WHY CHRISTMAS

• Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 Thus, everyone went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 Then it happened that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
•  8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 Then it happened, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 Everyone who heard it marveled at those things which were told to them by the shepherds. 19 However, Mary kept everything and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Most people are familiar with the Christmas story. They sing the songs of Christmas, even those who don’t believe in Jesus or the reason He was born in a manger 2500 plus years ago. Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why did the calendar change from B.C. to A.D.? What difference did a baby make? Lots, in every way.

When God created the world, He told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. When they disobeyed Him, God promised to send them a Savior to redeem them. He started the plan of salvation the day Jesus was born.

Genesis 3:14 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you will go, and you will eat dust throughout the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you will bruise His heel.”

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (NKJV)

What do we know about Jesus’ birth?

Jesus would not have been born in winter because the shepherds would not have been on the hills in winter with their sheep. Do we know when Jesus was born?

Scripture doesn’t give us a date, but it does give us clues to when it took place. Consider the birth of John the Baptist. Zacharias was a member of the priesthood of the course of Abijah. The priesthood was divided into 24 courses, which meant they served in the temple twice a year. Zacharias served on the eighth course and again in the thirty-second course.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (NKJV)

1 Chronicles 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, (NKJV)

Knowing when John the Baptist was born would lead you to the exact month Jesus was born.

Another clue in Scripture as to when Jesus was born is found among the feasts God gave Moses in the Wilderness. Every feast has fulfillment in the life of Jesus. The one about His birth would be the Feat of Tabernacles. God lived among His people in the Wilderness as seen by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated in the Jewish month of Tishrei. This feast is celebrated in the fall of the year in September and October.

Why Christmas Matters

Without Jesus’ birth, there is no redemption from sin. Everyone would still be subject to the sacrificial laws as set forth by God in the Wilderness of Sinai. Not only that, you would not have heaven to look forward to when you die, but eternal separation from Him in Hell.

However, God loved you so much that He sent His Son into the world to redeem it and give you an opportunity to accept Him as Savior and Lord.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJV)

Hebrews 9:11 Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Christmas matters because Jesus came into the world as a baby, to grow up and live among the people. He experienced everything you experienced without sin. Jesus then died on the cross according to the Father’s will and rose again on the third day so you could have eternal life.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He will see His seed, He will prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

Christmas matters because it leads to the cross and the cross leads to your salvation.

Let’s pray: Father, thank you for sending Jesus into the world as a baby to redeem the world from sin and offer eternal life to everyone who will accept Your precious gift. Let the Spirit of Christmas dwell in my heart and life every day. Let my praise resound in the courts of heaven as I worship Your Son as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 25 December 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux