I love to quote the bible for these sessions or books that just did not make the bible cut but are religious.
Now I wanted to do the same for this session, but you will not believe it
No biblical book mentions anything about Christmas.
Can you believe that....
The biggest Christian party of the year and no word about it in the Good Book.
Now my curiosity woke.....
Is there any Christian literature from back in the early days talking about this holly day?
Because looking back from this day and age it seems that the early Christians just appropriated what was originally a pagan holiday because it was convenient.
Before they had Jesus being born on the Winter solstice the people of ancient Europe had celebrations of the pagan god Saturn or even Odin at the end of December to mark the shortest day of the year.
Many of the Christmas traditions we have today come from these ancient fiestas such as kissing under the mistletoe and decorating trees. This makes sense because why decorate a tree in Jesus's name?
Now having said that it might not surprise you to learn that decorating with holly, putting up Christmas trees, and kissing under the mistletoe are rooted in ancient Pagan fertility rituals. Now the bible is not big on fertility in general hence I have some awesome virgin advice at the end of this Christmas take.
These Pagans avant la letter de Bible celebrated fertility, the fertility of the earth as midwinter meant sowing season was soon to come. They also celebrated their own fertility to keep warm during these cold winter nights and ensure that children were not born during the coldest days of the year.
That in itself makes it strange that Jesus chose exactly this day to be born. As Babies and cold winter nights did not go well together back in BC.
Just FYI
The winter solstice (for the northern hemisphere) takes place on 22nd December, the day when the Earthโs axis is tilted furthest away from the sun.
Looking beyond the logic of not having children in the winter, we should have a look at the historical and scientific evidence to see if there is any proof that Jesus by some sort of miracle was received on the 25th of December.
One thing is for sure:
The chance that Jesus was actually born on the 25th of December is 1/365, which means that I am 99,997% certain that he was born on another day. Now of course I went ahead and tried to find that day for you.
Mission Impossible
Many smart people looked into this birth and the funny thing is that they all came up with different theories about the birthdate of the little lightbringer. They can not even agree on the year in which he was born, so forget about the day although if any I would go with this one.
NASA data shows that the total eclipse of 10 January 1 BC is the best choice in dating the death of Herod based upon the writings of Josephus: Antiquities 17.167. This places the birth of Christ most likely in the spring of that same year of 1 BC.
Now that makes a lot more sense than angels giving a warning to Joseph and the Three Kings. As you might know, King Herod became afraid of a potential rival and ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem who were two years old and younger, this "Slaughter of the Innocent" took place before Jesus was born.
Now throughout my life, I have been in touch with the other side and this is exactly the trickery one would expect from the gods.
Now it does mess up the prophecy, "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Hosea 11:1). As many believe that this was the call to Joseph;
"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"
As Jesus was not even born, there was no need to flee and that fits well with the fact that a lot of things point to Jesus growing up in Nazareth Isreal.
But then He did disappear for years, till God called his son out of Egypt.
Where Did Jesus Go?
Jesusยดs teachings seem to have a lot of parallels, not parables with some teachings followed by an almost forgotten Jewish sect. Almost forgotten until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1940s -50s.
Why were these scrolls found, was it God's will to reintroduce us all to a small, separatist group? This group that grew out of the conflicts of the Maccabean age.
Like the Pharisees, they stressed strict legal observance, but they considered the temple priesthood corrupt and rejected much of the temple ritual and sacrificial system. Doesnยดt that sound awfully familiar #Jesusatthetemple?
They were considered radicals and chased out of the cities, maybe even out of Israel at some point. There was little distance to the Egyptian border for a group living in isolation.
If Jesus joined the Essenes it explains his rudimentary teaching style, and why nobody had seen him in years as they lived in seclusion. It even would fit the "Son Called Out of Egypt" as the Egyptian border was not as well defined as it is today.
It Explains A Lot
Based on historical facts we know very little, nobody seems to be sure when Jesus was born and what he did between 12 and 30. But he was not in Nazareth hence it is very well possible that he received teachings throughout those years. Teachings provided by a group that had separated itself from society, almost like a cult.
Allowing Jesus to take the stage as a cult leader at the end of his lifetime.
Okay, those were just fun facts but nothing to do with Christmas, but all to do with illustrating how little we really know about the dude with the crown of thorns growing up.
Bikini Bottom Line
Now I do not want to be the Gringe at your Christmas party, and I am all pro getting together with the fam and being merry and bright. But we should be aware of all the dangers of misconception and mixing up festivities. There were many hidden agendas and mix-ups required to make Christmas what it is today.
The Birthdate of the little lad just being a minor mistake if you look at the bigger picture. If we are really true to ourselves, we do not celebrate the birth of Christ and we all know it, donยดt we?
We celebrate the light, the return of the light, on the darkest day of the year. And itยดs okay if that light comes in the shape of a baby born in a stable with a star above.
Encore
As promised for those fertile girls who follow the scripture and turn the other cheek but still want to keep their boyfriends happy, while doing my research I found some awesome non-X-Mas advice for you.
Now come to think of it, that might explain how Jesusยดs mom Mary remained a virgin.
Now that might explain how Marry remained a virgin giving birth to Jesus.
Well, that is it for now but there is more where this came from tomorrow as I will publish a Christmas Carol Special.
Previous Sunday School Sessions
Soundtrack Of The Book of Revelations
My Book of Revelations Soundtrack - Part 1 - The Ladies of Revelation
My Book of Revelations Soundtrack - Part 2 - The Biblical Bad Guys
My Book of Revelations Soundtrack - Part 3 - The Bad Guy That Goes By Many Names
Thank goodness you made it till the end Pees, Love and I am out of here!
[Source Pic](All pictures are by Meme, MyI & AI unless source is listed)