Is Christmas a Christian Holyday?

Is Christmas a Christian Holyday?

That is an interesting question - all over the world people now celebrate Christmas. “Merry Christmas!” for many centuries we have all heard these two words cheerily being said each December by countless millions of people, many of whom do not even believe in Jesus Christ much less know Him. Today the world is again about to experience another "Holiday Season,” when the name "Christmas" will again take center stage for a few weeks. Amidst the crass commercialism of Christmas, a few familiar carols and some Christmas cards do try to herald the glad tidings of the baby Jesus born to be the Savior of mankind; even non-Christian families give gifts to one another. For many people, “the Christmas holidays” is their favorite time of year. You have heard the familiar Christmas story "“It’s about 2000 years ago, the evening of December 25. Mary rides into Bethlehem with Joseph leading her on a donkey, urgently needing a place to deliver her baby. Although it’s an emergency, all the innkeepers refuse to help and simply turn them away. So they have to deliver baby Jesus (Yeshua) in a stable and wrap Him with swaddling clothes. Then angels talk and sing to the shepherds. Afterwards, they all come together with three kings riding on their three camels into a stable with other farm animals to worship the quiet, newborn baby, Jesus.” Did it really happen like this? Was Jesus really born on December 25th? The quick answers are No, No.

In Matthew 2:1 we do see that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king. Bethlehem is only about 4 miles from Jerusalem and the name Bethlehem comes from two words bayith, meaning: "house"; and lechem, meaning: "bread." Jesus was born in the "house of bread." What do we call a house of bread? A bakery! This is interesting in light of the fact that Jesus said in John 6:35: "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." The bread of life was born in a bakery! Jesus, the "bread of life," offers spiritual food that will completely satisfy our hunger. It doesn't rain in the desert. But in Bethlehem, just a mile away, they may get 28 inches a year, and it all comes in about 12 weeks; 6 weeks in the early rains, a little in between, and 6 weeks in the later rains. The fertile mountain valleys and hillsides that received adequate rainfall provided valuable cropland for farmers, while the wilderness nearby provided pastures for the shepherds' flock.

The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 ed. says this: "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church. It was not instituted by Christ or the Apostles, or by Bible authority. It was picked up after-ward from paganism." Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. During the centuries immediately following Jesus' life, Church leaders made absolutely no effort to correctly date the birth of Jesus. The ancient church did not celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth at all, choosing instead to focus on His death and resurrection and they continued to focus on the Lord's Feast days. But by the early fourth century, Roman Catholic Church leaders picked this date in order to compete with several pagan holidays and a well known Jewish holiday. They wanted a religious alternative to rival the Jewish Chanukah and the popular pagan solstice celebrations - so, they chose December 25th as the date of Jesus' birth and held the first recorded Feast of the Nativity in Rome in A.D. 336.

A major problem with any birth date for Jesus in December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be “abiding in the field” at this cold, rainy time of year when the fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep their flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. In late September, the time of the annual Feast of Tabernacles, is when most travel commonly occurred. In Luke 2:1 it says that when Mary was just about to give birth to Jesus, she and Joseph traveled to from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles) to fulfill their obligation to be counted in a Roman census. People (especially pregnant people) did not travel in the Winter because it would have been much too hard. Rather, most people traveled in the Fall, when the harvests were in, and they could avoid the heat of Summer and the cold of Winter. And at that time of year the grain, and some fruit, were ripe, and travelers were legally allowed to eat some of the “gleanings” as they passed by (Lev. 23:22). I believe that our Savior was really born in a sukkah. Many would have been erected during Sukkot and any observant Jew keen on his history may also point out that mangers as food storage were commonly seen inside most sukkas that were erected during the feast of Sukkot! If Yeshua (Matthew 1:21 = "Salvation") was actually born in a sukkah, this would have been very humbling for a young Jewish girl to give birth to her very first child in such a public setting with no privacy. At the time of Sukkot - Passover lambs would have been raised in the fields of the city of the shepherd David.

