What exactly does the Bible say about Jesus' birth? How did the Christmas season come to be linked with things like Santa Claus and decorated trees? Biblical scholar Michael Patrick Barber takes an uplifting look into the Bible's stories of Jesus' birth and the development of the Christmas season in The True Meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season. Along the way, he answers numerous questions, including:
- How is the Christmas story related to ancient Jewish expectations?
- Why is Jesus said to be laid in a “manger”?
- Who are the Magi?
- What is the mysterious Christmas star?
- How did December 25th become the date of Christmas?
- How did Saint Nicholas become “Santa Claus”?
As Dr. Barber will show, to find our way “home” at Christmas, we need to first return to Christmas’s home in the story of the Bible. Only by carefully reflecting on the stories of Jesus’ birth can we hope to celebrate Christmas in the way it is meant to be celebrated and discover the real joy it promises!