The Birth Of Jesus

by Micky Galloway

During this time of year, it is common in many churches of human origin to find pageants, plays, special music and sermons on the birth of Christ in celebration of Christmas. These usually are shocked to find that churches of Christ have no special Christmas program. Amazement is expressed when one hears that one can be a Christian and not celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ. Many are announcing the story of the birth of Christ as if December 25th is the time to think of all that Christ has done for us. We must all be reminded at all times of the strengths of our faith as we view God’s power and the love at work to save us from our sins.

Yes, the Bible does tell us of the birth of Christ, but does not give the time of year, nor indicate in any way that the early church celebrated His birth. In fact we learn from history that “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church” (Catholic Encyclopedia Volume 3, Page 724).

“The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of New Testament origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, or indeed, from any other source. The (church) fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity (birth) of Christ … The institution may be sufficiently explained by the circumstance that it was the taste of the age to multiply festivals … at the same time the heathen winter holidays (Saturnalia, Juvenalia Brumalia) were undoubtedly transformed, and so to speak, sanctified by the establishment of the Christian cycle of holidays; and the heathen customs … were brought over into Christian use” (The Cyclopedia Of Ecclesiastical Literature by McClintock and Strong, Volume 2, page 276).

As we consider the birth of Jesus let us focus on what the Bible says.

The birth of Immanuel. Matthew 1:21-25 says, “And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.” We must realize the divinity of Jesus. John 1:1-3, 14 affirms, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made … And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” He left heaven to become a servant (Philippians 2:5-8) and we must acknowledge who He is. “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am (he), ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:23-24).

The birth of a man. Philippians 2:5-8 emphasizes the humanity of Christ. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient (even) unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” I don’t have to be able to explain HOW Jesus could be both man and God, but I must believe it is so. As man He knows and understands our problems. “Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same…” (Hebrews 2:14). As our great high priest we can trust in His capacity to empathize with us as both God and man. “For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as (we are, yet) without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help (us) in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

The birth of a King. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord (is) with thee. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:26-33). His kingdom is His church (Matthew 16:18ff). We must be in His kingdom, under His rule to enjoy His blessings. “Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

The birth of a Savior. “And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). See also Luke 2:11, “for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” We so desperately need a Savior. John the Baptist declared of Him, “On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). We must “come” unto Him for salvation (Matthew 11:28-29).

Certainly, if Jesus was not born, He could not have lived in the flesh and offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. However, we are not instructed to have a special worship service in honor of His birth. We are taught that baptism is a form of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4) and the Lord’s Supper is to be observed each first day of the week (Acts 20:7), as a living memorial of the death of Christ and a proclamation of His promised return (I Corinthians 11:26). Men have no authority to set up other memorials.