The Winter Star

Winter has long been associated with death. There are likely a number of reasons for that. It could be due to the fact that we see plants fade away and animals disappear during the season. The increased length of the night and the early fading of day during the season could also be reasons, especially considering how much uncertainty and fear the night brought to people in the past. Maybe the answer is something as simple as the cold that the winter brings, which is also something associated with death. Whatever the reason, Winter is often seen as the season where life slows down and waits until Spring comes along to bring a rebirth.

Many scholars actually believe that Jesus was born during the Spring. Luke 2:8 says about the time of Jesus’ birth:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

The verse refers to an activity that typically happened in the springtime. So where did December 25th come from?  Some scholars believe that date was chosen for Christmas in an effort to replace Saturnalia, a holiday celebrated by many pagan converts to Christianity earlier in the faith’s history. Whatever the reason for the transition, the irony associated with Christmas should be evident. The birth of Jesus isn’t a story associated with death like the Winter season. Instead, for Christians, Jesus’ birth and life mean the defeat of death and the potential for receiving the gift of eternal life.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. - 1 John 2:17

Looking at it that way, it definitely would seem more fitting to celebrate Jesus’ birth in the Spring. Just as the arrival of Spring means an escape from the Winter and whatever cold and misery might have come along with it. Jesus’ birth meant the promise of an escape from God’s wrath and the death that would come as a result of that wrath.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. - John 3:36

For Believers, Jesus' birth brought forth the chance for a rebirth, a baptism in the Holy Spirit that renews all who believe in Him and turns us all into new people just like Spring seemingly recreates the world into something new from the barren setting that’s present during Winter in many places.

Looking at the dynamic that way, it seems clear that Spring would definitely be a more suitable time to celebrate Jesus’ coming, but there is another way to look at it. Yes, Jesus’ birth meant that the world would eventually gain a way of rising above sin and obtaining eternal life, however, sin and the trouble it brings didn’t just disappear from the world after Jesus was born. Similarly, when we accept Jesus as our savior, temptation and our tendencies toward sinfulness don’t just disappear either. Jesus and the Holy Spirit give us a way to rise above sin, but it’s still something in which we’re all immersed. Yes, Believers will have an unending spiritual life, but even those that believe in Jesus will still die in a physical sense (outside of those selected immediately during the Rapture). Therefore, Jesus’ birth didn’t necessarily push away sin and death in the same way that Spring pushes away the Winter. Instead, Jesus gives us hope in the midst of the somber season. He is like the bright star shining through a gloomy winter night. Maybe celebrating Jesus in the winter is perfect because during this cold and dark season, Christmas gives us a chance to reflect on the one light that can cut through any darkness we may face.

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” - John 8:12

A good reason for not celebrating Jesus’ birth in the Spring is the fact that we already celebrate his death in that season. While the birth of our savior might seem like a much more joyous event to celebrate than his death, in some ways, his death is the more important day to celebrate. Jesus’ life was certainly a blessing to this world, so his birth was important. However, his death and resurrection are what actually unlock the door to eternal life.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3

As great as Jesus’ birth might have been, it was his death that created the opportunity for us to rise above death. His resurrection is the Spring that beats back the Winter that is sin.  

In the end, the season we celebrate a particular event in Jesus’ life doesn’t really matter. What is important is that we remember Jesus and what he means for us all. Whether it’s Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, Jesus should be just as important to us. What’s absolutely vital is that we not only celebrate Him, but integrate Him into our lives in a way that allows us to rise above the evils of the world around us.

To some extent, Jesus, even for some that don’t believe, is definitely the celebrity of this season. We have Christmas to thank for that. Because of this holiday, Jesus is and has been the Winter Star. As we prepare to celebrate Him and his birth, let us be sure to remember why it is that his birth was so important in the first place. If we do that, then maybe we can grow to a point where in our hearts, every day is Christmas. If he is the light that conquers death, then his light should be able to shine out even when the season associated with death ends.

Chris Lawyer

Image Courtesy of videoblocks.com