Therefore ADONAI [the LORD] Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, TLV
When was Jesus born? For roughly 2.5 billion people, Jesus’s birth is about to be celebrated December 25th. A whole industry and our economy are built around Christmas. Gifts. Greeting cards. Lights. Trees. Decorations. Oh, and there are the cookies and candies.
Does God command us to celebrate Yeshua’s “birthday?” Nope.
Why? Perhaps because when Jesus was born, He had already existed. He was and is Immanuel — GOD with us.
Yeshua answered, “Amen, amen I tell you, before Abraham was, I am!” John 8:58, TLV
Then there’s the date of His birth. The history behind that, well … Let’s just say it’s not festival for the redeemed children of the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7). Some scholars believe His birth in Bethlehem was around Passover. Others believe His birth most likely came during the Feast of Sukkot — Feast of Tabernacles in the Fall.
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, TLV)
What we do know is that shepherds would not have their sheep out in the winter — much less watching over them.
At the risk of sounding like a Scrooge, I don’t believe God commanded us to celebrate His one and only Son’s birth on earth. But I don’t think celebrating the wonder of His birth and the love that brought Him here is all wrong. Some of the most beautiful, worshipful music ever was inspired by that event.
Our family does not celebrate the typical “Christmas.” We don’t have a tree or decorations. But we love hearing the story of His arrival on earth — the humility and the frail humanity. The music inspires us. We might drive around looking at the lights. Visiting friends who do celebrate a traditional Christmas is fun. It’s nice to be free to do these things out of respect for the great event, yet with the understanding that not everything respects “the Full Story.”
We also remember His birth in the Fall during the Feast of Tabernacles and are thankful Jesus came to earth to atone for our sins during Yom Kippur and remember that He was the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world (John 1:29) during Passover. We’re grateful that He came, and we’re grateful He came to sacrifice Himself on our behalf.
Worth Celebrating
That’s something worth celebrating every day, but especially those special days of God’s appointed times (Leviticus 23). The purity of the Full Story — the wonder of sharing how the Prince of Peace humbled Himself to be born of a young maiden among animals in a stable.
The Story continues with His ministry, His miracles, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His return to His Father. Keeping that purity is easier without all the trappings and brings us all on the same level. Sinners needing a Savior — rich or poor.
So, I leave you with my favorite Christmas Carol, O Come, O Come Immanuel, sung by a favorite worshipper, Joshua Aaron. Keep the Full Story in Christmas, my friends. And for those who celebrate the Festival of Dedication, Chanukkah Semeach!