There is a Sukkot liturgy recorded in Jewish writings that was written well before Jesus' time that says, "Glory to G-d in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill." The Angels said exactly that to the Shepherds: In Luke 2:14 we read: "Glory to G-d in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Why did the angels say the Sukkot liturgy the night of Jesus' birth? I believe it was because Jesus was just born on Sukkot. When the shepherds heard the angels in the fields - it is highly probable that HaShem sent His mighty archangel Michael, to announce the good news and to lead the heavenly host in their praises of His newborn Son, because this occasion was later commemorated by the early church as Michaelmas (‘Michael sent’) exactly on September 29, the same as the date of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. At Jesus birth, ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt (literally tabernacled) among us’ (John 1:14). If this is true, the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ, would have taken place in late December (Chanukah) of the previous year. Our Christmas celebration could then be recognized as an honored observation of the incarnation of ‘the Word made flesh’ (John 1:14).” Thus when we observe Christmas (i.e., ‘Christ sent’), we are actually celebrating His miraculous conception, the time when the Father first sent His only begotten Son into the world, in the virgin’s womb. This darkest time of the year—the time of the pagan Saturnalia, and the time when the sun (the physical ‘light of the world’) is at its greatest distance from the Holy Land—what a perfect time for HaShem to begin to send His spiritual ‘light of the world’ into the world as the ‘Savior, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:11)”

Those who have studied the Torah have understood a far deeper and more interesting mystical reason as to why the birth of the Jesus the Mashiach was assigned to December 25. The Jewish (Biblical) calendar was in use by the whole world for most of the world's existence. In 153 BCE, the Romans who spoke and wrote in Latin, reordered the calendar but kept some of the names that provided a hint as to its earlier origins. The Torah originally used numbers for the names of the months rather than actual names. The names in the current Jewish calendar were taken from Babylon by Chazal to provide the Jews with a remembrance of our exile. What is the meaning of December? In Latin, decem means ten. December was the tenth month of the year. December 25 can now be understood as the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month. In fact, this is the terminology of the Torah. Now if we switch our brains from the Roman calendar to the Jewish calendar, we can relate to the fact that the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month is actually Chanukah ("dedication"), which began on the twenty-fifth day and ended in the tenth month (Kislev 25 through Tevet 1 & 2).

The denominational churches continue the pagan custom of decorating their Christmas trees and homes with lights. What do all these lights have to do with Christmas or Chanukah? Chanukah is also known as the Feast of Lights because of the miracle of the lights of the menorah in the Holy Temple. Remember that the Maccabees had only enough pure oil to last for one day. Yet, when they kindled this one cruse of oil it burned for seven days! We celebrate this miracle by kindling a progression of oil lights in our homes for the eight days of Chanukah. Thus we see that even the lights of the Gentiles point to Chanukah.

Jesus truly was the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5.) At the end of the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, three eighty foot high golden candlesticks were set up in the Temple’s Court of Women. Four golden bowls were placed on each (3 x 4 =12) candlestick, and four ladders rested against each bowl. A youth of priestly descent stood at the top of each ladder, pouring oil from a ten-gallon pitcher into the bowl (Talmud: Sukkah 5:3) The worn-out liturgical garments of Priests were used for wicks. The light from these candlesticks was so bright that it was stated, "There was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not lit up with the light at the water-well ceremony" (Talmud: Sukkah 5:3). This is the when Yeshua (Jesus) spoke publicly on Sukkot, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12). Yeshua proclaimed Himself to be the light of the world while the people were gazing at the four lights which were called the "light of the world". This quote of our Lord is really not as fitting for Chanukah or for Christmas as it is for Sukkot, the real day of Jesus the Mashiach’s birth. It is interesting that the Christmas holiday is celebrated by many from December 25 through January 1. This, too, is an eight day period which corresponds to the eight days of Chanukah and the Feast of Tabernacles! Jesus never celebrated Christmas. Jesus did, however, celebrate Chanukah: Yochanan (John) 10:22 -23 "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication (Chanukah), and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch."

Was Jesus actually born on Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles?

