24V01 Defending the Christmas Story (Transcript of Dr. Kip Wehrman 12/08/2024)
As you can see I’m not the typical ministry guy. I’m just a guy, but this guy and his family love Jesus and Bible with everything we have.
The greatest story ever told, or at least the beginning of it. That’s what the Christmas story is. I love the Christmas season with all its traditions and decorations. We are celebrating Jesus. God with us.
I really appreciated Perry’s message last week. Preparation for Christmas. Be Prepared. I was an eagle scout and that was our moto “Be Prepared”. I think we should be prepared.
Let’s Pray. Lord Thank you. Thank you for this season. Thank you for this day. Thank you for the freedom to come together and worship you Lord. Thank you for you. And what you have done for us. Thank you for coming and dwelling among us. God with us, Emmanuel. I pray that we honor you with our conversation this morning and I pray in your name Lord Jesus, Amen
Let me give you a little background on who I am and my family. Don’t hold it against me, but I grew up in Nebraska. Central Nebraska. A really small place. A few hundred people. I was an athlete, believe it or not. Here is me a very long time ago at 19 when I was on the football team at Nebraska. Believe it or not, I was a running back. I was one of the little fast guys back in the day. My wife grew up a little different in rural Philippines. Her amazing story would take longer than we have today to share.
Anyway, I graduated from Nebraska and went to Auburn University for my graduate school. I have PhD in Chemical Engineering. I did research for NASA, and I’ve been working as a consultant mostly in the O&G industry for 30+ years. I’ve traveled all over the world.
In 2015, we started PUNLA Christian Ministries. Now many times I would tell you about the amazing things God has had us do. Beyond my wildest dream or imagination. But I don’t think that’s the point. I‘d love to share some of those things but probably another time.
I ended up going back to school and got a couple of theology degrees a master’s and doctorate in Christian Apologetics.
Apologetics is not apology by the way. Apologetics is one of those terrible seminary terms. This disaster of a word comes from the Greek word apologia which just means to provide a sound argument or defense. Like a lawyer in a courtroom. So essentially, I got my degree in defending the Christian faith.
Not apologies. Christ has nothing to apologize for. And God does not need us to defend Him. But people need us to know how to answer the critics and skeptics. That is what apologetics is all about.
Anyway. Another time I’d love to share our full testimony, but maybe sometime after New Years.
So what does this all mean for you today.
Well, it’s the Christmas season, so let’s talk about that first Christmas the one in the bible.
First, I have to tell you I have a talent for breaking things or more specifically I have a talent for identifying and exposing the weaknesses in things. I do it professionally as an engineer. I get hired to find what will go wrong before it does to save lives. As a Christian apologist, I identify and study resolutions to the questions and critiques of our faith.
I believe in truth and I believe truth is always better than things that aren’t true.
Jesus is the truth, and I’ll follow the truth of Jesus wherever He leads me.
SO that brings me to Christmas and our many Christmas traditions.
Christmas is more than a day. It’s a celebration of God’s plan for us. The word Christmas is actually from Christ’s Mass. Mass being a church service to commemorate and celebrate Christ. Specifically, the birth of Jesus
Don’t hate me for this, but many of our cherished Christmas traditions are not in the Bible or in some cases not even based on the Bible. I won’t mention most of these since we have kids in the room.
But let’s focus on our Christmas Story. The one in the Bible.
Think about that Nativity scene we cherish so much. I love Church Christmas pageants. All the kids, singing and candlelight. These are great traditions. So, I’m not saying any of them are wrong or bad. I love them. They are beautiful ways to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
But I’m an apologist, which means I believe we need to know the difference between tradition and Bible. The reason is there are lots of skeptics and critics out there who want to put doubts in our minds. Our job is to educate ourselves, so we can simply say. “So” or “your right.”
These are traditions, but the Bible actually says this. Then we can open up a conversation about our traditions or the Bible or both. Why we celebrate the way we do. Even Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree and presents are rooted in our Christian faith and our expression of that faith.
So are you ready for me to share some of my Christmas Story Apologetics.
the Christmas story is only found in Matthew 2 and Luke 2.
In fact the story we know is found in
Luke 2:1-7 (NIV) 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
We’ve heard that before, I’m sure. So, did you see the hidden details which are so important to the story?
First we have information about a census. Based on the best scholarship that I know of there were three Roman censuses taken around the time of Jesus’ birth. The most likely one is either 5 BC or 8BC. We can’t be certain, and censuses were very different from what we have today. So, the birth of Jesus was probably not 0BC but rather 5BC or 8BC.
It’s a little confusing but the specific date is really not that important. God came and dwelt with us in the form of a baby, baby Jesus. That’s the main point here.
