1. How did Joseph and Mary get to the place
where Jesus was born?
2. In what town was Jesus born?
3. Who sang at Jesus’ birth?
4. What animals does the Bible say were at the
manger scene?
5. Were the Wise Men at the manger?
6. What three gifts did the Wise Men bring?
7. How many Wise Men were there?
8. How did the Wise Men travel to see the
newborn Jesus?
9. Where is the Christmas Story found in the
Bible (book & chapter)?
10. What year was Jesus born?
a. AD 1 b. AD
0 c.
1 BC d. 5 BC
11. What is a manger?
12. What does the name “Jesus” mean?
13. Did Jesus exist before He was born in
Bethlehem?
14. What was miraculous about the birth of
Jesus?
For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His
name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6
Come back next week for
answers…
Merry Christmas!
-David R. Brumbelow, author of Wit
and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, and Ancient
Wine and the Bible.
(Permission granted to
reprint.)
*******
Answers to
Christmas Test
1. How did Joseph and Mary get to the place
where Jesus was born?
Answer: The Bible does not say. Mary may, or may not, have rode a
donkey.
2. In what town was Jesus born?
Answer: Bethlehem in Judea. There was also another Bethlehem in northern
Israel. (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5-6)
3. Who sang at Jesus’ birth?
Answer: No one.
Of the angels, Scripture uses the word “saying,” not singing. (Luke 2:13-14)
On
another note, did you know that every time an angel appears in the Bible, the
Bible describes him as a male?
4. What animals does the Bible say were at the
manger scene?
Answer: None.
While it was a barn or stable, and likely there were animals, the Bible
does not say.
5. Were the Wise Men at the manger?
Answer: No.
The Wise Men came later to the house where they were staying. Just as you would do, after the birth of
Jesus, Joseph and Mary sought, and found better accommodations. (Matthew 2:1, 11)
6. What three gifts did the Wise Men bring?
Answer: Gold, frankincense, myrrh.
7. How many Wise Men were there?
Answer: The Bible does not say, it only speaks of
them in the plural. We probably think
there were three because of the three gifts.
And, that may be correct.
8. How did the Wise Men travel to see the
newborn Jesus?
Answer: Scripture never says. But camels were often used for travel back
then. And, Wise Men riding camels looks
cool!
9. Where is the Christmas Story found in the
Bible (book & chapter)?
Answer: Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2. Of course, there are other Bible verses
related to the birth of Christ.
10. What year was Jesus born?
a.
AD 1 b.
AD 0 c. 1 BC
d. 5 BC
Answer: We don’t know for sure. According to our calendar, Jesus was supposed
to have been born in AD 1; but our calendar is off a little. Jesus was probably born about 5 BC.
On
another note: AD does not stand for
after dead! It is a Latin abbreviation that
means, “In the Year of our Lord.” AD should come before the year; BC should come
after the year. Christians should use AD
more often.
11. What is a manger?
Answer: A feed trough for cattle and / or other
animals. 2,000 years ago they were
sometimes carved out of stone, as well as made of wood.
12. What does the name “Jesus” mean?
Answer: Savior; Deliverer. (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29)
13. Did Jesus exist before He was born in
Bethlehem?
Answer: Yes, He is God the Son and has always
existed. (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; Romans 9:5;
Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:8). That is why
we say Jesus came from Heaven to Earth to be born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is the only One who could say, I’m infinitely
older than My mother, and as old as My Father.
14. What was miraculous about the birth of
Jesus?
Answer: At least two things. 1.
Jesus’ birth was a miraculous Virgin Birth. This is one of the fundamental doctrines of
the Christian faith. (Isaiah 7:14;
Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:34-37) 2. Jesus’ birth was prophesied hundreds of years
before He was born. (Isaiah 9:6; Micah
5:2)
Conclusion
I
have no problem having a Manger Scene with angels singing, Wise Men, camels, a
donkey, cow, lambs, etc. After all, it’s
fine to have a composite of all the characters involved (or “maybe” involved)
in the birth of Christ. Kind of like a
curtain call at the end of a play.
But
this test is simply meant to remind us we often assume things are in the Bible
when they are not. Always remember, the
Bible is our final rule of faith and practice.
Happy New
Year!
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor,
January 1, AD 2018.