First of all, what is Sukkot or the feast of tabernacles? In Lev. 23:41-43, HaShem commanded the Israelites to live in booths for seven days after gathering in the fall harvest, and to rejoice before Him. A booth (Sukkah) is a temporary dwelling place (flimsily made by intention). It is a temporary shelter, or a temporary provision. When HaShem commanded the Israelites to dwell in booths (Sukkot), He was emphasizing to them and the generations that followed that their dependence was on Him, and not on a man-made structure. The same is true for believers in Jesus today. Our dependence should also be totally upon the Lord, not on the temporal things of this life. The Sukkah also pointed toward our physical bodies which are temporary dwelling places. I Peter 2:11 says that "we are merely pilgrims and strangers passing through the earth as we journey toward the "promised land" (kingdom of heaven). Our dependence should not be upon our flesh, nor upon anything materialistic, but only upon G-d. Still, there was another reason why Hashem emphasized to the Israelites that they should live in booths, namely because there would come a time when He, Himself, would dwell in a temporary one, in the person of Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth. John chapter 1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G-d, and the Word was G-d and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". According to John 7, Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles as it was being celebrated in Jerusalem. Much of the celebration was in thanking G-d for providing the necessary "rainfall" for an abundant harvest. The celebration also included "water libations", anticipating G-d's promise to the Israelites of sending the Holy Spirit, spoken of by the prophets. "Whoever did not see the rejoicing of (this water drawing ceremony) never saw rejoicing in his lifetime." (Mishnah: Sukkah 5:1) On each of the seven days of Sukkot, the High Priest took a golden pitcher and filled it with water drawn from the Pool of Siloam. It was brought into the Temple through the Water Gate (hence the name), and poured into a bowl at the Altar, alongside the pouring of the wine, during the daily burnt-offering (Talmud: Sukkah 4:9). This water libation was performed only during Sukkot. The Talmud states, "Why is the name of it called the Drawing Out of Water? Because of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, according to what is said: ‘With joy shall ye draw out of the wells of salvation’ " (Isaiah 12:3). According to John 7:37-39, in the midst of all these festivities, "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet glorified , (Jesus spoke of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, the Holy Spirit that would be given to all those who believe in Him and ask for it) . I personally believe that our Jesus (Yeshua), G-d in the flesh, dwelling in a "succah", was actually born during the Feast of Tabernacles or the Festival of Booths (Sukkot). This is one of the Feast days mandated by G-D for all Israel to observe annually. Jews, even, today are required to build a "sukka" or temporary booth/shelter close on three sides and open to the skies. They can sleep, eat a festive meal of symbolic foods e.g., tree fruit and nuts and lounge inside throughout the night. We all need to abide in Him. (John 15:1-8; Acts 8:26-40)

In 1 Chronicles 24 the sons of Aaron were divided by lot into 24 courses to determine who would serve in the Temple. In Luke 1:5-25 we see the record of the angel's announcement to Zacharias that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, whom they were to call John. Verse 5 contains a little phrase that is one important key to determining that Jesus was born in September, not December. It says that Zechariah “belonged to the priestly division (“course”) of Abijah.” A study will show that from the time of King David, Jewish priests were organized into 24 “courses,” named after the heads of the priestly families. King David was instructed by HaShem in how to divide the priests and how and when they were to serve (1 Chronicles 28:11-13) These courses of service in the Temple started on Nisan 1 (which corresponds to March or April on our calendar) and spanned the entire calendar year. Because the Hebrews used a lunar calendar and we use a solar calendar, The number of days that differ from a lunar and a solar calendar, are made up by adding a leap month every two or three years.)

We know from Josephus that the first course, the course of Jehoiarib, was on duty when Jerusalem was besieged during the first week of April, AD 70 (Nisan 1-8, AM 3830). When then would the course of Abijah (the eighth division) have been serving in 4 BCE? If the courses served in the same weeks of every year, this would have the Abijah course coming on duty: Passover week: beginning the second Sabbath in Nisan (March-April).Pentecost week: beginning the first Sabbath in Sivan (May-June). The tenth week of the year: beginning the second Sabbath in Sivan (May-June). (Abijah was the eighth course; the two pilgrimage festivals throws the rotation off by two weeks, resulting in the tenth week.) The thirty-fourth week of the year: beginning the second Sabbath in Tishrei (September-October). (Twenty-four weeks later) This places the course of Abijah on duty on the Day of Atonement, Tishrei 10. and finally Tabernacles week: beginning the third Sabbath in Tishrei (September-October).

