Remember Jesus' Death
Dec 18, 2008
This is the time of year where we find ourselves often reminded of Jesus’ birth. Nativity scenes go up in many places and there are signs with messages such as “Remember the Reason for the Season.” There isn’t anything wrong with setting aside a time to remember the birth of the most important man who ever lived. Though we may feel this is a worthwhile thing to do, the Bible does not require it. As far as I know, Jesus did not ask for His birth to be remembered. On the other hand, He did ask for His death to be remembered. We may choose to remember His birth, but it’s imperative that we not forget His death.
We probably all know when Jesus’ birth is most celebrated " December 25th. However, there is evidence that would suggest He was actually born at a different time of the year. The fact that shepherds were watching over their sheep in the fields at night (Luke 2:8) might point to a milder season than winter. Also, there was a census being taken at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-6). The census required travel, which would have been much more difficult during the winter. It seems that the late December date was chosen not because it was His likely birth date, but to replace a popular pagan holiday being celebrated at that time of year.
I am not writing this to discourage anyone from remembering Jesus’ birth. The Bible says, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:14+15). No passage in the Bible requires anyone to remember Jesus’ birth on December 25th. If you choose to esteem that day by remembering Jesus’ birth, Romans 14:14+15 indicates that you have that right. Just remember, the same scripture gives your neighbor the right not to esteem that day above any other.
Remembering Jesus’ birth may be something we choose to do, but remembering His death is something all believers of Jesus should be doing. He did not ask for His birth to be remembered, but He did ask that His death be remembered. Not long before His crucifixion, He took bread and told His disciples, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). He then took the fruit of the vine and told them, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Jesus specifically instructed His followers to remember Him and His sacrificial death with these symbols of His body and His blood.
Jesus told His followers to remember His death in this specific way, and the Bible shows us that that’s exactly what the Church did. In the first letter Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, he scolded them for not taking the Lord’s Supper properly (1st Corinthians 11:17-22). Instead of taking it in remembrance of Jesus, they were turning it into some kind of social meal. Paul went on in his letter to repeat Jesus’ instructions for taking the Lord’s Supper (1st Corinthians 11:23-26). He even impressed on them the importance of taking it with the right attitude (1st Corinthians 11:27-29).
The Bible neither encourages nor discourages setting aside a day to remember Jesus’ birth. It is a matter of personal preference. But the Bible does tell us to remember His death. It is something that Jesus asked for Himself and the early church set the example for us. Whether you choose to remember Jesus’ birth or not, please don’t forget to remember His death on the cross.
We probably all know when Jesus’ birth is most celebrated " December 25th. However, there is evidence that would suggest He was actually born at a different time of the year. The fact that shepherds were watching over their sheep in the fields at night (Luke 2:8) might point to a milder season than winter. Also, there was a census being taken at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-6). The census required travel, which would have been much more difficult during the winter. It seems that the late December date was chosen not because it was His likely birth date, but to replace a popular pagan holiday being celebrated at that time of year.
I am not writing this to discourage anyone from remembering Jesus’ birth. The Bible says, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:14+15). No passage in the Bible requires anyone to remember Jesus’ birth on December 25th. If you choose to esteem that day by remembering Jesus’ birth, Romans 14:14+15 indicates that you have that right. Just remember, the same scripture gives your neighbor the right not to esteem that day above any other.
Remembering Jesus’ birth may be something we choose to do, but remembering His death is something all believers of Jesus should be doing. He did not ask for His birth to be remembered, but He did ask that His death be remembered. Not long before His crucifixion, He took bread and told His disciples, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). He then took the fruit of the vine and told them, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Jesus specifically instructed His followers to remember Him and His sacrificial death with these symbols of His body and His blood.
Jesus told His followers to remember His death in this specific way, and the Bible shows us that that’s exactly what the Church did. In the first letter Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, he scolded them for not taking the Lord’s Supper properly (1st Corinthians 11:17-22). Instead of taking it in remembrance of Jesus, they were turning it into some kind of social meal. Paul went on in his letter to repeat Jesus’ instructions for taking the Lord’s Supper (1st Corinthians 11:23-26). He even impressed on them the importance of taking it with the right attitude (1st Corinthians 11:27-29).
The Bible neither encourages nor discourages setting aside a day to remember Jesus’ birth. It is a matter of personal preference. But the Bible does tell us to remember His death. It is something that Jesus asked for Himself and the early church set the example for us. Whether you choose to remember Jesus’ birth or not, please don’t forget to remember His death on the cross.