40 Days With Jesus: Celebrating His Presence (Jesus Calling®)

Product Information

Herod Antipas (Matthew 14:6-11; Mark 6:21-28): Herod held a birthday banquet, during which the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Pleased, Herod promised to give her whatever she asked for. Prompted by her mother, she requested the head of John the Baptist, leading to John’s execution. In eastern Europe also, pre-Christian traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations there, an example being the Koleda, [100] which shares parallels with the Christmas carol. This is one of the earliest mentions of a birthday in the Bible, although the focus is more on Pharaoh’s actions than the celebration itself. As a devout Jew, Jesus would have been familiar with the traditions and customs of his people. Historically, the Jewish people have long celebrated Hanukkah, and Jesus would likely have participated in some form. However, it is important to note that the celebration of Hanukkah during the time of Jesus was not the same as today. The elaborate rituals and traditions we associate with modern-day Hanukkah did not evolve until centuries after Jesus' time. Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 [a] as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. [2] [3] [4] A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it follows the season of Advent (which begins four Sundays before) or the Nativity Fast, and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night. [5] Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries, [6] [7] [8] is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, [9] as well as culturally by many non-Christians, [1] [10] and forms an integral part of the holiday season organized around it.

Christmas is a time for reflection and renewal. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the past year, to think about how far we’ve come and to make plans for the future. The temple which meant so much to the Jewish people was merely a temporary fixture until the coming of this true temple.

In a season of sorrow? This FREE eBook will guide you in biblical lament

The earliest extant specifically Christmas hymns appear in fourth-century Rome. Latin hymns such as " Veni redemptor gentium", written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism. "Corde natus ex Parentis" ("Of the Father's love begotten") by the Spanish poet Prudentius (d. 413) is still sung in some churches today. [210] In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Christmas "Sequence" or "Prose" was introduced in North European monasteries, developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed stanzas. In the 12th century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began to derive music from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditional Christmas carol. Christmas carols in English appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay who lists twenty five "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung by groups of ' wassailers', who went from house to house. [211] Child singers in Bucharest, 1841

Others view Hanukkah as an exclusively Jewish holiday, and while they may respect and appreciate the festival, they do not see it as a part of their Christian observances. Some Christian denominations discourage celebrating non-Christian holidays altogether, while others leave the decision to individual discretion. As we enjoy Christmas, please help us to remember that we celebrate because of the story of the birth of Jesus. Alternatively, if you do not have time to source the items, use the images in the gallery called 'Christmas is..?'In addition to "Christmas", the holiday has had various other English names throughout its history. The Anglo-Saxons referred to the feast as "midwinter", [31] [32] or, more rarely, as Nātiuiteð (from Latin nātīvitās below). [31] [33] " Nativity", meaning "birth", is from Latin nātīvitās. [34] In Old English, Gēola ( Yule) referred to the period corresponding to December and January, which was eventually equated with Christian Christmas. [35] "Noel" (also "Nowel" or "Nowell", as in " The First Nowell") entered English in the late 14th century and is from the Old French noël or naël, itself ultimately from the Latin nātālis (diēs) meaning "birth (day)". [36] TEACHER: Good question Thomas. Yes, Jesus was Jewish so he would have celebrated Passover every year with his friends and family. Do you know what people mean when they talk about the 'Last Supper'? Use the story questions to help children to talk about the story they have watched and to recall the main events. John 10:38 tn Or “works.” sn Jesus says that in the final analysis, the deeds he did should indicate whether he was truly from the Father. If the authorities could not believe in him, it would be better to believe in the deeds he did than not to believe at all. Our Lord, too, is born in the month of December ... the eighth before the calends of January [25 December] ... But they [the pagans] call it the ' Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord? Or, if they say that it is the birthday of the Sun, [we may say] He is the Sun of Justice". [24]

First, let’s look at the etymology of the word ‘birthday.’ The word ‘birthday’ is derived from the Old English ‘byrthdæg’ which translates to ‘birth day’. The word ‘birth’ comes from the Old English ‘bærth’ which means ‘to bear’ or ‘bring forth.’ Thus, the term ‘birthday’ is a combination of the words ‘birth’ and ‘day’ which signifies the day of one’s birth. The Origin of Celebrating Birthdays Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop's attire, accompanied by helpers, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year before deciding whether they deserved a gift or not. By the 13th century, Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands, and the practice of gift-giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern Europe. At the Reformation in 16th–17th-century Euro John 10:24 tn Grk “How long will you take away our life?” (an idiom which meant to keep one from coming to a conclusion about something). The use of the phrase τὴν ψυχὴν ἡμῶν αἴρεις ( tēn psuchēn hēmōn aireis) meaning “to keep in suspense” is not well attested, although it certainly fits the context here. In modern Greek the phrase means “to annoy, bother.”

How St. Nicholas became Santa Claus

John 10:24 tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders. The question they ask Jesus (“Are you the Christ?”) is the same one they sent and asked of John the Baptist in the desert (see John 1:19-34). See also the note on the phrase “the Jewish people” in v. 19. The Bible does not record Jesus celebrating his own birthday. However, there are some passages that suggest that Jesus celebrated the birthdays of others. For example, in Luke 2:41-42, Jesus and his family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover, which falls on the same day as his own birthday. This suggests that Jesus celebrated birthdays, even if he did not celebrate his own. List of Pros and Cons of Celebrating Christmas Pros: Germany: Unmarried 30-year-old men sweep the stairs of city hall while their friends throw trash to symbolize their “old age.” The task is complete when a young woman gives them a kiss.

Don’t you love to look at Christmas lights around your community? Ever notice that it’s in darkness that their beauty shines best? The same is true for you. You best reflect Jesus, the Light of the World, when you shine for Him in the world. Perhaps this is the month you should share with your neighbor the hope you have in Christ. Consider volunteering at your local women’s shelter or looking into any number of opportunities available through your church or in your community. Grasp every occasion this season offers to share the light of Christ with someone walking in darkness. Christmas is a time for giving and for spreading joy. People are encouraged to give to those less fortunate and to bring some joy and cheer into the lives of those around them. Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures.

When was Jesus Christ born?

December 25 was also nine months after March 25, a date chosen as Jesus's conception (the Annunciation) and the date of the spring equinox on the Roman calendar. [17] While Judas was a heroic military figure, he was merely a man. At the feast, Jesus declared himself to be both Messiah and Son of God. The Jews asked Jesus to tell them “plainly” if he was the Messiah (10:24). If they weren’t sure who Jesus believed himself to be, it was clear when he confessed, “I and the Father are one” (v. 30). To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…” We've been thinking today about a very special story - the nativity - the story of the very first Christmas... Many popular customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus' birth, with some claiming that certain elements are Christianized and have origins in pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity; other scholars reject these claims and affirm that Christmas customs largely developed in a Christian context. [87] [22] The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a sometimes raucous, drunken, carnival-like state in the Middle Ages, [88] to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme introduced in a 19th-century transformation. [89] [90] The celebration of Christmas was banned on more than one occasion within certain groups, such as the Puritans and Jehovah's Witnesses (who do not celebrate birthdays in general), due to concerns that it was too unbiblical. [91] [92] [93]