Why do Christians still think Jesus died on Easter and was born on Christmas??

Question

Jesus was not born Dec. 25th. Luke 1 says the flocks were in the fields, taking December out. Furthermore, Luke 1 shows he was born 6 months after John the Baptist. John was born at Passover. 6 months later is Succot, the Jewish feast of Joy. This is late September, when Jesus was born. Dec 25 is pagan called winter yule, when pagans brought all their stuff in and called it "catholic"


http://www.remnantofgod.org/xmas.htm
http://www.mashiyach.com/xmass.htm


Jesus dies on Passover. In Gospel of John, they refer to the last supper as on "the day before passover". He dies the next day. He arose on the feast of unleaven bread, which acts out his burial and resurrection. The child that finds the broken bread (Jesus) gets the greatest gift of the year. And salvation is the greatest gift.

THE NAME (EASTER) can be traced back to the name "Astarte," the Syrian sun goddess, known as the "queen of heaven". Google it.

http://www.remnantofgod.org/easter.htm

Shalom
David

Take it from a Christian...we can learn ALOT from looking at the Jewish feasts and culture. Nobody ordered or blessed Christianity the way it is today, its all man made.

Let us seek the true Elohim!

In the Ruah HaKodesh
David

Answer 1

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)

The phrase “In the sixth month” means during the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Unfortunately, Luke is not more specific as to when in that month Gabriel appeared to Mary, only that it happened during that month. If Elizabeth’s first month had begun by July 1st, then Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel at some point during the month of December ... probably somewhere between the middle of the month and its end. This would allow time for Mary to proceed directly to Elizabeth’s immediately following her conception, spend “about three months” there, and then depart before John the Baptist was born.

To complete our speculation, if we assume that John the Baptist wasn’t premature, he would have been born at the beginning of April, 2 B.C. -- right around Passover. This is an amazing, but not altogether surprising conjunction, since the Jewish expectation had long been that Elijah would return at Passover! In a typological sense, he did: John the Baptist -- the new Elijah -- would prepare the way for the messiah. Since John the Baptist was conceived 6 months prior to Jesus’ conception, it obviously follows that 6 months after the birth of John the Baptist Jesus was born. It is a simple exercise to count the months:

April
May
June
July
August
September

If we project Jesus’ conception on or about December 24, and if we assume a normal pregnancy of 280 days, Jesus would have been born on or about September 29, 2 B.C.. Of course, this is only an approximate estimation. It is conceivable that John the Baptist could have been conceived and born a week or so earlier than our conjecture, or a week later. Likewise, it is entirely possible that Mary could have received Gabriels annunciation and conceived the Christ child as early as the very first week of Elizabeth’s 6th month, and not half to two-thirds of the way through the month. In this case, Jesus would have been born as early as the first week of September, rather than at the end of the month. Any combination of these factors might be possible, which could push Jesus’ birth as much as a month earlier, or a half-month later, depending upon the variables, but this doesn’t seem likely to me. I believe that the evidence points to a mid-to-late December conception and a late September birth for the Son of God.

Conclusion:

What does it matter if Jesus was born on or about September 29th? In terms of our salvation and matters of eternal life: nothing. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the keeping of high holy days. However, it is important that we speak the truth, and this includes being truthful regarding what we are doing on December 25th.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus at a time other than its actual anniversary because doing so is convenient to the needs, history, and traditions of the Church. In the 4th century it was convenient because several pagan winter-solstice celebrations greatly appealed to many Christians, and since the Church couldn't stop the party they simply adopted and Christianized it. In our current day it's the religious, cultural, and historic inertia of 1700 years which makes it convenient and appealing to continue celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25th. Granted, some don't consider historical inertia sufficient cause to continue the tradition, but in terms of practical reality that is precisely the reason the celebration continues even despite the political and cultural challenges which have risen to combat it in recent years. To put this another way, we continue with the tradition because we enjoy doing it.

Many who affirm the birth of Jesus on September 29th, however, are quick to jettison centuries of tradition and cease celebrating Jesus in December: they seem to believe that historical honesty, theological and Biblical purity require an almost iconoclastic disregard for the times and seasons of the church year which have evolved to both teach the theological claims of the faith and aid in the worship life of the Church. In my opinion, those who take this position should reconsider their time-lines. After all, if Jesus was born on September 29th then his conception must have happened on or about December 24th! Theologically speaking, our Lord's incarnation stands out as a crucial, critical, cosmically-transforming event in history. It was in December that the Virgin Mary was "overshadowed by the power of the Most High" enabling her to conceive in her womb the Son of God. It was in December that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us." It was in December that a miraculous spark of eternal life entered into genetic codes and human cells and the Baby Jesus began to gestate. Indeed, to quote one of the iconoclasts, Dr. Gene Scott, it was in December that "God struck a tent in human flesh" and "moved onto the stage of human history" as an unborn baby boy. It was in the conception -- not the birth -- that humanity and Divinity became one in Jesus of Nazareth. This message is at least as important as the simple birth of the Christ Child, and yet these messages cannot be separated from one another. Hence, I believe that we can honestly, and with historical, theological, and Biblical integrity, celebrate both glorious events at once.

