Shawn Ryan Show

#265 Lee Strobel - Who is the Real Santa Claus & What Evidence Connects Jesus to Christmas?

December 25, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The date of Christmas, December 25th, is likely derived from the early Christian belief that Jesus was conceived on March 25th, the calculated date of his death, based on the connection between creation and redemption. 
  • The virgin birth of Jesus was prophesied 700 years in advance by Isaiah, and it was necessary to ensure Jesus was born sinless by interrupting the transmission of original sin from Mary via the intervention of the Holy Spirit. 
  • The visit of the Gentile Magi, who brought gifts of gold (royalty), frankincense (priesthood), and myrrh (foreshadowing his death), demonstrated that Jesus's salvation was intended for all humankind, not just the Jewish people. 
  • The prophecy in Isaiah 53, describing the suffering Messiah's death and resurrection, was a key piece of evidence that led Jewish people, like Lee Strobel's friend Louis Lepides, to faith in Jesus. 
  • The traditional Christmas narrative of Mary and Joseph being turned away from an inn is likely based on a mistranslation of the Greek word *katalima* (which likely means 'guest room' in a relative's house) rather than an 'inn' or 'lodge' (*pondoheon*). 
  • The abbreviation 'XMAS' for Christmas is historically rooted in early Christian practice, where the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P) were used as an abbreviation for Christos (Christ), not an attempt to remove Christ from the holiday. 
  • For believers experiencing doubt, returning to scriptural evidence, such as the nine historical sources confirming the resurrected Jesus, is crucial for reaffirming faith. 
  • The 'real Santa Claus' was Saint Nicholas, a generous 4th-century bishop from Myra, Turkey, who was martyred for his faith, and the tradition of gift-giving at Christmas stems from his legacy, later shifted from his feast day by Martin Luther. 
  • The modern visual depiction of Santa Claus—red suit, white beard, glasses—was largely popularized by a Coca-Cola print campaign in the 1930s. 

Segments

Guest Introduction and Context
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(00:01:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Lee Strobel is revisiting the Shawn Ryan Show to discuss his updated book, The Case for Christmas.
  • Summary: Lee Strobel returns to the podcast, having previously discussed the life of Jesus Christ the year prior. The current episode focuses on his updated book, The Case for Christmas, which Hobby Lobby is giving away for free (half a million copies). The conversation opens by noting a recent spiritual revival trend among young people, evidenced by increased Bible sales and church attendance.
Importance of Doubts and Questions
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(00:06:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Expressing doubts and questions is a natural and expected part of faith that should be investigated rather than suppressed.
  • Summary: Holding in spiritual doubts and questions can erode one’s soul, similar to a child fearing a nightmare they don’t speak about. Even John the Baptist expressed doubt while imprisoned, prompting Jesus to respond by pointing to the evidence of his miracles. Christians and seekers are liberated to investigate their questions using reputable sources to build a solid faith.
Prophecy of Virgin Birth
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(00:13:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The Messiah’s birth from a virgin was prophesied 700 years in advance by Isaiah, despite linguistic debates over the Hebrew word used.
  • Summary: Isaiah (7:14) foretold the Messiah would be born of a virgin, using the Hebrew word alma (young maiden), which was understood as virgin in that context. Early Greek translations of the Hebrew scriptures already used the word for virgin before Jesus’s birth. This prophecy was part of a cluster concerning the Messiah, including his declaration as Mighty God in Isaiah 9.
Scientific Basis for Virgin Birth
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(00:21:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The biological impossibility of Mary producing a male child without a Y chromosome is overcome by God’s power, which created the universe.
  • Summary: The necessity of the virgin birth was to ensure Jesus was born sinless, interrupting the lineage of corrupt moral nature inherited from Adam. The biological challenge of Mary providing the Y chromosome for a male child is deemed trivial for the Creator of the cosmos. If God can create the universe, supernaturally creating a Y chromosome in Mary’s ovum is considered within His capability.
Origin of December 25th Date
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(00:33:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The date December 25th likely originated from the early Christian calculation that Jesus was conceived on March 25th, the determined date of his death.
  • Summary: Early Christians initially avoided celebrating birthdays, focusing instead on martyrdom days. Around 200 AD, leaders like Tertullian determined Jesus died on March 25th, leading to the conclusion that his conception by the Holy Spirit also occurred on that date. Counting nine months forward from March 25th established December 25th as the date for celebrating his birth.
