A recent billboard sponsored by American Atheists portrays the manger scene and proclaims, “Just skip church. It’s all fake news!” Yet a close look at the history of Christmas reveals the holiday is based on solid historical evidence.
The New Testament serves as our primary testimony regarding the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20). However, other early historical accounts also collaborate key aspects of the life of Jesus.
The Existence of Jesus
First, Jesus clearly existed as a historical person. Writing in c. 116-117, Roman historian Tacitus wrote:
[N]either human effort nor the emperor’s generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered [by Nero]. Therefore, to put down the rumor, Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts … whom the crowd called “Chrestians.” The founder of this name, Christ [Christus in Latin], had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate … Suppressed for a time, the deadly superstition erupted again not only in Judea, the origin of this evil, but also in the city [Rome], where all things horrible and shameful from everywhere come together and become popular.
If Jesus clearly lived and died, He was also certainly born prior to this time.
The Family of Jesus
Even earlier evidence notes the death of James, the brother of Jesus. First-century Jewish historian Josephus mentioned:
Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned…
This event took place in approximately 62 A.D., about 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. This same James authored the New Testament book bearing his name prior to this, leaving his rendition of the teachings of Jesus within less than 30 years of His ministry.
The Location of Jesus’ Birth
Roman Emperor Hadrian set up a temple to Venus at the site of the Holy Sepulcher in Bethlehem in 132 A.D. Occurring Only 100 years after the death of Jesus, Roman history clearly identified the location of His birth in Bethlehem.
In 339 A.D., Emperor Constantine’s mother Helena influenced the construction of the Church of the Nativity at this location. Today, this location is known as the Church of the Nativity, home of the oldest continually-operating church in the world.
History Above Hysteria
Atheists would have people believe such historical facts are “revisionist history” developed hundreds of years after the events. However, these and other facts show Jesus lived, identify His family members, and even mark His place of birth within a century of His life.
The real question is not whether the birth of Jesus is fake news, but whether His message is true. If Jesus is who He claimed to be, He is far more than a spiritual leader; He is the Savior of the world.
The shepherds rightly received the angelic message, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). These first eyewitnesses of the birth of Jesus were compelled to tell others what they had seen and heard.
Today we experience a similar challenge. We are called to both embrace the message of Jesus and communicate it with others. Christmas offers a time to remember how it all began. The Creator of the universe entered among His creation to offer the ultimate gift—His very life.
Maybe this Christmas you have found yourself moving frantically to buy gifts, yet have neglected the greatest gift of all. Let’s remember Christmas is about the One who came to save us and transform us.
Dr. Dillon Burroughs is one of America’s top communicators on today’s Christian issues. He serves as senior writer of The John Ankerberg Show and is author or coauthor of nearly 40 books. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He lives with his wife and three children in Tennessee.
