Winter Solstice and Christmas

Today (December 21/08) is Winter Solstice.  It is a special celebration for some people.  I decided to do a little research into its meaning and significance.  According to The Press Association this was the scene this morning at Stonehenge.

Hundreds of druids, pagans and tourists braved the gloomy weather to gather at Stonehenge on Sunday morning to celebrate the winter solstice.

The mystical stones attracted a crowd of 1,900 people, with some dressed in cloaks and robes, to see sunrise at the prehistoric site in Wiltshire.

The winter solstice is a pagan celebration held on the shortest day of the year.

Wikepedia says

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradually lengthening nights and shortening days...  Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.

There are clearly pagan connotations to the observance of the winter solstice, but I can't help but see how well it also fits with Christ's coming.  It seems that scholars don't really know the date of Jesus' coming to earth as a baby, but choosing a date just after the winter solstice, for whatever reasons, fits beautifully.  Winter solstice marks the end of the darkness and celebrates rebirth or the sun god.  

Scripture portrays Jesus' coming in similar terms.  Zacharias' prophecy at the birth of John the Baptist points to the Dayspring(KJV) or Sunrise that will visit us from on high to bring us light.  See Luke 1:76-79 for some context.  

A couple Christmas hymns draw attention to this passage and another from Malachi 4.  The third verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel uses the title Day-Spring.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer 

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing contains the following words based on Malachi 4:

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings

"The Sun of Righteousness" is the correct spelling(not Son) taken directly from Malachi 4:2.  Jesus Christ is the sun of righteousness.  He is the Light of the world.  He is the dawning of a new day.  May we rejoice in His light and warmth this Christmas!

Grace and peace,

Dave