(All Bible quotations, except otherwise stated, are from the New King James Version).

Mainstream Christianity has adopted the 25th of December every year to commemorate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Although no one knows for sure when the Saviour was born, the fact that the Son of God was immaculately conceived by the Virgin Mary (through the power of the Holy Spirit) and was born some 2000 years ago in Bethlehem is worth celebrating, whatever the day we choose to do that. The birth of the Lord Jesus, in his human incarnation, was announced by angels with great fanfare, and was prophesied to bring joy, peace and goodwill to all men. The commemoration of that day should reflect the message of the angels who announced the Messiah’s birth.

Luke 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over…