Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?

Q. Mike, was Jesus born on Christmas Day? What does the Bible say?

A. This is a common question that several will ask during the holidays, and the short answer is: No. While Jesus could have been born on December 25th, the chances are slim that He was. Allow me to explain.

We have all seen the nativity with the shepherds, the three magi, and the camels. Joseph, Mary, and the infant Christ wrapped in His swaddling clothes and stationed in the middle. The small one my mother sat on the counter even had an angel fastened by a nail hanging above them all. 

Sadly, the nativity scene does not accurately represent the night of Christ's birth, but rather the entire narrative in one image. But that is neither here nor there. The question is, "Was Jesus born on Christmas Day?"

I tell you now; there are arguments promoting a winter birth and assertions for another time. But let me ask you this: what is more important; that He was born on Christmas Day, or that He was born, period? That, perhaps, is not the answer you were looking for, but consider this:

God is a very detailed God. We see much detail in the Old Testament as He commands Moses on how the Tabernacle was to be built (Ex. 25-31), how they were to sacrifice (Lev. 1-5), the clothing they wore (Ex. 28), their hair (Lev. 19), et cetera. God was so detailed as to tell the people when they should feast (Ex. 34; Lev. 23; Num. 10). Here is the point: If God wanted a specific day set apart for the birth of His Son and our Savior, He could have easily said so.

The thrust of the matter is not whether Christ was born on December 25th, but that He was born, period. That "when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Gel. 4:4-5).

Anyone who says to you that they can prove or disprove beyond any doubt that Jesus was or was not born on December 25th, is, sadly, lying to you.