Nisan 1 changes on our solar or Gregorian calendar every year. In the Second Temple period, in Jesus' time, there were 25,000 priests these Priests were divided by lot into 24 groups called brigades. John's Father was Zacharias, a Levite who was assigned by lot to serve in the Temple during the course of Abijah or the 8th course of the year. (Luke 1:5; 1 Chronicles 24:10) The course of Abijah was the eighth course, and, like each course, occurred twice during the year - once for seven days in the Spring and then for seven days in the Fall (1 Chronicles 9:1-26). The weeks of service began and ended on the Sabbath (2 Chronicles 23:1-8) In addition to their normal service, the Priests (as seen above) also served for three extra weeks (Feasts) per year (Deuteronomy:16). In 4 BCE., the year prior to Christ’s birth, the first of those two courses took place during the last week of our month of May. Zechariah and Elizabeth were quite elderly, and had no children, and the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19-22) gave him the wonderful news on the Day of Atonemnet - that they would have a son, to be named John. That eighth course would happen during the tenth week if you allow for the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks, which both occur during the first eight weeks of the year. This is the second Sabbath of Sivan, and the week that follows (approximately Sivan 12-18 or early June). Elizabeth conceived Yochanan (John) the Baptist AFTER Zechariah (Luke 1:9) had finished his Temple service (Luke 1:23). So, she would have become pregnant after the third Sabbath of Sivan (approximately Sivan 19-25): Verse 26 then says that in her sixth month of pregnancy (December), the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she was about to become pregnant with the Son of G-d. Nine months later would have been September. As mentioned above, Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist was conceived in mid Sivan (May/June) and born 40 weeks later on Passover (Nisan15). Jesus called John "Elijah" in Matthew 11:7--15; 17:10-11; and Luke 1:17. Even today Jews remember the arrival of Elijah at the Passover seder.

If Yochanan (John) the Baptist was conceived in the eleventh week, the third Sabbath week of Sivan, Yeshua would have been conceived six months later in the month of Kislev. Mary would have conceived Yeshua after the third Sabbath of Kislev, approximately Kislev 19-26. Kislev 25 is Chanukah or Jesus the Mashiach, the "light of the world", was conceived on the festival of lights! So, six months after Yochanan (John) the Baptist is born, Yeshua is born. Therefore, since Yochanan (John) was born on the fifteenth day of the first month (Nisan), if you add 6 months from John's birthday on Passover you arrive at the fifteenth day of the seventh month which is known as Succoth, or the Feast of Tabernacles. By the way, that day was a full moon. In fact, the fifteenth day of every Biblical month is a full moon. In Yochanan (John) 1:14 we read: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (succah) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Remember that a major theme of Succoth is JOY! With this in mind ... please read Luke 2:4-11 and Matthew 2:7-12. If this really was Jesus real birthday, His circumcision would have been eight days later or exactly at Shemini Atzeret/Sinchet Torah, which like the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles which also is a day of sacred assembly (Leviticus 23:39). On this day historically, the Jews complete their annual cycle of Torah readings and begin again from Bereshit (Genesis). Simchat Torah is considered to be the fulfillment of the Torah and Jesus came to fulfill the Torah (Matthew 5:17-18). In John 1:14 we read that the "Word became flesh and dwelt with us" - the Greek word rendered "dwelt" is "skeinao" which the LXX (Septuagint) uses for "mishkan" (tabernacle). The name for the Feast of Tabernacles itself is called "Herotel Skeinon" in the LXX. (The Septuagint or simply "LXX", is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, it was translated in stages between the 3rd and 2nd century BCE in Alexandria. It was begun by the 3rd century BCE and completed before 132 BCE.)

