Get the appChristmythsSample
I hate to bust all of your Christmas dreams, but the first Christmas wasn’t snowy and bright. The truth is we don’t know exactly when Jesus was born. The Bible never says. However, pretty much everyone agrees it was not in the winter!
Many clues have helped smart people figure this out, but one of those clues is in what we read today: the shepherds were out with their flocks at night.
That may not seem like a significant detail, but it tells us more than you might think. You see, winter in this part of the world is cold and rainy - not ideal conditions for sheep to be outside! So, shepherds took their flocks to shelter to protect them from the cold and rain. This little detail tells us it was likely between March and October when the angels appeared to them.
Which means... no December birthday.
Scripture
About this Plan
Most people picture the first Christmas. Mary and Joseph show up on a donkey, get turned away from a hotel and end up in a barn. Jesus is born, wrapped in blankets and set in a feeding trough. Shepherds, three wise men, animals, and angels were all there (according to nativity sets). Is that the true picture? Not exactly. Let’s separate the true Christmas from Christmyth.
More
Related plans
When Your World Ends
How to Read Your Bible 101
Faith vs Fear
How to Have a Quiet Time With God
The Uniqueness of Jesus
The Pursuit of Pleasure: A Godly Perspective
Lent: The Journey of Letting Go
Romans: God's Power to Save | Video Devotional
Noah: A Covenant With Humanity
