actuality such a presupposition renders a person incapable of recognizing God's truth. While it is impossible to set aside all of one's presuppositions (nor should we try), the fact that the Bible is a unique type of literature - that is, revealed truth from Almighty God - demands that we approach it in a somewhat unique way. While that certainly does not mean we are to check our brains at the door before reading the Bible, it does call for an openness toward things miraculous rather than an automatic rejection of them. [ref]
-
As with the gospels, the birth narratives include details that would have been discarded if the narratives were intended (by the authors and/or the early Church) as easily digestible stories marketed for mass consumption. While the NT writers were certainly not disinterested observers, this fact alone in no way renders them incapable of producing dependable facts. [ref] In short, the birth narratives of Jesus represent "material of historical substance that has been theologically interpreted so as to bring out its greater significance." [ref] Hence the gospel writers/evangelists should be thought of as both theologians and historians, rather than one or the other. [ref]
BackToTop
GENEALOGIES
Matthew begins his gospel with "the record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1), while Luke places his genealogy after Jesus' baptism (Luke 3:23-38). Matthew presents Jesus' genealogy more from the perspective of Joseph, his aim being "to show Jesus as a true Israelite, and in particular of Davidic descent." [ref] Luke's genealogy is more from Mary's perspective, his purpose being "to show that Jesus is truly a human being." [ref] While Matthew wrote for a Jewish audience and Luke a Gentile one, in both cases their primary purposes were theological and Christological. Rather than exhaustive lists, they sought to "highlight some aspects of his heritage which would best illuminate for their respective audiences Jesus' significance and nature." [ref]
BackToTop
MAGI / WISE MEN
Men appearing in Matthew 2:1–12 who, following a star, come to Jerusalem and then Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn "king of the Jews." While Matthew tells nothing of their personal identity or positions and little of their nationalities, the account forms an appropriate introduction to his Gospel by drawing attention to the true identity of Jesus and by foreshadowing the homage paid by the Gentiles to Jesus throughout that Gospel.
The Role and Position in the Ancient World.
Extrabiblical evidence offers various clues that shed light on the place of origin and positions held by the "wise men" of Matthew 2. The historian Herodotus mentions "magi" as a priestly caste of Media, or Persia, and, as the religion in Persia at the time was Zoroastrinism, Herodotus' magi were probably Zoroastrian priests. Herodotus, together with Plutarch and Strabo, suggests that magi were partly responsible for ritual and cultic life (supervising sacrifices and prayers) and partly responsible as royal advisers to the courts of the East. Believing the affairs of history were reflected in the movements of the stars and other phenomena, Herodotus suggests the rulers of the East commonly utilized the magi's knowledge of astrology and dream interpretation to determine affairs of state. The magi were therefore concerned with what the movement of the stars (as sign and portents) might signify for the future affairs of history. Such an interest could account not only fort the wise men's association with the star in Matthew 2, but also their conclusion, shared with Herod, that the nova's appearance signified the birth of a new ruler of great importance (2:2). Several centuries before Christ a similar correlation was noted between a stellar phenomenon and the birth of Alexander the Great.
Identity in Matthew's Gospel.
Matthew's infancy narrative contains little information concerning the identity of the magi. Matthew states only that the wise men were "from the East" (Matthew 2:1, 2), an ambiguous point of origin that left room for many subsequent hypotheses. Some church fathers proposed Arabia on the basis of where the gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Matthew 2:11) were likely to have originated. Others suggested Chaldea or Media/Persia, and, although certainty is impossible, Persia did certainly have a caste of priests (magi) which would fit the description in Matthew.
Interestingly, Matthew does not tell how many magi came to honor the infant Jesus. The Eastern church held that there were 12 travelers, although this may simply derive from the biblical penchant for that number (12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples). The Western church settled on 3 wise men, based presumably on the 3 gifts brought in homage. The exact number is not known.
A similar silence exists in Matthew regarding the names of the wise men. The names Gaspar, Melchior (Melkon), and Balthasar are legendary and do not derive from Matthew. Similarly, the later tradition that Gaspar was a king of India, Melchoir a king of Persia, and Balthasar a king of Arabia has no basis in fact.
Importance for Matthew's Gospel.
The visit of the wise men plays a significant role in introducing Matthew's Gospel. From the beginning it reveals the true identity of the infant as the long-expected and prophesied royal Messiah of Israel. This is brought out first in the appearance of the "star," which, as can be noted from Numbers 24:17 ("a star shall come forth out of Jacob, a scepter shall arise out of Israel"), carried clear messianic connotations (see also Isaiah 60:3). Second, the interchange between the magi, Herod, and the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 2:2–6) reveals that Jesus is the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy of Micah 5:2, the ruler of Israel coming from the small village of Bethlehem. Third, the offering of the gifts (Matthew 2:11) may also echo the possible messianic promises of Psalms 68:29 and Psalms 72:10.