The Torah reading, in the first year of the triennial cycle, for the Sabbath closest to Yochanan (John) the Baptist’s conception is: Bereshit (Genesis) 15:1-21. This Torah portion recounts HaShem’s promise of a son to Abraham. The Torah reading, in the first year of the triennial cycle, for the Sabbath closest to Yeshua’s conception is: Bereshit (Genesis) 42:18 - 43:23. This Torah portion recounts the story of Joseph’s brothers discovery of treasure in their sacks after they bought food in Egypt. The Haftorah portion is: Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 50:10 - 52:11. This Haftorah portion says: ... “Then shall the redeemed of HaShem return to Zion”...

It is written that only one of the Lord's Festivals will be celebrated after Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on earth and that festival is Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16). All the other Festivals will have been fulfilled. Finally we know from the scriptures that Jesus was 30 years old (Luke 3:23) when He began His ministry. We believe that He ministered for 3 1/2 years - so if we count back from his crucifixion during the Spring Passover (Nisan) 6 months to His birthday we once again see it is in the month of Tishri or once again we find His real birthday during the fall Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. How perfect that Jesus would come to his people and “tabernacle” with them in community during the tabernacle feast week. How perfect that Jesus' birth fell on one of only two eight day feasts that He (the Lord of the Sabbath) could be born on the first day of the feast (considered a Sabbath) and circumcised on the last day of the feast (also considered a Sabbath). A male Jew is not considered fully born until his bris (circumcision).

In the days of the Temple, the Feast of Sukkot was viewed with great awe, for it was during the Feast of Sukkot, that Solomon dedicated the newly built Temple to the Lord. At that ancient observance of Sukkot, the Shekinah glory of the Lord descended from Heaven to light the fire on the altar and filled the Holy of Holies. During the festival of Sukkot a choir of Levites sang the Hallel (i.e. the praise Psalms 113-118) which is all about Jesus!. Later in His life, Jesus celebrated His birthday on a mountain with three of His disciples (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:1-10). On the Festival of Sukkot, Moses and Elijah, from centuries past, representatives of the Torah and the Prophets, appeared and talked with Yeshua. One disciple, Kepha (Peter), suggested building three sukkot for Yeshua, Moses, and Elijah, because it was required for the Festival of Tabernacles, but he did not understand (Mark 9:6) that these three were fulfilling that which the festival symbolized: they were dwelling in their sukkot (temporary tabernacles) of flesh, awaiting their eternal resurrection temples.


The early Christian church did not bother to celebrate Jesus' birth. "Christmas" was not observed in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, until about 300 years after Christ's death. The origins of "Christmas" cannot be traced back to either the teachings or practices of the earliest Christians. Historically on the date December 25, the people of Rome observed the Feast of Saturn ... the celebration of Christmas was never authorized by G-d, the festival stems from pagan Babylon. In 274 A.D., the Romans designated December 25 as the birthday of their unconquered sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice, being the time when the sun begins noticeably to show an increase in light, resulting in longer daylight hours. By 336 A.D., the church in Rome was adapting this festival, spiritualizing its significance as a reference to Jesus Christ and calling it the ‘Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.’ Attempting to Christianize and incorporate the pagan traditions of antiquity, the church in Rome adopted this midwinter holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god as one of its own religious doctrines and observances. The church "leaders" may have somewhat changed its significance, but they retained many customs of the pagan festival. As the Roman Catholic church spread its influence religiously and militarily, this "Christmas" holiday of December 25 became the most popular date in Christendom (Revelation 17 & 18) to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A special mass was established for Christ, hence, the name, ‘Christmass,’ abbreviated ‘Christmas.’ It wasn't until A.D. 440 that the Roman Catholic church officially proclaimed December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ. Saturnalia was a traditional holiday inherited by the Roman pagans from an earlier Babylonian priesthood.

