The birth of the Lord Jesus | The Old Path | MCGI

Summary

The video argues that there is no Biblical record of first-century Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Instead, early Christians commemorated His death, based on the belief that a righteous person's death is more significant than their birth. Key Biblical references from 1 Corinthians, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Revelation highlight that the death of saints is precious in God's sight. This perspective aligns with Jewish tradition, where death in service to God is seen as a greater achievement than birth. Thus, the focus was on honoring Jesus' death rather than celebrating His birth.

Takeaways

• 😀 There is no biblical record of first-century Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
• 😀 Mary and Joseph, although acknowledged as Jesus' parents, did not celebrate his birth according to the Bible.
• 😀 The Bible records that Mary and Joseph regularly went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, but no mention is made of a celebration for Jesus' birth.
• 😀 Early Christians commemorated the death of Jesus, not his birth, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:26.
• 😀 Ecclesiastes teaches that 'the day of death is better than the day of one's birth,' reflecting the Jewish belief that death holds greater spiritual significance.
• 😀 Psalms 116:15 emphasizes that the death of the righteous is precious in the sight of the Lord.
• 😀 Revelation 14:13 affirms that 'blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,' reinforcing the idea that death in service to God is honored.
• 😀 The first-century Christian community believed that the death of Jesus, as an act of sacrifice, held more importance than his birth.
• 😀 The focus in the Bible and early Christianity was on achieving a righteous life and dying in service to God, rather than on celebrating birthdays.
• 😀 There is a theological emphasis on the death of saints, which is seen as the completion of their service to God, as opposed to celebrating the day they were born.

Q & A

Why does the script argue that first-century Christians did not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?

The script argues that there is no biblical evidence indicating that first-century Christians celebrated Jesus' birth. Instead, the focus was on commemorating His death, as it was considered more significant according to Jewish tradition and early Christian beliefs.

What evidence does the script provide to support the claim that early Christians did not celebrate Jesus' birthday?

The script highlights that there are no records in the Bible of Mary and Joseph celebrating Jesus' birth, nor is there any mention of the first-century Christians celebrating it. The script also points to the fact that early Christians, including Mary and Joseph, regularly participated in Jewish festivals like the Passover, which was a focus of their religious observance.

What does the script say about the significance of death over birth in early Christian thought?

The script emphasizes that, according to Jewish belief and early Christian tradition, the death of a righteous person is considered more important than their birth. This idea is rooted in the belief that a person’s death in service to God signifies the completion of their mission, and thus it was more fitting to commemorate Jesus' death rather than His birth.

What specific biblical verses does the script reference to support its claim about the significance of death over birth?

The script references Ecclesiastes 7:1 ('A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth'), Psalms 116:15 ('Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints'), and Revelation 14:13 ('Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord... that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them').

What role did Jewish traditions, like the Feast of Passover, play in the life of Jesus and His family according to the script?

The script indicates that Jesus and His family, particularly His parents, adhered to Jewish traditions such as attending the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. This regular observance of Jewish festivals is cited as evidence that early Christians focused on practices like Passover rather than the celebration of Jesus' birth.

How does the script interpret the story of Jesus at the age of 12 in the temple?

The script uses the story of 12-year-old Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-50) to demonstrate that Jesus and His parents followed Jewish customs, including the observance of Passover. The script contrasts this focus on religious tradition with the absence of any celebration of Jesus' birthday in the biblical narrative.

What theological reasoning does the script provide for the first-century Christians' focus on Jesus' death rather than His birth?

The theological reasoning is based on the belief that the death of a righteous person, particularly one who has served God, holds greater value than their birth. The script suggests that the first-century Christians viewed Jesus' death as the completion of His mission and a critical moment in God's plan of salvation.

Why does the script claim that early Christians did not celebrate their own birthdays?

The script claims that early Christians did not celebrate their birthdays because they believed that the death of a person who has faithfully served God was more significant than their birth. Death was viewed as the culmination of one's service to God, and thus it was a cause for celebration rather than the day of birth.

How does the script distinguish between the death of a righteous person and the death of an ordinary person?

The script makes the distinction by emphasizing that the death of a righteous person who has served God is precious in God's sight, as it signifies the completion of a divine mission. This is contrasted with the less significant view of ordinary death, which does not carry the same spiritual weight or significance.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' from Psalms 116:15, as used in the script?

The phrase is used to underscore the biblical and theological view that the death of a righteous person, particularly one who has lived faithfully in service to God, is highly valued by God. The script uses this idea to support its argument that the early Christian focus was on commemorating the death of Jesus, not His birth.