Christmas: 7 Myths vs. 7 Facts.
Introduction:
Tragically enough, much has slipped into Christian tradition that has no Biblical basis. This is true concerning many more areas than time will allow us to get into today. Let it be sufficient to discuss 7 myths concerning the Christmas and then turn our thoughts to 7 facts that we need to deal with at this time of the year.
Seven Christmas Myths
1. December 25 is not the date of the birth of Jesus.
2. There is no record in the Bible or historical records that anybody in the Bible or Bile times ever celebrated the birthday of Jesus.
3. Jesus name is not Jesus Christ. His name is Jesus; Christ is His title, meaning Messiah, Anointed One.
4. Jesus was not poor. A) The song, not the Bible says "Poor little Jesus boy, born in a manger." B) He was born in a manger but only because there was no room in the inn; not because Joseph and Mary did not have money. People without money don't go to an Inn or Hotel and inquire about getting a room. C) The Bible says that He became poor, though He was rich. When did He become poor? He became poor at the same time and place where He became sin, on the cross. When He died on the cross, the Bible is very clear that He took our sins, sicknesses, and poverty and became those things for us. (2 Cor. 8:9)
5. There is no record whatsoever in the Bible about 3 wise men/kings/magi. There was probably well over 100 magi who brought 3 types/kinds of gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
6. The wise men did not appear at the manger, ever. Although Christmas paintings depict this, (as well as the Nativity scenes) the Bible says that "they followed the star to the house (place - NIV.) where Jesus was. Jesus could have been as much as 2 years old when they found Jesus. That is why Herod had all the boys 2 years old and under killed.
7. Mary did not remain a virgin all her life. The Bible says in Luke 2:7 says, "and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son." You don't have a firstborn unless there is a second born, etc. Matthew 1:24-25 says, "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.
In today's society, it is almost a forgone conclusion that much of what we say and teach is not all that credible. There is no factual resources to back up what we say. “Religion is for women and children and the weak.” The Bible can not be trusted. And not only that, but the ones who teach it aren't trust worthy either.
For centuries many attempts have been made at discrediting the "message." When that didn't work they tried to discredit the “messenger.” Quite frankly, that is much easier to do. It takes no effort whatsoever. It takes no facts. It takes no investigation. Just start complaining: He's too flashy. He's to young to really know anything. He's to old to be relevant. It's a woman preacher. He is too emotional. He's too boring. He wears a robe. He doesn't wear a robe. He's a black man, what can he know. He's a white man and he thinks he knows it all. Etc.
The truth of the matter is simply this. There will be a day when we all will stand before God to give an account for what we had to opportunity to learn. It wouldn't surprise me that when we come up with all our excuses for not believing the Bible, God will probably take all our excuses and use them against us. Like: "I sent you a bright person, a not so bright person, a flashy person, a dull person, a young preacher, an older preacher, a man preacher, a woman preacher, a black preacher and a white preacher, an emotional preacher, a boring preaching, but you have a problem. You are the one with the problem because you wouldn't listen to any of them. You thought you were too good to listen to any of them. And on that day, the Bible says, "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God."
So that we don't get caught in that trap, let's look at some facts.
Fact 1: The Bible's Accuracy.
One finds a total absence of the absurdities found in other sacred books. We do not read, for example, of the earth being hatched out of an egg with a given number of years for incubation, resting on a tortoise, the land surrounded by seven seas of salt water, juice of sugar cane, spirituous liquors, clarified butter, sour milk, etc. Dr. D. S. Clarke writes: "There is a difference between the Bible and any other book that no man can fathom. The difference is caused by its origin.”
Fact 2: Its Unity.
Consisting of 66 books, written by about 40 different authors, over a period of about 1600 years, and covering a variety of topics, it nevertheless carries a unity of theme and purpose that can be explained only by one superintending Mind.
Fact 3: How Many Books can stand even two readings?
The Bible can be read hundreds of times without the depths being fathomed or its losing its interest for the reader.
Fact 4: Its remarkable circulation.
The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages, and read in most countries of the world
Fact 5: Its Timelessness.
It is one of the most ancient of books, and yet the most modern. The human soul can never out grow it. Bread is one of the most ancient of foods, and yet the most modern. As long as men are hungry they will want bread for the body; and as long as men desire God and things eternal, they will want the Bible.
Fact 6: Its remarkable preservation.
As you have heard me say before, it has stood the test not only of time, but the persecution that has gone along with it. It has faced much persecution as well as opposition of science, which really is simply opposition of men. Science keeps coming around.
Fact 7: Its many fulfilled prophecies.
This includes and is especially, particularly true of the Christmas story.
A. He will be born of a virgin. (Matt. 1:21-22 & Is. 7:14)
B. He will be born in Bethlehem. (Matt. 2:6 & Mic. 5:2 & 2 Sam 5:2)
C. He would called a Nazarene. (Matt 2:23 & Judges 13:5)
D. He will come out of Egypt. (Matt 2:14-15 & Hosea 11:1)
E. His name will be Jesus. (Matt 1:21 & 25)
F. He will come from the line and lineage of King David.
G. And that is just 6 out of 61 prophecies concerning His birth that were fulfilled in detail. There are many more that were fulfilled concerning His entire life, death, burial and resurrection that were all fulfilled exactly, precisely as was predicted.
H. And guess what. There are still things to happen that will be fulfilled with the same exact precision as the previous ones. And who said the Bible is out dated. “It's more modern than tomorrow.”
Conclusion:
There are different ways or kinds of evidence by which we can be sure that this great library of Sacred Books, which we call the Bible, is really the Word of God, His Revelation to mankind. There is the Historical, the Internal, the External and the Experimental evidences.
This is illustrated by the story of a small boy that was told to go to the chemist's lab to get some phosphorus. The boy brought back a little packet; was it phosphorus? The boy reported that he went to the shop and asked for phosphorus; that the chemist went to his shelves, took some kind of stuff from a jar, put it in the little packet, and gave it to him, and that he had brought it straight back. That was the historical evidence that the packet had phosphorus in it. Then the gentleman opened the packet. The substance inside looked like phosphorus and smelled like phosphorus. That was the internal evidence. Then he put a light to it -"See how it burns! That was the experimental evidence.
Intellectual defenses of the Bible have their place; but after all, the best argument is the practical one. The Bible works. It has influenced civilization, transformed lives, brought light, inspiration and comfort to millions. And its work continues & continues to work.