Joseph’s Role and Lineage
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(00:36:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Joseph, though not the biological father, was crucial for establishing Jesus’s legal descent from the line of David through his betrothal to Mary.
  • Summary: Joseph was of the line of David, which was vital because the Messiah was prophesied to come through that lineage. Mark 6:3 refers to Jesus as ‘Mary’s son,’ a culturally significant detail implying Joseph was not the biological father. Joseph acted as a protector and father figure, choosing not to divorce Mary when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Reason for Bethlehem Travel
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(00:40:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to comply with a census decree issued by the procurator Quirinius, fulfilling Micah’s prophecy.
  • Summary: Luke’s account of the census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem was historically criticized due to timing conflicts with Quirinius’s later governorship in 6 AD. Recent scholarship suggests the Greek word used for governor could mean procurator, indicating an earlier census under Quirinius’s authority before Herod’s death. This journey fulfilled the prophecy in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
The Star and the Magi
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(00:45:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The celestial event guiding the Magi was likely a nova or a planetary conjunction, signaling the birth of the King of the Jews to Gentiles.
  • Summary: The Magi, who were astrologers and magicians, were guided by a celestial body, possibly a nova seen in 5 BC or a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in 7 BC. Their arrival in Jerusalem and subsequent direction to Bethlehem confirmed the prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace to King Herod. The gifts they brought—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—foreshadowed Jesus’s role as King, Priest, and his eventual sacrificial death.
Isaiah 53 Prophecy Fulfillment
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(01:00:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Isaiah 53 describes the suffering Messiah, whose death and resurrection convinced Jewish individuals like Louis Lepides to become Christians.
  • Summary: The passage from Isaiah 53 details the suffering Messiah who is pierced, crushed for iniquities, and ultimately resurrected, which was a prediction of Jesus’s fate. This prophecy led Louis Lepides, a Jewish Vietnam veteran, to investigate and ultimately convert to Christianity, becoming a pastor. The speaker emphasizes that this prophecy is a clear description of Jesus paying the penalty for sin and conquering death.
Christmas Meaning Without Easter
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(01:05:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Christmas is incomplete without Easter because Jesus’s primary mission was to die for sins, not merely to teach a good life.
  • Summary: The significance of Christmas is intrinsically linked to Easter, as Jesus’s purpose was to die and pay the penalty for human sin, not just to provide moral teachings like the Sermon on the Mount. The Jewish sacrificial system foreshadowed this ultimate sacrifice by the Son of God, who was both fully God and fully man. Because the story is true, it possesses an awe-inspiring nature.
Early Recognition of Messiah
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(01:06:33)
  • Key Takeaway: John the Baptist, while still in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, was the first person to recognize Jesus as the Messiah upon hearing of Mary’s pregnancy.
  • Summary: Only a small group, including Mary, Joseph (warned by an angel), and Elizabeth, initially understood the significance of Jesus’s birth. John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb when he heard the news of Mary carrying the Messiah, marking him as the first recognizer. Later, shepherds spread the news after being visited by an angel, and King Herod’s advisors knew the birthplace due to the prophecy in Micah 5:2.
Historical Accuracy of Birth Narrative
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(01:11:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The common image of Jesus being born in a stable because an innkeeper turned Mary away is likely inaccurate, stemming from a 200 AD fictional account.
  • Summary: Apocryphal literature, such as the Protoevangelum of James written around 200 AD, introduced the idea of Mary giving birth in a cave near Bethlehem. The typical story of no room in the inn hinges on the Greek word katalima in Luke’s gospel. Scholars suggest katalima refers to a guest room in a house, and hospitality customs made it unthinkable for an innkeeper to refuse a pregnant Jewish woman.
Katalima Translation and House Structure
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(01:13:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The Greek word katalima translates more accurately to ‘guest room’ than ‘inn,’ suggesting Mary and Joseph stayed in the family living area of a relative’s home.
  • Summary: Luke states there was no room in the katalima when Jesus was born, and this word is used elsewhere in Luke to mean a room in a residence, unlike the word for an inn (pondoheon). A typical first-century Jewish house had a main living area and a lower section for animals, sometimes with a separate guest room (katalima) for visitors. Therefore, Mary and Joseph likely stayed in the main living area until the birth, placing the baby in the manger there.
