Christmas; Its Origin and Character by S. MORTENSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

Christmas; Its Origin and Character

By S. MORTENSEN

No Foundation in the Bible

S. MORTENSEN

IF Christmas is truly Christian, then the Bible ought to instruct us not only about the date when Jesus was born, but it should also contain a plain command from the Father that we should celebrate it. Many will be surprised that, in a thorough search of the Scriptures, they will not be able to find either date or precept for the celebration of the birth of Christ; no, not even the example of a single man who celebrated it during the time of Christ or the apostles.

We will here notice some things that the Bible says concerning the birth of Christ: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14. This was foretold over seven hundred years before his birth. In the garden of Eden it was foretold, about four thousand years in advance, that Jesus should be born of a woman (Gen. 3:15), and it was also foretold to Abraham over two thousand years before it took place. Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16. That Bethlehem should be his birthplace was foretold about seven hundred years before his birth occurred. Micah 5:2. The fulfilment of these prophecies is plainly spoken of in the Gospels. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary. Luke 1:26-38. Joseph was also informed about it in a dream. Matt. 1:18-25. Joseph and Mary came, in obedience to the decree of Augustus Cæsar, to Bethlehem to be taxed, and there Jesus was born. Luke 2:1-7. The angels announced his birth to the shepherds (verses 8-14), and both the shepherds and the wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem (verses 15-20), where the chief priests had said that he should be born. Matt. 2:1-12. All this is plainly revealed, but any date for his birth is not mentioned in the Bible.

A close investigation will make quite plain to us the time of year when this wonderful event occurred. It was when the shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8. According to the information we have about Palestine, the flocks were let out in the pastures in the month of March, and brought back in November, when the rainy season began. Concerning this, Adam Clarke makes the following remark in his commentary: “It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the desert about the passover, and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain. During the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As the passover occurred in the spring, and the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November, we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole of the summer. And as these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presupposed argument that October had not yet commenced, and that consequently our Lord was not born on the twenty-fifth of December, when no flocks were out in the field by night. On this very ground the nativity should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the field is a chronological fact, which casts considerable light upon the disputed point.” See also the book, “The Two Babylons,” pages 91, 92.

It is also noteworthy that different translations of Luke 2:8 make the thought very clear that the shepherds were at the time staying out in the fields by the flocks. “And shepherds were in the same country lodging in the fields and keeping watch by night over their flocks.”—Interlinear Greek-English New Testament.

Again: “And there were shepherds in the same country dwelling in the fields, and watching watches of the night over their flocks.”—Rotherham.

“This proves plainly that the flocks were not yet brought home from their pastures, when the angels visited the shepherds. Some have the idea that there is no winter in Palestine, but that is a mistake, because sometimes it is very cold there, so that the lives of both men and beasts are in danger of the cold rain and hail-storms of the winter.”—“Horne's Introduction,” Vol. II, pages 23, 24.

Other ordinances which the Christians ought to practise are given to us by plain precepts or examples. In this way is given unto us the marriage institution (Gen. 2:24), the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 24:20), baptism (Matt. 28:19), the Lord’s supper (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-29), and the washing of feet (John 13:1-17). Therefore we can by divine right claim that these are Christian institutions, but as we can not find either precept or example in the Bible for Christmas, it can be said to be a Christian institution.

(To be continued)

Chicago, Ill.