In addition to confirming that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the account of the magis' visit, as part of the introduction to Matthew's Gospel, introduces several prominent themes which reappear in subsequent chapters. First, the account establishes that Jesus' messiahship has bearing not only on the Jews, but on the gentile world (symbolized in the "wise men from the East"). The bowing homage of these gentile astrologers foreshadows the Great Commission directed to bring salvation to "all nations" (Matthew 28:19; see also Matthew 8:11, 12; 12:21). A second theme established in the account which surfaces later is the surprising gentile faith which is lacking among Jesus' own people. Even as the foreign magi honor the infant Messiah, Herod and possibly the chief priests and scribes of the people plot the baby's death (Matthew 2:3–6, 16). So also elsewhere in the gospel, Gentiles offer faith in Jesus which often contrasts markedly with the faith withheld by their Jewish counterparts (see Matthew 8:5–13; 15:21–28; 27:19, 54).
David C. Carlson
(The above article is taken verbatim from the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible.)
BackToTop |
Christmas
| Christmas
"Christmas Spells Peace" - The Holiday - The Date: December 25 - Dissenters - Defenders
Christmas Spells Peace
Amid the horrors of World War I, there occurred a unique truce when for a few hours, enemies behaved like brothers.
Christmas Eve in 1914 was all quiet on France's Western Front, from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps. Trenches came within 50 miles of Paris. The war was only five months old, and approximately 800,000 men had been wounded or killed. Every soldier wondered whether or not Christmas Day would bring another round of fighting and killing. But something happened: British soldiers raised "Merry Christmas" signs above the trenches, and soon carols were heard from German and British trenches alike.
Christmas dawned with unarmed soldiers leaving their trenches, though officers of both sides tried unsuccessfully to stop their troops from meeting the enemy in the middle of no-man's land for songs and conversation. Exchanging small gifts, they passed Christmas Day peacefully along miles of the front. At one spot, the British played soccer with the Germans, who won 3-2.
In some places, the spontaneous truce continued the next day as neither side was willing to fire the first shot. Finally, the war resumed when fresh troops arrived, and the high command of both armies ordered that further "informal understanding" with the enemy would be punishable as treason. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
BackToTop
The Holiday
Christmas (literally "Christ's mass"" or "mass on Christ's day") is "a Christian festival celebrated on December 25, commemorating the birth of Jesus," [ref] and "usually observed as a legal holiday." [ref] (The Ethiopian Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, and the Armenian church celebrates it on January 6. [ref]) As attested to by the increasing numbers of merchants who prefer the word "holiday" in an effort to avoid offending non-Christian patrons, Christmas is becoming more of a secular family holiday in which the greatest emphasis is placed on holiday parties, the exchanging of gifts, and Santa Claus. [ref] And in light of the misunderstanding of the separation of church and state, there is also quite a bit of confusion regarding exactly which Christmas-related practices are and are not permitted at work, in the public school system, etc. (For some good resources, please see here and here.)
BackToTop
The Date: December 25
Since the Bible does not give the exact date of Jesus' birth, at first it was celebrated on different dates by different Christian groups. "Christmas came in during the fourth century by a natural development of the idea of a church year, as a sort of chronological creed of the people." [ref] The church calendar, commissioned by Pope Julius I (reigned 337-352), included December 25 as the official date for Christmas. [ref] The theory is that this particular date was chosen in an effort to offer a Christian alternative to "the pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia and the winter solstice," with the church eventually reinterpreting "many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice" [ref] [ref] - in general a practice made popular by Constantine the Great (the first "Christian" emperor of Rome, ruled 306-337). [ref]
These pagan "Roman festivals ... were held in the latter part of December in commemoration of the golden age of liberty and equality, and in honor of the sun, who in the winter solstice is, as it were, born anew and begins his conquering march. This phenomenon in nature was regarded as an appropriate symbol of the appearance of the Sun of Righteousness dispelling the long night of sin and error." [ref] ("25 December was the date of a Roman pagan festival inaugurated in 274 as the birthday of the unconquered sun which at the winter solstice begins again to show an increase in light. Sometime before 336 the Church in Rome, unable to stamp out this pagan festival, spiritualized it as the Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness." [ref]) As Christmas spread throughout Europe, "many customs of the pagan winter festivals" eventually became part of the Christmas celebration, including "holly, mistletoe, the Christmas tree, and log fires." [ref] At the same time, Christians added new traditions of their own, including the nativity crib (credited to Francis of Assisi in 1223 [ref]) and Christmas carols. [ref]
Christmas began in the heart of God.
It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.
