BULLETIN INSERT NOTES:
The Date of Christ’s Birth
By Ed Vasicek
In 525 A.D., Dionysius, a Scythian monk, was asked to determine the year of Jesus’ birth. He did the best job he could. He determined that the Roman year 754 was the Christian year “1 A.D.” Although Dionysius’ effort is to be commended, it seems he was off a few years. But don’t go too hard on old Dion—even today we cannot be sure as to when Christ was born.
We do know Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus Caesar, who ruled from 44 B.C. to 14 A.D. We also know He was born shortly before the death of Herod the Great. We now know that Herod died in the spring of 4 B.C., something Dionysius did not know, so Jesus was probably born in early 4 B.C. or late 5 B.C. (Keep in mind that there is no year “zero” – after 1 B.C. comes 1 A.D.)
Figuring out the day of Christ’s birth is even more impossible a task. Since Christians never celebrated Christmas until the fourth century, there are no early records as to the day of Christ’s birth. The authors of the Gospels did not consider such a detail important. What mattered is that Jesus came for a purpose, to offer Himself as the Lamb of God for our sins and then to rise again. The holiday that mattered most—Easter Sunday—was well documented. So the earliest suggestion of a day for Christ’s birth was made by a church leader, Hippolytus (b. 165, d. 235A.D.), who wrote that Jesus was born on December 25th. Since his comments were made 200 years after the birth of Christ—well, that’s a big gap without substantiating documentation. The Eastern Church gravitated toward January 6th as the day of the year not only for Christ’s birth, but also the visit of the Magi (a year later), and the date for the baptism of Jesus (30 years later).
The more probable reason as to why western Christians settled on the December 25th date was a church scheme to discourage the supposedly “Christianized” Romans from celebrating the festival of the “unconquered sun,” a heathen feast celebrating the winter solstice, by replacing it with a Christian holiday. Another competing heathen festival, Saturnalia, began December 17th and lasted for days. That festival was marked by gift giving.
The truth is that we do not know even the time of year in which Christ was born. Since sheep for temple sacrifice were driven through Bethlehem year round, the Scriptures do not offer even a hint as to the time of year.
Of course what really matters is that God the Son became a man. His humanity was miraculously conceived of Mary. (She is rightly called “the mother of Jesus” but should not be called “the mother of God”—God has no mother, but has always been.) Although the early church rightly put the emphasis on Resurrection Sunday (Easter), celebrating our Savior’s birth seems appropriate indeed. It is a man-made holiday, not a God-ordained one. Yet I think it is a super idea, don’t you? The angel host spoke of “great joy,” and the message of God stooping down to deliver us still brings joy to our hearts today.
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ACTUAL SERMON OUTLINE BELOW
Glory to God in the Highest
(Luke 2:1-20)
1. Christmas is a joyous--but hectic--time.
2. A few days before Christmas, 2 men decided to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. A storm came up--a big one that tossed the boat back and forth across the water. Finally the small craft rested upon the shore of a small island. The men hopped out of the sailboat and tried shoving it back into the water. Suddenly, they realized they were being attacked by the island’s primitive natives. Dodging poison-tipped darts and wading in freezing water--and while the storm was still raging-- one man remarked to the other, "It is true that today hasn’t quite gone as we had planned, but this is sure better than Christmas shopping, isn’t it?!"
3. Well, there is plenty of room for humor this Christmas Season. After all, this is the time to offer Merry Gentlemen a rest!
4. Christmas is many things, but the original Christmas, the birth of Jesus, was an event that brought glory to God.
Main Idea: The birth of Jesus Christ should motivate us to praise and worship God, just as the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest."
TS------The events surrounding the birth of Christ reveal some special truths about God.
I. God is A God With A Plan (1-7)
1. When I talk about leadership to the guys, I emphasize that a good leader:
(1) has influence
(2) takes initiative
and (3) has a plan…
2. God is the ultimate leader…
3. God uses the ungodly to His own ends (1)
(1) Casesar Augustus-worshipped as a god
(2) Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)…David’s city
(3)This was all timed, Daniel 9 (crucifixion date after Mar. 30, AD 33)
(4) God had a PLAN….line of David, place, time—all mapped out (cf. Gal. 4:4-5)
(5) History is heading somewhere….seems random
4. Jospeph went to Bethlehem (4)
(1) royal line through two branches…
(2) genetic-Mary; legal Joseph
5. Why didn’t Joseph and Mary wait?
(1) Could have gone earlier or later
(2) Inn filled, but with relatives (distant and near)
(3) Probably answers
--Joseph and Mary had planned to move to Bethlehem anyway; scandal to be expecting out of wedlock, they would not have broadcasted the miraculous conception of Jesus, no one would have believed
---When the Magi came, probably months later, they lived in a HOUSE in Bethlehem
---They probably did not expect the baby to born yet…thought would have time to settle…
(4) God’s plans were different than Joseph & Mary’s
----no matter how godly we are, we cannot perfectly predict God’s direction
6. The nature of "Inns" (Kahns)
(1) Jews were very hospitable; others would have gladly given their rooms
(2) rooms were not much to give up….stone two story buildings with barn "garages" on ground level
(3) discretion probably the issue
7. Note here that Mary gave birth to her "firstborn"
8. Matthew 13: 55-56--Joseph and Mary had 4 boys and several girls later; sarcophagus of Jesus’ brother, James (leader of the Jerusalem church) found recently
--big rift between Protestantism & Cathlicism...
---Mary did not remain a virgin, not sinless, not the mohter of "God" but of Jesus human nature
Application: We are not in the awesome position of Joseph & Mary; but that does NOT mean our lives are insignificant or that God does not have a plan for them; to the contrary---God is concerned about every detail of your life! PRAISE and GLORIFY Him, because He cares for you!
The birth of Jesus Christ should motivate us to praise and worship God, just as the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest."
II. God Thwarts the Shallowness of the Arrogant and Honors the Humble (8-20)
1. Where Jesus was born tells us something about what God values…
2. Outward prestige bears no weight with Him; to make the point, Who comes first to see Jesus? Royalty? Magi? Rabbis? No, shepherds
3. Considered a poor man’s occupation…out in field (year round)
4. An angel appears, makes announcement:
(1) they are scared to death…
(2) good news for all people
(3) Savior
(4) Christ (Messiah)
(5) the Lord—Master/God
5. Heavenly Choir sings praise to God….
6. The Life of Christ should make us praise God….study to grow, side effect, genuine worship…
7. Mary and Joseph probably surprised that anyone would come to see them…sent by God
(1) reaffirmed God’s working in the matter to Joseph; all he had to go on thus far was a dream!!!
(2) an encouragement that God was taking care of them…
(3) Mary would ponder this; she would need these memories….
Application: The Shepherds left, glorifying God because they had been INCLUDED in God’s dealings….They picture US….
The birth of Jesus Christ should motivate us to praise and worship God, just as the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest."
CONCLUSION
1. Brothers & sisters, God in human flesh has come to earth.
2. And what a great God we have; we a great Savior we have!
3. Let’s tell God how much we appreciate His gift of love.
