“Examining Christmas Traditions”
(A Wednesday Night Bible Study)
INTRODUCTION: TONIGHT, I want us to informally take a closer look at just a few of the Christmas traditions.
I. WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?
A. The Year
Throughout history, calendars have been dated according to important historical events. Our calendar is dated in relation to the birth of Jesus. “B.C.” = ‘Before Christ’. “A.D.” = “Anno Domini’ = ‘in the year of our Lord’.
How did they come up with this date? Is this 2003 years after the birth of Jesus?
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar came up with the “Julian Calendar”, with 12 months and 365 days. It was based on the founding of the city of Rome.
In 1582 AD, it was revised by Pope Gregory, because it had fallen behind by 10 days. He declared October 5th to be October 15th and arranged for Leap Years. He based the new calendar on the date of the birth of Christ.
Our current calendar is called the “Gregorian Calendar”. It’s pretty accurate, but it’s off by 26 seconds each year. HOWEVER, it will take 3,323 years to build up a single day. SO … in the year 3,905 A.D., an extra day will have to be added to the calendar!
Our calendar is based on the birth of Jesus. HOWEVER, if you look in your Bible, the birth of Jesus is dated at 4 or 5 B.C. Pope Gregory was in error by 4-5 years.
How do we know this? We look to history. Jesus was born when Herod was King. He reigned for 37 years. Josephus (a Jewish historian) says that there was a lunar eclipse shortly before Herod’s death. History tells us that Herod died 7 days before the eclipse. The eclipse is dated in March of 4 B.C.
Mary & Joseph’s flight into Egypt occurred BEFORE the death of Herod. The Bible tells us that Herod died while they were in Egypt – Matthew 2:14-15, 19-20. Mary had to wait 40 days after the birth of Jesus before she could present Jesus before the Lord – Luke 2:22, Leviticus 12:2-8. SO, they couldn’t have traveled to Egypt until after 40 days after the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:2 – all turn
“first” - Quirinius was Governor of Syria TWICE. The FIRST time was around 4 B.C. This puts the birth of Jesus around that time … 4-5 B.C.
B. The Date
We celebrate Christmas on December 25th. WHY?
In 180 A.D., Clement of Alexandria wrote that the birth of Jesus was thought to be on April 21 … or April 22 … or May 20 … depending on who you asked. Most believed that it was around the Passover time. This is when the shepherds would be out in their fields … not in the winter (December).
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas on January 6th for centuries. Since the FIRST Adam was “born” on the 6th day of creation … and Jesus is the SECOND Adam … they celebrated the birth of Jesus on January 6th. The Armenian Church still celebrates Christmas on January 6th..
WHY DECEMBER 25th?
In the 4th Century, the Western Church set the date as December 25th. There was a pagan holiday on that date, and so to diminish and obscure the importance of the pagan holiday, they decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus on that date.
NOTE: If God would have wanted us to know the exact date … if it was that important … He would have told us. The IMPORTANT thing is … to celebrate the birth of Jesus … no matter what date you choose.
II. WHAT ABOUT THE INN?
A. WHAT WAS AN INN?
See Luke 2:7
The Inn in those days was called a “Caravansary”. There were various types of Caravansaries. Some were a camp of tents. Some were stone buildings, built like a fort. They provided unfurnished, bare rooms. The guests were expected to provide their own bedding, cooking utensils, food, etc. There were stables for the animals.
People usually stayed in homes, which were opened up to travelers, friends, and guests. During the time of the taxation, it was crowded around Bethlehem, and many homes were filled and there was no room. Mary & Joseph were in a desperate situation, with Mary about to give birth.
The Caravansaries were usually a rough place … like a truck stop. It was the least desirable place to stay. Sometimes they were frequented by prostitutes … little privacy. It wasn’t the best place to have a baby … with people gawking and curiously looking in during this special time. I’m glad it was full!
B. WHAT ABOUT THE INN-KEEPER?
Our Christmas plays always picture an evil Inn-keeper … BUT … there is no mention on one here. It is just assumed. Sometimes there was an Inn-keeper, and sometimes there wasn’t – see Luke 10:33-35.
