Today’s main “Christian” holidays, Christmas and Easter, seemingly center on Jesus Christ’s birth and resurrection. Interestingly, Jesus did not instruct His disciples to honor either one, and the dates on which society celebrates them are incorrect. Regarding Christmas, December 25th seems an unlikely date for Jesus birth as shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks when Jesus was born, and since December is the middle of winter in Judea, shepherds would have been sheltering their flocks and themselves at that time.
In addition, Mary and Joseph were on their way to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census. It is doubtful that the Roman Empire would have been taking a census when the roads were washed out and the temperatures were below freezing. Furthermore, John the Baptist was Jesus’ senior by six months. John was born in late March, indicating that Jesus was born sometime in late September.
Likewise, the celebration of Easter Sunday is erroneous, as the Gospels contain the precise chronology of Jesus resurrection. Jesus and His disciples observed biblical high days, however, and so most folks fail to grasp that He rose on Saturday afternoon, not Sunday morning. Moreover, Jesus did explicitly tell His followers to continue to honor Passover.
They did so, at Jesus instruction, during the night of the first full moon of the first month of spring, the same as the Jews. By 250 A.D., most Christian churches had moved the feast to the Sunday after the actual holiday. Less than a century later, in 325 A.D., the first ecumenical Council of Nicaea decreed that all Christian churches should observe the feast on Sunday. Modern Christianity is indeed laden with non-biblical practices.
However, the Bible does cite an exact cycle of authentic Christian holidays, each being a specific step through which God reveals to us our purpose and his plan for humankind’s future. They are the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Eighth Day. Every member of Jesus Church is a student of God’s instruction.
The Bible is the textbook to life; therefore, it is the obligation and honor of every Christian to keep the Christian holidays included therein. True Christianity continues the mission Christ provided, preserving and proclaiming to the world the true gospel of the Kingdom of God, and following the example of Jesus and His apostles during everyday life.
True Christians are special to God, they are cherished for their faith and obedience, but not because they are inherently more worthy of His love than are others. Christians are children in the family that God is building, diligently working toward earning salvation at Christ’s return. Any individual who desires to learn the truth, obey God, spread His Word, and fellowship with others of similar mind and spirit are always welcome. For more information, please visit www.ucg.org at your convenience.