-- Anonymous [ref]
BackToTop
Dissenters
A minority of Christian leaders down through the centuries have opposed the celebration of Christmas, usually for one or more of three main reasons: 1) its close association with "ecclesiastical authority" (besides Christmas being one of many church festivals, an alternative explanation for the date of December 25 is that it falls nine months after March 25, the date assigned to Mary's conception by the Roman Catholic Church [ref] [ref]), 2) the "drinking, partying, and immorality" that inevitably accompanies the Christmas season, and 3) its association with pagan practices and customs, [ref] particularly since the early Church "was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices." [ref] John Calvin, John Knox, the English and American Puritans, and many Presbyterians have all refused to celebrate Christmas [ref] - choosing instead to emphasize a strict keeping of the Lord's Day (Sunday). While their reasoning is certainly not without merit, neither is it airtight, as witnessed by the following excerpt from Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church:
In the Christmas festival, which from the fourth century spread from Rome over the entire church, the holy commemoration of the birth of the Redeemer is associated - to this day, even in Protestant lands - with the wanton merriments of the pagan Saturnalia. And even in the celebration of Sunday, as it was introduced by Constantine, and still continues on the whole continent of Europe, the cultus of the old sun-god Apollo mingles, with the remembrance of the resurrection of Christ; and the widespread profanation of the Lord’s Day, especially on the continent of Europe, demonstrates the great influence which heathenism still exerts upon Roman and Greek Catholic, and even upon Protestant, Christendom. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
BackToTop
Defenders
Most Christians have defended Christmas, with many emphasizing "its deeper truth expressed in the doctrine of the incarnation." [ref] As Christianity has expanded "into the cultures of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, many new customs and ideas" have been incorporated into the Christmas celebration. [ref] In general it behooves every Christian to closely examine the how's and why's of any/all traditions we choose to maintain. That said, it is also true that if/when done for the glory of God, a given practice common among Christians but not directly authorized by Scripture need not be automatically rejected. [ref]
How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts!
O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.
-- Benjamin Franklin [ref]
BackToTop |
Christmas Traditions
| Christmas Traditions
"Some Christmas Reminders" - Background - Christmas Tree - Santa Claus - Christmas Gifts - Carols - Christmas Cards - Midnight Church Service - Advent Wreath & Calendar - Candy Cane
Some Christmas Reminders
May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him who said, "Be of good cheer."
May the Christmas bell remind you of the glorious proclamation of His birth.
May the Christmas carols remind you of the song the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest."
May the Christmas season remind you in every way of Jesus Christ your King. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
BackToTop
Background
One source provides the following helpful general information:
During the period dating from the earliest general celebrations of Christmas, numerous customs have been introduced into the event. Originally, it appears that a special religious ceremony marked the occasion. Gradually a number of the prevailing practices of the nations into which Christianity came were assimilated and were combined with the religious ceremonies surrounding Christmas. The assimilation of such practices generally represented efforts by Christians to transform or absorb otherwise pagan customs.
The Feast of Saturnalia in early Rome, for example, was celebrated for seven days from the 17th to the 24th of December and was marked by a spirit of merriment, gift-giving to children, and other forms of entertainment. Gradually, early Christians replaced the pagan feast with the celebration of Christmas; but many of the traditions of this observance were assimilated and remain to this day a part of the observance of Christmas. Other nations - such as the Scandinavians, Germans, French, and English - have left their mark on the observance as well. Some groups refrain from celebrating Christmas on the grounds that the introduction of pagan practices has destroyed the original significance of the occasion. They cite the use of Christmas trees and the yule log, among other things, as examples of the paganization of Christmas. Yet many Christians contend that such practices no longer bear pagan connotations, and believe that the observance of Christmas provides an opportunity for worship and witness bearing. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
BackToTop
Christmas Tree
The evergreen tree has been associated with (eternal) life since ancient times. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe came the custom of decorating one's house and barn with evergreens, including "placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house during the midwinter holidays." [ref] The modern Christmas tree, however, originated in Europe as the "paradise tree" (a fir tree hung with apples) in a popular medieval play.
