The Birth of the King

Christmas presented special problems for the Nazis. In reality, the birth and message of Jesus Christ contradicted their worldview. Driven by their anti-Semitic philosophy, how could they reconcile prophecies that the Messiah would save Judah? In a realm that exalted Adolf Hitler, how could they proclaim that Jesus had come to “reign as king”?

How could they justify the Bible’s promise that Jesus would be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)? And as they sought to enslave nations, how could they proclaim that Jesus had come to release the captives and set free all who were oppressed (Luke 4:18)?

In 1940, recognizing these issues, the Party announced that they would not celebrate Christmas on December 25. Instead, they would observe the Winter Solstice on December 22.

Governor Wilhelm Kube of Brandenburg Province explained how “the Christmas celebration in Germanic lands is not an invention of the Christian Church but of our forefathers.” The solstice was more important, he argued, because this was a day that “was holy to our ancestors,” a time “filled with the fairyland magic of the Nordic soul.”

Many throughout time have sought to recast Christmas for their own purposes—separating Jesus from Christmas in order to serve commercial objectives or celebrate cultural traditions. Yet Believers know that Christmas is not about a date, but about the birth of our Savior. We celebrate because He was born, died, and rose again. He is the promised Messiah, God with us.

People around you may try to twist the meaning of Christmas. Make sure that you celebrate because Jesus is your King! Worship Him!