They could sell food, firewood, and necessities to the travelers. They were often corrupt, and there would often be a dispute when they left about the charge for their stay.
Some people believe that Rahab the Harlot was an Inn-keeper – Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25.
C. WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?
Jesus was born in a stable, not in a manger. He was in a manger when the shepherds came to worship Him – Luke 2:16. A “manger” is a feeding trough.
Stables were in the Inns … and often in caves. Mary & Joseph may have gone to a shepherd’s cave. The shepherds were off in the fields with their sheep, and the cave stables would have been empty, clean, and available – Luke 2:8.
III. WHO WERE THE WISE MEN?
A. What Is A “Wise Man”?
The Wise Men were called “Magi”. They were probably Persian or Chaldean. They were a priestly class who interpreted dreams, soothsayers, astronomers, fortune-tellers & astrologers. They were non-Jewish unbelievers in Jehovah God.
Daniel, when taken into captivity into Babylon, was trained as a “Wise Man” – Daniel 1:17-20. ONLY … his wisdom came from God. Daniel’s teaching and influence may have had an impact on these Magi 600 years later.
The Magi see something in the stars. God reveals to them that the star will lead them to the Messiah, the “King of the Jews” – Matthew 2:1-2. They were “pagans” … BUT … so was Abraham when God called him out from Ur of the Chaldeans.
B. How Many Were There?
We don’t know for sure … BUT … there was more than one … Wise “MEN”. TRADITION names 3 … Caspar, Melchoir, Balthazar. There is no actual basis for this. TRADITION says “3” because of the 3 gifts.
C. Were They Kings?
We sing the song, “We three Kings from Orient are.” Wise Men weren’t Kings … but they brought expensive gifts … to give to the “King of the Jews”.
D. When Did They Come?
They probably arrived a month or two after the birth of Jesus. Matthew 2:8,11. Jesus is called a “young child”, and they lived in a “house”. After the birth of Jesus, they probably went into Bethlehem, after the crowds had left, and found a family to take them into their home.
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Examining Christmas Traditions”
I. WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?
A. The Year – Calendars are based on important historical events.
- B.C. = “Before Christ” … A.D. = “Anno Domini” = ‘in the year of our Lord’
- Pope Gregory changed the Julian Calendar in 1582 A.D., based on the birth of Jesus.
- BUT … Jesus was born in 4-5 B.C.
- Jesus was born before King Herod died –
Matthew 2:14-15,19-20
- Mary couldn’t travel to Egypt for 40 days after the birth of Jesus – Luke 2:22, Leviticus 12:2-8
- Luke 2:2 – Quirinius was governor TWICE.
B. The Date – Why December 25th?
- In 180 AD it was thought to be April 12 or 22, May 20.
- The Armenian Church celebrates on January 6th.
- December 25th was set in the 4th Century to counteract a pagan holiday on that date.
II. WHAT ABOUT THE INN?
A. What Was An Inn? – Luke 2:7 – A “Caravansary”.
- Only bare, empty rooms were provided … with stables.
- They were not a desirable place to stay.
B. What About The Inn-keeper? None is mentioned.
- Sometimes there was an Inn-keeper – Luke 10:33-35
- Inn-keepers were often corrupt.
- Rahab the Harlot may have been an Inn-keeper – Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25
C. Where Was Jesus Born? – Luke 2:16
- Stables were often in caves; shepherd cave-stables were empty – Luke 2:8
III. WHO WERE THE WISE MEN?
A. What Is A “Wise Man”? ‘Magi’ – soothsayers, astronomers, fortune-tellers, astrologers … “pagans”.
- Daniel was trained as a “Wise Man” – Daniel 1:17-20
- God revealed a star to lead them to Jesus – Matthew 2:1-2
B. How Many Were There? More than one!
C. Were They Kings? No.
D. When Did They Come? Matthew 1:8,11 – They were in a “house”.
IV. WHAT DOES “Gloria, in excelsis Deo” MEAN? ‘Glory to God on high’.
