When was Jesus Born? Does it Matter?

December 25th is on its way, and the celebration of Jesus' birthday is fast approaching.

In light of this, last night I was asked if Jesus' birthday was actually December 25th, and it prompted some thought. Was it? And does it even matter if it was or if it wasn't?

It most likely is not. No one knows when Jesus' was born for certain. New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg writes,

"Christians in the Western part of the Roman empire began to celebrate 'Christmas' on December 25, a holiday for worshiping Sol Invictus ('the unconquerable sun'...); in the East, on January 6. Both dates also coincided at times, in the ancient calendars with the winter solstice. So it is doubtful if these dates reflect any information about the actual day on which Jesus was born. Some historians point to the fact that shepherds would have watched their flocks at night (Luke 2:8) primarily in the springtime when most lambs were born, so perhaps Jesus was born in the spring. Still, we simply have no way of being sure." (Jesus and the Gospels, 188)

From the sounds of it, Jesus was probably born in the spring and in the evening, which means a couple things:

1. We most likely not only got the day wrong, but the entire season messed up.
2. All you weird people out there that open presents on Christmas Eve have ruined the fun of waking up Christmas morning, but you do get props for probably being more biblical ;)

What about that darn pagan holiday? Certain Christians get concerned about celebrating the holiday because the current day commemorated was a day that was dedicated to the worship of a false god.

Really this is nothing to get worked up about. As Paul, one of the first Christian missionaries showed, since the day that you engage in publish worship on isn't that big of a deal, the day that one celebrates Jesus' birth on shouldn't be either. Days in themselves aren't special.

The real problem isn't the fact that an idol was worshiped at some point in the past on December 25th, but that for some Christmas Day (and maybe Easter) is the only day that one gives any sort of recognition to the person of Jesus Christ. Paul's point is that every single day is about celebrating the gift of God's Son to a sinful world in the person of Jesus Christ.

It doesn't matter when Jesus' birthday was. Just enjoy the celebration, the presents and hot cider, and remember to point to the historical reality of the incarnate Son of God and Savior of the world being born. Immanuel--God with us--actually entered into human history. The Creator of the world came into the world to save sinners. God is not distant. God came as man to dwell with man.

This historical truth is what is worth heralding every day, and celebrating the wonder of the Incarnation on one particular cold day in December is just fine. Even if we humans got it wrong.

The central matter is not so much putting Christ back into Christmas, as conservative talk show hosts have demanded, but putting Jesus in his central place every single day--as the only object of worship in your heart.