Answer 2

Ok first let me say Jesus did not die the day before the passover. The last supper was the feast of passover, so He either died during the passover week or after. We don't know exactly how long it took to shuttle Him back and forth being questioned. We know only that it was a Friday.

That being said, you are right that the days we celebrate Jesus' birth and death are not correct. Most know this, however since the EXACT date is not known, does it really matter?

Answer 3

If you Google Saturnalia, you will find the following info: It seems that no one really ever gives a thought to the idea of the date December twenty-fifth as the day of Christmas. If you look at our evidence as to Christ’s birth you will read from the bible, " And there where in the same country shepherds abiding in a field, keeping watch over their flock by night," In the dead of winter seems most unlikely.

That the date actually goes back to Rome with a festival called Saturnalia. It was a time of revelry, celebration, eating and drinking. It was at once a solstice observance and a harvest festival. On the Julian calendar it was proclaimed in 46 c.e., that the Saturnalia would fall on December twenty- fifth.

The early Christians found a birthday celebration of a religious figure strange or blasphemous. The only people who celebrated birthdays were the pagans in Rome. Holidays where declared for the birthday of Ceasars and for the gods. Gift giving at a birthday is a wholly pagan concept and the early church banned it. Slowly the idea of giving alms to the poor and to the church for Christ birth is mentioned in the tenth century. By the eleventh century, families privately gave a token to their servants and expected nothing from them

We know that as Rome became a Christian empire, it sent that religion to the corners of its holdings. Throughout the Middle Ages, there was an adaptation of pagan festivals into the Christian calendar. The pagan people have always celebrated Solstice in late December as a renewal of kingship, vegetation, the year and the world. Many of those cultures contain a story of the god waxing and waning. The newly christianized Pagans’ adaptation of this holiday was a short leap to the celebration of the birth of Christ who rose from the dead.

Christians don't really believe that Christ was born on Dec. 25 or that he died on Easter. Those dates were chosen by early Christians for convenience more than anything else.

Springtime is a natural time to celebrate when Jesus died, rose and ascended to Heaven. Springtime is generally thought of as a time for renewal. It is about the birth of new things which are unblemished and pure just as Jesus was when he rose and ascended to Heaven. He didn't allow anyone to touch Him before He ascended. Then he returned to earth as a spirit being to complete what He started

Answer 4

Christmas is nothing to do with either Christianity or Islam but it does have it's origins in the midwinter festival and many other basically pagan rites but since much of it is a celebration of nature rather than religion everyone should be able to enjoy it and be happy together despite religion! The ancient European pagans celebrated the midwinter festival and a number of other festivals long before Christianity ever existed! Babylonians celebrated the feast of the Son of Isis with gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift giving and the goddess of fertility, love, and war. The Romans held a festival on 25 December called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, celebrating their own god Sol Invictas – PAGAN! The Persian god Mithras, the Syrian sun god Elah Gabal, the German Sol, the Greek Helios and the Mesopotamian Shamash. But also Saturnalia, honouring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. The law courts and schools were closed. No public business could be transacted an this is where the holidays originated - ALL PAGAN! Wax tapers were given by the more humble to their superiors. The origin of the Christmas candle - PAGAN! In Rome groups of costumed went from house to house entertaining their people. And this was where the carolling Christmas tradition originated PAGAN! Statues of the Mother and lover or Mother and son were paraded through the streets not only in Italy but also in Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Thus, the symbolism of the Heavenly Virgin and the infant child paraded on a yearly basis are not of Christian origin. They stem from the Mother-goddess religion, which is very ancient ENTIRELY PAGAN! Scandinavian countries celebrated Yule honouring Thor – PAGAN! In Germania (not Germany) they celebrated midwinter night followed by 12 wild nights of eating and drinking. The 12 days of Christmas PAGAN! The church under Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25 in 350 AD in order to try to hijack the PAGAN festivals but it was largely ignored. Christians did not really celebrate Christmas until 378 but it was then dropped in 381 and not resurrected until 400. The Christmas tree stems from pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of holly boughs ivy and other foliage as an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Holly and ivy represented male and female. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual - all PAGAN! Santa Claus came from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” and was a tall figure riding a white horse through the air and usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. Also the origin of the reindeer, sleigh and the elves ALL PAGAN! The modern red coated Santa was brought about by coca cola! AMERICA ACTUALLY BANNED CHRISTMAS several times and is the originator of the expression “Happy Holidays” which came about because of the pagan origins of Christmas to include all religions and traditions! The Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer pointed out that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices when it found the population unwilling to give up the festivals. Thus a lot of what Christians now see as Christians practices are in fact pagan! Christmas is the time of year christians strive to prove just how pagan they have become

Answer 5

It doesn't matter what day Jesus was born or died. Christians all over the world celebrate these days in remembrance of his Birth and Death.
25th December was also called the feast of Light just as Jesus came into the world as the Light.
It's nothing new your telling us.

