The True Facts of Christmas

Seven hundred years before the first Christmas, the Prophet Isaiah stated that a "virgin" would give birth to a Son conceived by God, not man. Later the Prophet Micah said this Son would be born in Bethlehem. (Two different prophets … same Son.)

God arranged for this virgin named Mary, to be in Bethlehem at the proper time with a decree from the then Caesar of Rome, Augustus (Caius Octavius who reigned from 29 B.C. to 14 A.D.) to have a census taken for taxation.

At the same time as the birth of Mary’s first child, an unknown number of shepherds tending sheep on the hillsides around Bethlehem, had an Angelic visitor who told them of the birth of Christ, which prompted them to go and find Him. When they did find the stable, (the only place left because of the taxation crowd) He was still in a stall, His birthplace.

The date of the birth is unknown. It was not on December 25th as is celebrated today. Shepherds never kept their flocks in the open fields in the winter from late fall to spring. The time of year is not important, but the fact that He was born is.

After the birth of Christ, some men of unknown number or nationality, (perhaps astrologers since they had been watching the stars) came from the east to worship the new "King of the Jews," whose star they had seen. They knew of the prophecy given seven hundred years before. (Many think there were three because of the gifts.)

When they arrived in Israel, they inquired about the birth with King Herod, who being worried about the birth of a new king, asked the so called "wise men" how long ago they had seen the star. It must have been close to two years earlier since Herod later had all males put to death that were two years of age and younger. So, by the time the wise men saw the star, traveled to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem, the star went before them and stood over the "house" (not a stable) where the young "child" (no longer a baby) was with Mary, His mother.

Since the star moved to a new location, many believe that Joseph, Mary, and her Son went back home to Nazareth and lived there until the wise men came one or two years after the birth of Christ. They then had to flee to Egypt when Herod killed all the male children two years old and younger.

Many stories and legends have perverted the actual true facts about the birth of "the Son of God," so as to cause doubt and confusion as to who He really is, and why He came.

One of His names was "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." He was Jesus, "the Lamb of God." He was God wrapped in flesh. He is our Hope of Salvation, for there is no other name given whereby man "must" be saved.

These are the true facts about Christmas. He "is" the reason for the season!