Also, we seem to miss this in the story, but Nazareth is a long way from Bethlehem. 90 miles at least. That means 4-8 days walking. This is not an easy trip and Mary is pregnant. Many nights sleeping along the roadside. They probably traveled in a caravan or group at least as far as Jerusalem.
I hate traveling. But I don’t have to walk for a week to get where I’m going. To give you an idea, it is like walking from here to lake Conroe or here to La Grange. So, it’s a long walk and it’s not all flat either.
Luke 2:3 (NIV) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.
Joseph went to his hometown to register. This probably is where he was born. This is most likely where his family was from. It might even have been where Mary was from.
We know that Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, in the hill country of Judea which is where Bethlehem is. This is from the Luke chapter 1 story about the birth of John the Baptizer.
Luke 2:6 (NIV) 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
This is not how it’s often depicted. While they were there, is not just as they arrived. There is no reasonable reason why they would have waited until Mary was about to give birth to travel. It’s a 90 mile journey and they probably walked. Not many had a donkey in first century Israel and Its unlikely that a carpenter from Nazareth would have one. So, based on what the Bible actual says, it is much more reasonable that they have been in Bethlehem for some time before Jesus is born. Days, weeks, maybe even longer, the Bible does not tell us, but it definitely does not say as they arrive or the moment, they arrive boom baby Jesus. That is not the sense you get from the Bible.
Luke 2:7 (NIV)7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
I know that’s not how most of us remember the story. Let me read from the KJV 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
There it is, the manger and the Inn. No room for them in the inn. I’ve seen this depicted as Joseph frantically searching for place to stay. Inn after inn they are turned away, until finally a grumpy inn keeper offers them the stable or cave. Anyway, where all the animals are kept. This is what I thought and believed but is that really what the Bible says.
Well, no, first of all the KJV says “the inn”. Bethlehem is only about 5 miles outside of Jerusalem. Around 1 BC it is estimated that the population of Bethlehem was about 300-500 people. So, it’s a small place probably about the same size as my hometown in Nebraska.
Do we really believe there was an inn in this tiny place called Bethlehem, especially since it was so close to Jerusalem. And the Jewish culture was one of hospitality. If you entered a city, you went to the city well or gate and waited, someone would typically ask you to stay with them.
There was just very few inn’s in the first century Israel and they are definitely not like the European Inns of the 16-18th century or our modern Hotels. Sadly, we have tried to overlay our culture on an ancient culture which was very different from ours.
So was there an Inn? Probably not.
The word translated inn in KJV and guest room in NIV is the Greek word “kataluma” (kat-al’-oo-mah) it appears only two other times in the New Testament which are both the last supper in the upper room story in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11. In fact, there is a Greek word commonly used for Inn which is found in the Story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:34-35. The word Luke uses for an inn is “pandocheion” (pan-dokk-i’-on). So Luke knows the word for inn and he uses twice in the story of the good Samaritan but in the birth of Jesus and the last supper story, Luke chooses to use the word for upper room or lodging place.
Most 1st century homes in Israel where two stories. The upper room was a generally open space or living area. The lower room was a storage or dirty room. In the winter, it might house the animals but in the spring or summer it would be used for other things, maybe storage. Not a stable persay but not the first-class accommodation either. But there would most likely be a manger if animals were kept there at least part of the year.
It is far more likely Luke is referring to a home, not an inn. Especially since Luke obviously knows the correct Greek word for inn, which he uses twice in the gospel of Luke. I personally think this was probably a relative of Joseph or Mary. Maybe even his parents or brother or sister. We don’t know because the Bible does not tell us. I don’t think they would have been alone in Joseph’s hometown when Mary was about to give birth.
My opinion is Jesus was born humbly in a home with family around Mary and Joseph. I like this warm loving picture better than the traditional cold lonely one.
Either way, God became Emanuel or God with us on that beautiful, amazing night.
Why do I say Night?
Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Shepherds in the fields by night. This is how we know the birth of Jesus was not wintertime. The shepherds were in the fields, meaning it was probably spring or summer or even possibly fall. Most Christian Scholarship seems to believe June or July is most likely. So sorry to be such a spoiler, if the shepherds are outside with the sheep, then even if Mary and Joseph are in a stable, there would probably be no animals at the birth of Jesus either. The Bible does not mention animals only an animal feeding troth or manger. (Greek Pathe)
See I told you I break things. Let’s keep reading.
Luke 2:13-21 (NIV) 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
I love this story. But did I miss something. I did not see any wisemen. Verse 21 is 8th day after birth of Jesus and no wisemen. Okay, I know where they are, they are in Matthew’s account in Matthew 2. We will get to them in a moment. Let me read a little further in Luke before we pick up the story in Matthew 2.
