THE EXACT DATE OF JESUS' BIRTH IS UNKNOWN
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00:00The exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, and some scholars believe he may have been born in the spring or fall, not on December 25.
00:10Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas on December 25?
00:15Many people may assume that it is the birthday of Jesus, but the exact date of Jesus' birth is not clearly recorded in the Bible.
00:23Interesting, isn't it? So how did we actually arrive at this date?
00:28A number of historians and theologians have attempted to figure out when Jesus was actually born.
00:34Some believe that Jesus may have been born in the spring or fall, not in December.
00:39This makes us wonder, is there another reason why Christmas is celebrated on December 25?
00:46The birth of Jesus, what does the Bible say?
00:49The Bible does not give an exact date for Jesus' birth.
00:53However, there are some clues that may help us estimate the time of his birth.
00:58One important clue is the story of the shepherds keeping their flocks out in the fields, as recorded in Luke 2, 8-12.
01:06In Palestine, shepherds generally did not keep their flocks out in December because it was too cold.
01:12Instead, they usually did this during the spring and early fall, when the weather was more favorable.
01:19So, from this clue, it is possible that Jesus was born during the warmer months.
01:24Why December 25? You may ask, well, why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25?
01:31There are some interesting theories about this.
01:34One explanation is that this date was chosen because it coincided with a Roman festival called Saturnalia, which was a winter celebration.
01:43As Christianity began to spread, there was an attempt to replace pagan celebrations with Christian ones,
01:49and Christmas on December 25 may have been intended to be an alternative to this pagan festival.
01:55Some historians also believe that December 25 may have been chosen because it coincides with the winter solstice.
02:02At that time, the days begin to grow longer, and its symbolism relates to the coming of the light of the world, Jesus Christ.
02:11In John 8-12, Jesus said, I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
02:19Thus, the celebration of December 25 can be interpreted as a symbol of the birth of light that will defeat darkness.
02:27Maybe in spring or fall? Based on several discoveries and further research,
02:32some scholars believe that the birth of Jesus may have occurred in the spring or fall.
02:38They base this assumption on the ministry of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, which is recorded in Luke 1.
02:45Zechariah was a priest from the class of Abijah, and this class served in the temple twice a year.
02:51After Zechariah finished his ministry, Elizabeth, his wife, became pregnant with John the Baptist.
02:58If we count nine months after Zechariah's ministry, John was most likely born in the spring or fall.
03:05Since Jesus was born six months after John, his birth probably occurred around the same time.
03:11What is the meaning and significance of Jesus' birth?
03:14While the exact date of Jesus' birth remains a mystery, the most important thing is the message behind his birth.
03:21Jesus came into the world to save us from sin and to give us eternal life.
03:26In John 3-16, we are reminded, for Jesus so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
03:32that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
03:36The date of his birth may not be as important as the meaning of his presence.
03:41We celebrate his birth not because of the date, but because of the love and grace he brought into our lives.
03:47Jesus taught us to live in love, peace, and forgiveness.
03:51His birth was a major event that changed the history of the world and our lives personally.
03:57Every time we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the new hope that Jesus is here to guide us in the darkness of the world.
04:04So, even though December 25 is chosen as Christmas Day, Jesus' birth may have actually occurred in the spring or fall.
04:12Whatever the date, what is more important is that we remember and reflect on the meaning behind his birth.
04:18Jesus came to bring light, love, and salvation to the world.
04:23And that is something we can celebrate every day, not just on December 25.
04:28Let's we pray.
04:30Loving Jesus, thank you for your birth that brings light and hope into this world.
04:35We are grateful for your love and sacrifice for each of us.
04:39Help us to remember the meaning of Christmas, not just on one day, but every day of our lives.
04:45Guide us to live in love, as you have taught us.
04:49I love Jesus and Jesus first loved and cared for me. Amen.
04:53Jesus loves you always. Amen.