December 25 was originally the date of a pagan feast in pre-Christian Europe. The Acts of the Apostles records how the true Christians were badly persecuted by the pagans because of their beliefs. Time and again the apostles warned that because of this, some "Christians" would adopt pagan beliefs, to enable them to make their religion more palatable to the pagans around them (e.g. Acts 20:30; 1 John 2:18; 2 Thess. 2:3; 2 Peter 2:1-3). The adoption of December 25 as a Christian festival is a prime example of this. Christmas trees, mistletoe, Yule logs, etc. can all be traced back to pagan rites practiced on December 25. The pagans were already used to celebrating this December 25th date now chosen by the Roman Catholic Church to be Jesus' birthday. So, why was December 25 chosen to remember Jesus Christ’s birth with a mass (or Communion supper)? Since no one knew the exact day of his birth, the Roman Catholic Church felt free to choose any birth date they wished. The Church wished to replace all of the Jewish Festivals and the pagan festivals with their own holy days (religious holidays). The church leaders felt they could simply replace any festival they objected to with one of their own. Otherwise, the Church would have left a celebratory void where there was a long-standing tradition, and risked producing a discontented congregation who might simply leave the "faith" and return to their old religious/pagan ways.

Other evidence that December 25 is the wrong date for the birth of Jesus comes from early writings. Iranaeus, born about a century after Jesus, notes that Jesus was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 BCE, this appears to substantiate the birth of Jesus as the Fall of 2 BCE. Eusebius (A.D. 264-340), the "Father of Church History," ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra. The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 BCE. to the autumn of 1 BCE. The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 BCE. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 BCE. to the autumn of 2 BCE. The only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 BCE. John the Baptist also helps us determine that December 25 is not the birth date of Jesus. Elizabeth, John's mother, was a cousin of Mary. John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. The minimum age for the ministry was 30. As Augustus died on August 19, A.D. 14, that was the accession year for Tiberius. If John was born on April 19-20, 2 BCE, his 30th birthday would have been April 19-20, A.D. 29, or the 15th year of Tiberius. This seems to confirm the 2 BCE. date, and, since John was 6 months older (Luke 1:26,36), this also helps confirm an autumn birth date for Jesus. Another interesting fact comes from Elizabeth herself. She hid herself for 5 months and then the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elizabeth's condition and that Mary would also bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went "with haste" to visit Elizabeth, who was then in the first week of her 6th month, or the 4th week of Dec., 3 BCE. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place his birth on Sept. 29, 2 BCE or during the Feast of Tabernacles..

What about the three Wise Men? In Matthew 2:7-12 we read: "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Clearly the Bible does report wise men (“magi”) came, but none of the early Church Fathers, suggested the magi were kings. Since the word “magi” used in the Bible is plural, there were apparently at least two, and there could have been many more. The Bible simply mentions the three costly gifts they presented—gold, frankincense and myrrh. In that day, a small group of men with such precious and costly treasures traveling such a great distance, through enemy territories and desolate areas, would have been easy prey for enemy soldiers or the many robbers who prowled the roads. It is therefore almost certain that they would have traveled in a much larger group, with adequate protection. Who were those men who took note of the many astronomical phenomena heralding the birth of Jesus Christ in Judea, and then traveled at great costs to themselves to find Him, arriving when Jesus was about 18 months old? Scripture calls them “Magi,” and they were scholarly men from Persia well versed in astronomy, history, and religion. It is most significant that their ancestors were those over whom King Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Daniel in what was then called Babylon (Dan. 2:28 and 5:11 says he was appointed “master of the magicians [Magi]”). It is very significant that there were some religious sects in Persia, including Zoroastrianism, that looked forward to a coming Redeemer, a prophet to be sent by G-d to save mankind. And that is why they would have been most interested in learning from Daniel about Judaism’s hallmark prophecies of a coming Messiah, especially as these prophecies related to the celestial motions of the planets, something they studied diligently. In any case, some striking celestial activity told them of the birth of that promised Redeemer, and they set out to find him. Matthew 2:11 tells us that they came to “the house,” not a manger, and saw “the child” (the Greek word paidion), not a “newborn baby” (the Greek word brephos). Contrary to tradition, the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth as did the shepherds. They first came to Jerusalem, apparently thinking that in the capital city of Israel they should be able to find out where the king had been born. After King Herod told them he had been born in Bethlehem, they went there and found Him as a ‘child’ in His ‘house.’ Which explains why Herod, who had consulted with the Magi as to the time when they saw the star (Matt. 2:7), determined to kill all the Jewish boys under two years old. He knew that Jesus was no longer an infant, and set two years as a safe limit to how old He would have been. The magi did not arrive until sometime after His presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-39). At this time, Scripture calls Jesus a “child,” not a “baby.” It is possible that little Jesus (Matthew 2:16) could have been two years old then - and a long way from the manger. It is interesting that a recent study of the now computerized data by which we can very accurately determine astronomical events of that time gives us another piece of the puzzle to dating the birth of Christ to September of 3 BCE . In particular, the very noticeable celestial activity of Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Regulus (the King star), and Venus (the Queen star), and their various combinations of conjunctions in Leo during the nine months leading up to Christ’s birth are also helpful signs to determine the September birth date of our Lord Jesus. This research shows that he was born on September 11 (Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar), on which day the sun was in Virgo, as per the prophecy in Revelation 12:1 of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet” (Rev. 12:1).