Luke 2:22-24 (NIV) 22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
The obvious question is how long was the purification rites? It comes from Leviticus 12:1-4 (NIV) 1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.
So, 7 days plus 33 days, is forty days. Roughly 40 days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have taken Jesus to the Temple for the dedication and redemption ceremony. I’m going to skip ahead a little in the story for the sake of time. They meet Simeon and Anna at the temple in verse 25-38. Then this,
Luke 2:39-40 (NIV) 39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him
Okay the next story in Luke is Jesus in the temple at twelve. Luke is clear that after the birth of Jesus on the 8th day He was circumcised, then about 40 days later Jesus was brought to the temple, then Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus went home to Nazareth.
Okay let’s figure out what happened to the wisemen. Matthew chapter 1 starts with the genealogy of Jesus, then the angel visits Mary and Joseph has his dream message from God. Then in Matthew chapter 2, Matthew says this.
Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV) 1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
There they are. The magi or wisemen. Matthew just says after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the time of King Herod (this is Herod the Great). There are many traditions about the magi or wisemen. Some traditions even give them names or countries of origin. What we know is Matthew calls them magi. This term could mean soccerer or wisemen, it is a term used to refer to the wisemen from are called Chaldea. This reference could mean these magi came from either Babylon or Susa in Persia. That would mean they came from the east and traveled along way to get to Jerusalem.
We are talking about 900 miles, this is a month or 2 month trip by camel. Why would they recognize this event or the sign that appeared in the sky. We don’t know, but is it very likely that many of the Hebrew writings survived in Babylon and Susa from the times of Daniel, Shadrack, Meshak and Abendigo. So yes, it is very possible these Magi knew the Hebrew writings and traveled from far off Babylon or Susa to honor Jesus, the King of the Jews or really the King of kings. The king of everything.
But when did the magi, come into the story. Every Christmas pageant I have ever seen has them at the birth of Jesus. The bible gives us a few hints. I’m going to read the rest of Matthew’s account Matthew 2:3-16 (NIV) 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
<SLIDE 46>16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
I’m sorry I know that was a lot. The main points are Herod asks the Magi when the sign in the sky appear or the star. Then later Herod kills every boy two years and younger in the area in and around Bethlehem. Also, Matthew also says the Magi found the young child Jesus with His mother Mary in a house. Not a baby, a young child. The Greek word used refer to a toddler or young child, not a baby.
Also, the story never says the Magi went to Bethlehem.
Herod told them Jesus was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem, but the star led them to the place where Jesus was. (Micah 5)Hosea & Jeremiah
Bethlehem or Nazareth, the Bible does not specifically say so both are possible. Luke said Jesus, Mary and Joseph return to Nazareth 40 days after Jesus was born. Later in Luke 2:41-52 Jesus is twelve and living in Nazareth.
There is no account of Jesus living in Bethlehem in the Bible. So, it is likely the Magi went to Nazareth to find Jesus, not Bethlehem. But it really does not matter which city Jesus is in when the Magi visit in Matthew 2. The rest of the story is Herod the Great dies and Joseph, Mary and Jesus return to Nazareth from Egypt. There more we could talk about but Let me leave you with this today.
I know that many of things I shared today are in conflict with our many Christmas traditions. I could be wrong, the traditions could be wrong. We could both be wrong. But what is the message, what is the main point. Many of our traditions especially the ones around Christmas are not clearly defined in the Bible. And in many cases our traditions do not match the actual accounts in the Bible.
If a critic or skeptic throws one of these at you, all you need to say is
“SO”. DULY NOTED.
But the Message of Christmas is the same either way. God came and dwelt among us. God with us, Emmanuel. That is the miracle of Christmas. And in every way and in every Christian tradition, that is what we are celebrating. Yeah, we may have some the of details mixed up in our minds. Afterall, it was 2000 years ago.
I trust and believe what the Bible says, I hold traditions loosely. We should know what the Bible says and what it does not say, then we can enjoy the season, celebrations and traditions. Christmas trees and Santa Claus and presents. These are all expressions of our celebration of the Birth of Jesus.
Thank you and God’s Blessing my friends.
Let’s close and pray. Thank you Lord for this beautiful story. Thank you for coming and making a way for us to be with you. Thank you for this time together today. I pray Lord that we would find opportunities to answer the doubts and concerns people have about our Christmas Story. Your story Lord. I pray that we all keep our focus on you Lord Jesus, so we can show the world what the reason for season really is. You, Emmanual. God with us. I pray in your name Lord Jesus, Amen.
