Calculating Christmas: The Story Behind December 25

Touchstone ^ | 12/03 | William J. Tighe

[mfulstone]

Sunday morning? Try Saturday night.

In the Jewish Calendar, to this day, a day begins at sunset and ends at the following sunset.

No matter how you cook the books, If Jesus died Friday afternoon and rose Sunday morning, He (by his own words) is simply NOT the messiah.

[rhema]

Sorry, got my posters mixed up in #11. You were requesting the same info from the same poster as I mistakenly did to you.

[ppaul]

bump.

[yatros from flatwater]

Who cares? Yeshua (Jesus) strongly objected to the elevation of human traditions over the commandments of the God of Israel (Matt 15:6, quoting Isaiah 29:13). The substitution tradition goes way back to the fall in Eden. Is it something to celebrate?

As far as the origins of Christ's Mass, see the Catholic Encylopedia for a fairly comprehensive discussion of the various pagan contributions

[sirchtruth]

No matter how you cook the books, If Jesus died Friday afternoon and rose Sunday morning, He (by his own words) is simply NOT the messiah.

I hope you won't be dissappointed to learn that there is NOTHING in scripture that pinpoints that he was crucified on a Friday...There were plenty of other Sabbath's. He was probably crucified on Wednesday, but my whole contintion is still that he rose Saturday night...

[mfulstone]

he rose Saturday night...

BINGO! But it was just before sunset on saturday. He was placed in the grave before sunset on wednesday and rose the same time of day on the sabbath - a day for releasing people from bondage. The tomb was ALREADY empty before sunrise on Sunday.

[Straight Vermonter]

One thing that may interest those on this thread is that Luke 2:8 says "Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock."

The only time flocks of sheep were left in the fields overnight was in the spring when they were birthing the spring lambs. So likely Jesus was born in the springtime.

Food for thought.

[Xenalyte]

That's one thing that's always puzzled me. All the Bibles in my house (and, I'm betting, several I don't own) say that "he was crucified, dead and buried . . . on the third day he rose from the dead."

Being a good Episcopalian, I observe Good Friday. But there is absolutely no way to add three days to Friday and get Sunday. So is Good Friday erroneous, or is Sunday not the day of resurrection?

Like it matters anyway - I'm just pickin' nits 'cause the dog is at school and I miss him. :)

[sirchtruth]

Being a good Episcopalian, I observe Good Friday. But there is absolutely no way to add three days to Friday and get Sunday. So is Good Friday erroneous, or is Sunday not the day of resurrection?

Right, and I would venture to say most Christians observe this way. What I have learned however, if you intently study the OT is that yes, Saturday was a sabbath. The day of rest. The Jewish culture though recognizes all sorts of sabbaths of weeks, months, and even years. (7th year, land rest.)As you and mfulstone stated, you can't reconcile three days and nights from Friday to Sunday, technically.

Now, there can be much conjecture from man about this, but I take Jesus at his word no matter what the context.

Like our Lord's birth at Christmas, what is important as Christians is we recognize his sacrifice and ressurection, whenever it was.

[Adder]

"Is it something to celebrate?"

You bet it is. It represents a continuity of tradition that has lasted for hundreds and maybe thousands of years. It is "inclusive" in that it honors and respects "diverse" traditions by including them.
The fact that a Yule log is a Druid holdover does not diminish the holiday of Christmas, it enhances it.
Those who see some "evil" or nefarious purpose are being somewhat disingenuous.

[AnalogReigns]

I’d say its (past) time to bring this story up again.

[AnalogReigns]

For the Anglican ping list (again this year): During these 12 Days, Just to help the weaker brethren... (since they’ve no doubt, as I have, heard some spoiler-minister-or-priest say “The real Christmas couldn’t POSSIBLY been on the 25th of December....”

If there isn’t any compelling reason to reject a tradition, thank keep it, and keep it WELL!!!

[Huber]

Thanks to AnalogReigns for the ping.

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[Peanut Gallery]

What of Mithras?

[SunkenCiv]

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