Debunking Christmas Myths

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

– Myth #1: We are taught that Mary and Joseph arrived at an Inn, but it was full, so they had to stay in a stable.

Probably not true
The word used for Inn in the Bible (kataluma), is not usually used for Inn. See Luke 22:11
Mary and Joseph were asking to stay in the Guest Room
The Guest Room was likely full with family.
Luke 10:34 Here is the word for Inn. (pandocheion)
Inns weren’t used by Jewish people typically, especially if family lived there.

MUSIC: We Three Kings

RECAP: TRUTH REVOLUION: The Star of Bethlehem

– Myth #2: Jesus was born on December 25th.

Luke 2:8 – Think about that… Shepherds living in the fields at night? in December?? Not likely!
Shepherds only let their flocks graze at night during the warm season
One possibility is that it was the birthday of the Greek god Brutus. Christianity used Christmas to oppose that holiday.
Result: WE WIN!!

– Myth #3: Mary and Joseph arrived at Bethlehem late at night.

– Myth #4: The Innkeeper had no alternative but to put Mary and Joseph in ta stable at night.

Generally speaking, stables weren’t for the common folk and there likely would not have been stables there.
The Bible says they put Jesus in a manger… this leads to the assumption that it was in a stable.
The general public kept their animals in the house during cold weather in a common room. That’s why there would have been a manger.

– Myth #5: Mary gave birth to Jesus the night they arrived.

Luke 2:6-7 – While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.
Common Sense Check: If you were Joseph, would you make Mary travel so close to her time of giving birth?

– Myth #6: Mary was alone in the stable when Jesus was born

The whole family would likely have been there. It was a gathering of family members for the census.

Let’s not treat the Bible like it means something different for each of us.

God is communicating with us, so we should not be asking “what does this mean for me?”.

Was Mary really prophesied as a virgin?
Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
Was there a misinterpretation here?

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