Why do Christians celebrate Jesus' birth on winter solstice, when it is his death that Christians claim made our redemption possible? Shouldn't we be partying it up on the day the Joooos stapled his ass to the cross? For that matter, don't we really owe the Jews a debt of gratitude for killing him? I mean, what if they hadn't.
As always Obamanation, you ask some very interesting and pertinent questions along with very thought provoking comments. In Bethlehem, where JESUS CHRIST, the Baby, was born, wasn't the winter that we know. THE GIFT (JESUS CHRIST) had to be, First, given before HE could effect "our redemption". So it is, that we Celebrate the human birth of THE SON of GOD, when we do; and technically, it was the Romans (the World Power of the day) that "stapled his ass to the cross". . .so you and I were just as much guilty of that as "the Joooos" were. And while we're here, a careful reading of the Scriptural account(s) will show that no one killed HIM. . .otherwise HE would have been an accessory to HIS wrongful Crucifixion, violating GOD'S Law, thereby having sin of HIS own, and unable to die for your sin and mine. . .and that of the entire world. . .let alone be able to RESURRECT. It is written, "Therefore doth MY FATHER love ME, because I lay down MY life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from ME, but I lay it down of MYSELF. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of MY FATHER. (John 10:17-18)"
Put simply - YES. And I believe that if Jesus were here to comment, he'd give a big, fat "YEA" as well. You basically just summarized how it really aught to be - Jesus died so that we can run around and be hopeless sinners so long as we accept Him into our lives. I've thought LONG and HARD about whether the Jews were at fault for Jesus's death and I've come to the conclusion "yes, they were" but also "they had to be because no one else would". How hard is it to punch a volunteer firefighter in the face for no reason, knowing that he saves kitties from trees and helps people? Prolly just as hard as "stapling his ass" to a cross, as you so eloquently put it. When it boils out to it - the Jews were as much a fulfillment of Christ's plan as Christ's sermons and his presence on Earth - without them, he'd have had no reason to come here in the first place! Also, his love speaks volumes towards what we "CAN" attain. It's a matter of whether we "WANT TO". Good looking and if you wanna party come Easter-time, Call me up - I'll swing on by and we can get SHIT-HOUSE DRUNK while shooting nail-guns into the sky and chittering "INRI!!! INRI!!!!! INR-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-I!!!" like some kind of Mexican liberation motto. We'll have our Easter my friend, we'll have OUR Easter. Jason
@Nehemiah: You got to give me the answer in small phrases man, especially the part about why we celebrate the Winter Solstace (Pegan Holiday) as Jesus' Birthday Celebration(B-Day Celebrations = Pegan Origins). As far as blaming the Christ killers, be they Italians or Jooos, my point was more along the line of why don't we congratulate them? @Hijynx: I'm absolutely ready for the party, but Easter is a celebration of his resurrection, not his death. I have to point out it doesn't appear to be celebrated properly. First off, its curious co-located time slot with the spring equinox makes me think it may be more of a pegan celebration than a party celebrating Jesus' death. Spring equinox, as you probably know, changes every year, but Jesus was killed on a specific date so wouldn't marking the date properly pay more homage to Jesus than the spring equinox? Throw in some bunny rabbits and eggs straight out of pegan fertility rites, and it looses all legitimacy.
So if people don't accept Jesus in their hearts, they burn in hell for eternity. I guess being nailed on the cross wasn't so tough then... people who go to hell have to suffer worse for a 1 time thing. These myths are interesting... they are a bit like Greek mythology in some ways.
If your interested you could read the bible from beginning to end and you'll understand that it goes a lot further beyond than what you mention. Without understanding the whole picture I know it would be tough for you to get it. It does sound pretty bad if you don't say the whole deal. I promise its not even close to greek mythology though.
The bible is kind of boring. The author, years ago, didn't have as much imagination as authors today. If I had to choose a fiction book to read, instead of the bible, I'll go for Harry Potter instead... In the bible, the jews killed the dude, then he goes airborne after curing blind people and stuff... In Harry Potter, you get invisible blanket, big bird, flying games, live map, ...you name it...