Merry Christmas, readers and friends of Faith and Fasting! I couldn’t think of a better way to share the meaning and joy of Christmas than through the Luke 2 passage and video below from The Chosen Christmas movie.
This year, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t decorated at all. We don’t have kids coming home, we are traveling part of the holiday, and those are my surface excuses. The truth is, it has been a rough year. My heart isn’t in the fluff and sparkle part of Christmas. But, my heart IS in celebrating Jesus and His prophesied, miraculous birth. See below the full Luke 2 passage, the true heart and real meaning of Christmas.
Luke 2:1-16
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 Savior, 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 God, and saying, Glory to God 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.
I pray this 2,000 year old story of hope and God’s love renews your spirit today. By the way, if you haven’t seen a meaningful Christmas program yet this season, consider going to see Christmas With The Chosen, in theaters now. It will touch, uplift and bless you, don’t miss it!
Just below is video from the production: Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful) by Phil Wickham. It is one of many wonderful performances included in the movie surrounding the birth story from Luke’s gospel.
Merry Christmas!
–oneseekingtruth
FAITH AND FASTING 
I frequently used to say “Jesus is the reason for the season.” However, in these end times where information flows exponentially, we must take joy in celebtating the Truth and exposing the Father of Lies. The birth of our Messiah was during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), not the winter solstice tightly associated with the horrid pagan celebration of the sun god. Praise God for baby Jesus laying in a manger at Migdal Eder on His final and 7th Holy Day!
Wield the Sword for the King of glory, Peter
BLESSINGS!
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Hello friend, Peter, and thank you for your comment. We agree that Jesus was not born in December, but in the Spring along with the Spring lambs, all part of God’s miraculous and very symbolic plan.
Will have to respectfully disagree, however, with the assertion that Christmas is associated with ancient paganism. Those myths (at least one of which put forth in the 1800s by two men wishing to discredit Christmas) have been debunked. I did extensive research on this a few years ago, and urge anyone interested in the facts to check out the many sources listed below.
There is no wrong day or season to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, is there? And while sometimes our celebrations are guilty of being diluted and shallow, it doesn’t mean their practice is evil. We could say the same of many church services around the world. We should encourage our people of faith to make Christmas sacred and really pursue the heart and meaning of the birth of Christ and all events surrounding it. But, presents, lights, trees, and warm celebrations with friends and family are simply not evil.
See just below a few articles and sources shedding light into the myths and, fyi, the video about the Star of Bethlehem reveals Dec 25 was the peak brightness of the star which called the wise men to visit and give gifts to the baby Jesus – as determined by historical astronomy! It is fascinating and precious. God’s grace and overwhelming love to His people is amazing.
God bless you, Peter, and may He inspire all of us to celebrate everything about Jesus – anytime!
Sources/Articles:
Calculating Christmas by William Tighe
http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v
Christmas was never a pagan holiday by Marian Horvat
https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/e031rp_PaganOrigins.html
Jesus, Christmas and Saturnalia by Dr. Ware
https://wheresware.weebly.com/jesus-christmas-and-saturnalia.html
The Star of Bethlehem documentary by Steve Larsen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqaj-Oo9Pgw)
Thomas Talley, The Origins of the Liturgical Year, Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991), p. 88.
Daniel-Rops, Prières des Premiers Chrétiens, Paris: Fayard, 1952, pp. 125-127, 228-229
Talley, The Origins of the Liturgical Year, pp. 88-91.
The tract entitled ‘De solstitiia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis domini nostri iesu Christi et iohannis
baptista,’ in Ibid., p. 93-94. Talley also provides other historical documents of early Church writers showing that the
dates of the Conception and Death of Our Lord had been established very early.
Shemaryahu Talmon, Professor Emeritus at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a top Scroll scholar, published an
in-depth study of the Temple’s rotating assignment of priests in 1958 and the Qumran scrolls to see the assignment
during New Testament times. Martin K Barrack, “It Comes from Pagans,” Second Exodus online
Cornelius a Lapide, Commentaria in Scripturam Sanctam, Paris: Vives 1877, Luke 2:7, vol 16, p. 57.
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