December 23
Scripture: Matt 2:1
Source author: Jeanette Gardner Littleton
December 23
The Big Event Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. —Matthew 2:1
Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25.” I listened intently to my Bible professor. I’d never heard this before. He explained that some theologians think Jesus’s birth was in the spring because shepherds would have been out with their sheep at night during lambing season. Others speculate it wasn’t during the winter months because travel for the census would have been too difficult. The celebration of Jesus’s birth had landed on December 25 because it was tied with a secular celebration, he explained. I’d had no idea. I’d just assumed that Christmas was Christmas. I didn’t know what to think about it. That was years ago, and I still celebrate Christmas on December 25. Somewhere along the way, I’ve just filed away my curiosity about the actual date with other questions I don’t know the answers to. I’ve discovered what’s important is not having all the answers, but having faith in the One who does!
It doesn’t matter when Jesus was born—only that He lives within us. — Jeanette Gardner Littleton —