The Germans set up a paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the host, the Christian sign of redemption); in a later tradition the wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes. Candles, symbolic of Christ, were often added. In the same room was the "Christmas pyramid," a triangular construction of wood that had shelves to hold Christmas figurines and was decorated with evergreens, candles, and a star. By the 16th century the Christmas pyramid and the paradise tree had merged, becoming the Christmas tree. [ref] (quoted verbatim)
By the 19th century the Christmas tree had become a permanent and deep-rooted tradition in Germany. In the middle of that same century, it was made popular in England by Queen Victoria's German-born husband, Prince Albert. [ref] The Christmas tree became a permanent fixture throughout Europe, as well as China and Japan (where it was introduced by Christian missionaries). Christmas tree ornaments made of blown-glass were sold in England and the U.S. as early as the 1870s. Additional materials (tinsel, lead, paper, etc.) were used for the same purpose in Germany and Bohemia. By 1890 strings of electric lights had also become available. [ref]
God does not intend for religion to be only meditation and introspection. He also wants us to celebrate. Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin is essential, of course. But this should be balanced by celebrating who God is and what he has done for his people. -- The Handbook of Bible Application [ref]
BackToTop
Santa Claus
In popular lore, Santa Claus is "a plump white-bearded and red-suited old man in modern folklore who delivers presents to good children at Christmastime." [ref] Santa is a symbolic character loosely based on an actual person: [ref]
Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, in Turkey, in the fourth century, whose "reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy." His reputation spread and he became well-known throughout medieval Europe. "He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece; of charitable fraternities and guilds; of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers; and of such cities as Fribourg, in Switzerland, and Moscow. Thousands of European churches were dedicated to him ..." (Santa Claus is the patron saint of pawnbrokers. Hmm, I suppose that makes good sense in light of all those unwanted Christmas gifts!)
The Protestant Reformation brought the end of Nicholos worship to all Protestant countries except Holland, whose 17th century colonists imported Sinterklaas into what is present day New York City. A few "old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents," the poem A Visit from Saint Nicholos (1822), cartoon images beginning in 1863, and Coca-Cola's 1931 Santa Claus ads - all combined to form our present day Santa Claus.
Despite the fact that his name, attire ("a version of the traditional dress of bishop"), and habit of "querying children about their past behaviour" all attest to his Christian roots, for the most part Santa Claus is seen as a secular figure. It is interesting to note that while we here in the U.S. are accustomed to seeing him depicted in his full head-to-toe ensemble, "[i]n Australia, where people attend open-air concerts of Christmas carols and have their Christmas dinner on the beach, Santa Claus wears red swimming trunks as well as a white beard."
There is actually an evangelistic approach that uses Santa Claus as a bridge to the Gospel. This in light of the fact that Santa and God share certain key attributes. For example, Santa is purported to be:
-
All-knowing (omniscient): He knows who's been naughty or nice (with a little help from Mom and Dad).
-
All-powerful (omnipotent): He makes gifts for everyone around the world (with a little help from Visa and MasterCard).
-
Everywhere-present (omnipresent): He delivers all those gifts in a single night (with a little help from UPS and FedEx).
BackToTop
Christmas Gifts
The custom of exchanging gifts at Christmas is "possibly related to pre-Christian celebrations at the close of the year." [ref] "Toward the end of the 18th century the practice of giving gifts to family members became well established. Theologically, the feast day [Christmas] reminded Christians of God's gift of Jesus to humankind even as the coming of the Wise Men, or Magi, to Bethlehem suggested that Christmas was somehow related to giving gifts. The practice of giving gifts, which goes back to the 15th century, contributed to the view that Christmas was a secular holiday focused on family and friends." [ref]
BackToTop
Carols
A carol is "a popular song or ballad of religious joy." [ref] The time period of 1350 - 1550 is considered "the golden age of the English carol." The Protestant Reformation, however, put a major damper on carols until a carol revival which began in the 18th century. [ref]
BackToTop
Christmas Cards
The first Christmas greeting card was created in England in 1843, by an illustrator named John Horsley. It depicted "three generations of an English family celebrating Christmas and carried the message, 'A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.'" [ref] By three decades later, it had become popular in the U.S., thanks in large part to the efforts of a Boston printer named Louis Prang, who is considered "the father of the American Christmas card." [ref]
BackToTop
Midnight Church Service
The Christmas Eve midnight service is derived from the Western practice of celebrating three masses - late at night, early dawn, and morning. [ref] These, in turn, symbolize "the threefold birth of Christ, eternally in the bosom of the Father, from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and mystically in the soul of the faithful." [ref]
BackToTop
Advent Wreath and Calendar
"The Advent wreath - made of fir branches, with four candles denoting the four Sundays of the Advent season - ... [which] began in the 19th century but had roots in the 16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December 1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four. An analogous custom is the Advent calendar, which provides 24 openings, one to be opened each day beginning December 1. According to tradition, the calendar was created in the 19th century by a Munich housewife who tired of having to answer endlessly when Christmas would come. The first commercial calendars were printed in Germany in 1851." [ref]
BackToTop
Candy Cane
It is said that the candy cane was developed by a Christian candy maker in Indiana who wanted each piece to tell the story of Christmas:
-
Hardness = the solid rock of the Christian faith.
-
White = Christ's sinlessness.
-
Red stripes = the bloody wounds suffered by Jesus during his flogging.
-
Shape = a shepherd's staff, to remind us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. When turned upside down, it forms a "J" - for Jesus. [ref] (paraphrased)
BackToTop |
|
|