What about Joseph and Mary? It is safe to say that the two primary heroes in this tale were an older Jewish man and young Jewish woman who suddenly found themselves thrust onto the world stage! Think first about Mary, a young Jewish woman chosen by G-d to bear His (Isaiah 7:14) only begotten Son. What was it like for this unsophisticated young girl when the angel of the Lord appeared to her (Luke 1:26-38) and made his amazing announcement. She fearlessly asked the angel a very good question, and when she got the answer, she uttered some of the most faith-filled words ever spoken: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to your word.” Even though she faced stoning! And then pause to think about her husband Joseph, who discovered that his beloved bride was pregnant. How heartrending, and what a strong believer he was, first not to accuse Mary and/or to not make public their desperate situation, and then to endure the public ridicule he must have gotten as the father of an illegitimate child. Imagine, how Joseph's heart must have leapt for joy when the angel told him that the woman he had chosen as his wife and the mother of his children was also the woman G-d had chosen to be the mother of His only begotten Son! And think of Joseph's wonderful love for Mary, and his steadfast discipline not to sexually consummate their union until after she had given birth to Jesus (Matt. 1:25). Joseph was a man’s man, and a true hero of the faith. Can you see the young girl Mary as she lights the Chanukah lamps as the sun was setting, to usher in the Festival of Lights. There was a glow in that room that was far greater than that emanating from the flames dancing on their wicks in the little pools of oil. "The Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her," and Yeshua was conceived within her womb. Forty weeks later, on the Feast of Tabernacles, He exited His mother's womb to "tabernacle among us."

Does it really matter, dear one exactly when Jesus was born? The fact is that Jesus was born, that Jesus came into the world as a gift to save us from our sins, that Jesus was beaten, crucified and died for us and was resurrected to eternal life, and Jesus is alive today and if you ask Jesus will come and live in you! This is what we should celebrate, as we read in Zechariah 2:10: “'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the LORD.” In Luke 2: 1-39 we read: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising G-d, and saying, Glory to G-d in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising G-d for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed G-d, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served G-d with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."

Note: It is common Jewish practice to restrict the use of the word Adonai to prayer only. In conversation, as many Jewish people, even when not speaking Hebrew, call G-d "HaShem", השם, which is Hebrew for "the Name" (this appears in Leviticus 24:11).

Surely Jesus' birth is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year when Santa (Satan) comes with gifts only for the good boys and girls. It is extremely sad to me that so many people on earth associate the birth of Jesus Christ with a fictitious being called “Santa.” As we rudely learn at an early age, there is no Santa! But thank G-d, there most certainly is a loving heavenly Father whose heart of love for all mankind overflowed in the greatest gift ever given, His only begotten Son. Furthermore, G-d’s Word says that “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all…will…along with him, graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:32). The Christmas season is a golden opportunity to do just what those shepherds of long ago did—spread the good tidings about the Lord Jesus Christ! Wise men still seek Him dear one! Merry Christmas Dear One!