Journalistic Curiosity and Faith
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(01:19:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Lee Strobel views his journalistic curiosity as a skill redeemed by God, using it to investigate complex topics and translate expert knowledge into accessible narratives.
  • Summary: Strobel finds joy in the discovery process inherent in investigation, applying his journalistic training to his faith journey. He interviews leading scholars, often spending extensive time to fully grasp complex concepts so he can explain them in a narrative format that the general public can understand. This process allows him to continually find new insights that change the narrative, such as the historical context of Christmas details.
XMAS Abbreviation Origin
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(01:21:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The use of ‘XMAS’ is not an attempt to remove Christ from Christmas, but rather an ancient abbreviation derived from the Greek letter Chi (X) for Christos.
  • Summary: The first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Christos, is Chi (X), which became a standard abbreviation (Chi-Rho) for Christians during times of persecution. In 1025 AD, a scribe abbreviated ‘Christmas’ (Christ’s Mass) to ‘XP MAS’ to save expensive parchment, which later shortened to ‘XMAS.’ Furthermore, early 20th-century Jewish immigrants in the US sometimes refused to sign with an ‘X’ because they recognized it as a symbol for Christ.
Narrow Gate vs. Wide Gates of Heaven
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(01:26:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The ’narrow gate’ refers to the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ alone, not necessarily a small number of people entering heaven.
  • Summary: Jesus stated that the road to destruction is wide, but the gate to life is narrow, which Strobel interprets as narrow because redemption only comes through Him. Salvation is a free gift received by believing in and accepting Jesus Christ as the one who paid the penalty for sin, as summarized in Romans (6:23). Other religions, like Islam, are logically incompatible with Christianity because they deny core tenets like the crucifixion and the bearing of sins by another.
Jesus’s Direct Connection to God
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(01:38:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesus’s unique, direct connection to God the Father, expressed intimately as ‘Abba’ (Dad), contrasts sharply with the concept of God in other faiths like Islam.
  • Summary: Jesus taught his followers to pray using the intimate Aramaic term ‘Abba’ for God, a concept absent from the 99 names of Allah in the Quran, highlighting a fundamental difference between the Christian and Islamic understanding of God. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, knew the truth of his mission and resurrection with certainty, unlike believers who rely on faith built upon historical evidence. Believers build confidence through scripture, prayer, and testing leading against biblical consistency and counsel from strong Christian friends.
Maintaining Faith Through Evidence
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(02:02:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Rational individuals facing faith challenges should revisit foundational evidence, such as the nine historical sources confirming the resurrected Jesus, to re-anchor their belief.
  • Summary: Direction in faith is found by consulting the Word of God, testing spirits, and praying with strong believers. For rational thinkers, returning to evidence, like the nine historical sources for the resurrected Jesus, helps during periods when faith is tested. Believers are encouraged to soak in scripture and maintain one or two trusted, deep-in-the-word friends as sounding boards.
The Real Santa Claus History
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(02:03:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The historical Saint Nicholas was a generous, truth-defending bishop from 3rd-century Turkey whose charitable acts inspired the Christmas gift-giving tradition.
  • Summary: Parents should treat the fictional Santa as a fun story but then introduce the real Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, born in 270 AD in Myra, Turkey. Nicholas was known for extreme generosity, often giving gifts secretly to avoid embarrassing recipients, and he stood for truth, even fighting heresy at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The tradition of gift-giving was later moved to Christmas Day by Martin Luther in remembrance of St. Nicholas’s martyrdom.
Origin of Stockings and Image
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(02:06:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The practice of putting gifts in stockings may originate from a legend where St. Nicholas dropped gold coins into stockings left drying by a chimney for three impoverished daughters.
  • Summary: A biography of St. Nicholas, written 500 years after his life, tells of him secretly providing dowries for three daughters by tossing gold coins through a window, possibly into stockings drying nearby. This story is cited as the origin for placing gifts in stockings today. The familiar modern image of Santa Claus with the red suit and white beard was cemented by a major color print campaign run by the Coca-Cola Company in the 1930s.
Closing Remarks and Impact
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(02:09:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast’s content, specifically an interview with Lee Strobel and John Burke, directly led to at least one listener coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Summary: The host received testimony from a woman whose conversion to Christianity occurred after listening to a previous interview on the Shawn Ryan Show featuring Lee Strobel and John Burke. The guest prayed that the show’s influence would multiply countless times in the future. Listeners are urged to like, comment, subscribe, and share the episode widely to maximize its reach.