During Christmas I see a lot of people prepare for the season. While some people decorate their houses with Christmas trees and lights, others get gifts for their loved ones. All these are good but it is equally important to know why we celebrate the season. Any time I visit a place and there is a festival, I try to join in the dance and music but most of the time I do not necessarily know the reason for the celebration. The moment I understand the celebration, I value it and celebrate it with meaning. This also applies to celebrating Christmas, celebrating with meaning adds more value.
Christmas comes from two words: Christ (Jesus) – the name of a person; and Mass – a festival or celebration. So literally Christmas means Christ-festival. Why will the celebration of a person be so popular around the world? The reason is that the festival is done to celebrate the birth of Christ who is considered by Christians as the saviour of the world. Some people have contested the celebration of Christmas on the 25th of December. They have questioned whether it is the actual birthday. Other people also attribute it to pagan worship. These debates have gone on over the centuries but these discussions are not the main focus of this write-up. I may do an exhaustive study on them some other time. The purpose of this write-up is to focus more on the person behind the celebration, Jesus Christ.
The story of Christ: a myth ( legend) or a Fact?
According to Britannica, a Myth is “a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief. It is distinguished from symbolic behaviour (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons).”
Also according to Merriam-Webster, a Legend is “a story coming down from the past especially: one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable.”
Taking these two definitions together, a myth or legend is characterized by an unknown origin or the historical facts presented cannot be verified. Let us see if that can be applied to Jesus Christ.
Independence of the New Testament Writers.
The source of the story of Christ is found in the New Testament of the Bible. It is noteworthy that the New Testament is not a single book. It is a collection of books from individual authors who were not influenced by the writing of each other. This is because the issues each addressed presents exclusive information about Christ. Also, the point of view of the stories are different and lastly, the ideas each expressed about Christ is independent. For example, four books of the Bible that talk about the life of Jesus Christ are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. these books are collectively called the Gospels. Two of these books (Matthew and John) talk about the Childhood of Jesus Christ whiles the other two books do not. Even though these books talk about his childhood, they all focus on different aspects of it. It is also noteworthy that all the accounts of the life of Christ agree about major issues or facts presented about him.
Coherency in the New Testament Account.
As noted above, the first four books concentrate on the birth, work, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and end with what Jesus expected from his disciples. These books recorded the greater part of his teachings and direct quotations. Therefore anyone who wishes to know the truth about Christ should consult these records. The other 23 books of the New Testament explain more of His teachings. These books were written by his friends and an enemy who later became his follower (the Apostle Paul).
In research, if a study is replicated, there is more trust in the results of the finding. The testimony about Jesus was recorded by more than seven different individuals. These writers had their unique styles of writing. Although the focus of their writings is different, there are some converging details or facts they all agree on about Jesus. These agreements among the writers provide support for each other’s work. Someone may question that agreement among writers does not provide support for trusting the writings as accurate. The response to that challenge is that the writers did not intend for their works to provide support for each other. The writers wrote about the things they independently observed and investigated. For example, if two different observers are talking about a tree, they may describe it differently depending on their point of view. However, if they observe the same tree, they should agree about the colour of the leaves, the location of the tree, and certain features of the tree. The point I am raising is that if observers are giving an account of an object, the common features they agree on serve as a test of reliability that they are talking about the same thing. This equally applies to the New Testament account of Jesus. The writings of the New Testament were recorded by people who had first-hand information. These accounts should not provide contradictory statements. However, the information each provides should corroborate each other and provide additional information. Let us look at the stances they claim first-hand information.
First-hand Information
These are some of the statements they make about their testimonies:
The Testimony of Luke:
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:1-4
The testimony of John
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
John 21:24-25
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:1-3
The Testimony of Paul:
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:11-12
The Testimony of Peter:
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Peter 1:16
The point here is that all the writings in the New Testament were written by observers or written on behalf of those who observed Christ. Regardless of the purpose of their writings, they all agree on the existence of Jesus Christ. Their writings corroborate each other’s and even provide additional information. These writings also contain certain historical events which can be verified outside the Bible. Some of these historical facts that can be verified are the reference to King Herod, the rule of Caesar Augustus and the decree he issued for a census to be taken in the Roman world, the rule of Quirinius who was the governor of Syria at that time, Pontius Pilate the Roman governor of Judaea and others. Unlike myths, Bible accounts do not make reference to vague historical occurrences. They make reference to specific events which can be verified. We can prove the falsehood of these statements. One way to do that is to find out whether these events or people mentioned, existed at the specific period the Bible makes reference to or whether these events happened as have been recorded. Some non-Christian authors or historians who recorded some facts about Jesus and corroborate some events in the New Testament are Josephus, Tacitus, and others.
Taken together, the message about Jesus Christ is not a myth but a real historical event that was recorded by his disciples. As has been noted, these accounts can be verified from nonchristian sources. The celebration of Christmas is about the birth of Christ and its purpose of it is summarized in one of the verse below.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
I hope that as you hang your Christmas lights and have your celebrations also take note that Jesus is a bigger light who brings light to the world.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 1:5,9
Do not just enjoy the celebration but also celebrate with meaning. I wish you a Merry Christmas and all the blessings that come along with it.
Photo Credit:
1. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wqt95xFeI98/maxresdefault.jpg
2. https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/fact-myth-red-red-sit-opposite-ends-gray-board-balanced-gray-question-mark-white-47624429.jpg
3. https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/coherence-complex-like-puzzle-pictured-as-word-coherence-puzzle-pieces-to-show-coherence-can-be-difficult-needs-164222500.jpg
oak27oak 
This is a great peace. God bless YOU Obed.
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We bless God.
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