Answer 6

Maybe some Christians do, but I don't. Though I do celebrate Christmas on Dec 25 (and Jan 7, but thats a different thing), and Easter in April. I don't think the actual day we celebrate matters, as long as we remember.

Answer 7

It's just easier for people to follow tradition and explain things to little kids in a way that makes sense to them...

but it's good of you to point out the truth.

You just need to know that people do things because it saves time - they are not all ignorant.

Like a lot of Christians know that the practice of lighting a tree is a pagan ritual... but it would deprive their children of a fun thing to do (or compromise their faith) if they didn't call it a "Christmas Tree" so they just continue...

It would be selfish of Pagans to deny them that, right?

Just don't show them any of those pictures of early Greeks painting "rebirth" eggs and having gay sex at the same time.

And by the way - Pagans didn't start "bringing all their stuff in"... Your religion came knocking on THEIR door - remember?
It's ok though - we can be fine with the way history went because it is indeed in the past... and no group of people is without their trespasses.

To forgive but not forget is good in all religions.

Answer 8

Nobody knows the exact date of Jesus' birth. I don't know the exact day He was resurrected.
One time a year people celebrate the birth of Christ and one time a year we are thankful for Him. Which we should be thankful all the time, because it's through Him that we'll get to heaven.

Answer 9

They are not pagan holidays they are what you intend them to be.This is highly uncharitable and overly judgemental in my opinion.


David while I agree that much of what is called church today or Christian is not holiness unto the Lord,in terms of obeying the Lord, I think you are wrong about namimg "pagan festivals" as the cause , or even naming them pagan festivals to begin with. I can celebrate Christ's birthday or resurrection any day, everyday or even no day, there is such freedom in Messiah.It doesn't matter what took place on that day before because God created all the sun and moon and stars and hence our lives and our calendars, every day is the Lords day. So I think it is uncharitable and severely censurious to say that, it doesn't help to accuse good Christians. Not all that talk about celebrating honor God, that is separate.
I would go as far as to say that it was wise to cover over those days with new meanings.
St. Augustine said, 'In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in everything charity'.

Answer 10

Sounds like you are really confused.. A little news break for you here..Here are the specifics.. Ok.. Im just giving you my opinion for your benefit and find it humorous that so many people worry about dates and places and such..first of all there are no actual accounts of Christ's life that can be accounted for until 300 years after his death.. Jesus was a man just like you and I..although a good man he was still a man.When called the son of God it was a metaphor just as we are the children of God.Yes no doubt at times he was given divine powers here on earth to bless those that needed it just as was moses and others..but living deity no..he was no more deity than we are .or perhaps we are all deities and have the same powers..anyway besides the point.. Ok he bible was written by men.. many copies many translations I suspect that was translated according to tradition more or less to accordance to what was important for those days..A little drama here and there like fire and brimstone and destruction of innocent cites and things of that nature that have now been proved to be of nothing related to God's wrath..mans wrath perhaps but Gods no.God is a God of mercy and love and peace and care not of anger destruction and killing innocents just for the fact that people have not chose God's ways.. Ok another thing is that Constantine pretty much decided what would be put into the bible along with some of his cronies which were all pagan trying to avoid and uprising in rome and the fall of rome..So he did the next best thing..He integrated pagan beliefs into the Christian beliefs and accomplished something very impartial a continued belief in pagan rituals and pagan holidays incorporated into the Christian church.. Ok next he remained a pagan until the day he was on his death bed and decided to convert that day just in case.He hid alot of the books written for the bible some we know about some we don't and it was edited for control of the masses over time to keep control of patrons of the churches and basically scare everyone into compliance.Im not sure what beliefs you have but my God is a God of compassion and love and free will.I tell you this whole hell thing is a farce.Why would God take his time like santa and check his list and check it twice to see who goes to a lake of fire..If he was the God described in the bible God would just make our sun go supernova and wipe us all out and start all over.Why take time to do inventory when you can accomplish everything at once..Nope i dont buy it and really when you think about it what does it matter what day that Jesus birthday was on .I think his actual birthday was something like july or something..It all works out so do sweat it ,believe what you want read,study and keep it together be devout about what you believe but please dont shove it down others throats..you gave your opinion and i am giving you mine and thanks for letting me answer..

Answer 11

The majority of Christians don't believe those dates. This is not a "news flash" dude. Furthermore, this subject was discussed and asked on a *daily* basis during December ... you must not have been online back then. Sorry.