Last week we talked about what really did, and didn’t, happen around the time of Jesus’ birth. So what is the truth about the visit of those wise men? Were there three wise men? The wise men’s visit is described in Matthew 2:1-12. Western tradition says that there were three Read more…
We’re only a few days from Christmas, so manger scenes and wise men are everywhere. But what really happened two-thousand years ago? Let’s look at a few Christmas facts and Christmas myths. Was Mary a virgin? Yes. Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-35 both affirm that Mary was a virgin when Read more…
During Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount,[1] he makes this startling statement: “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”[2] Is he serious? Didn’t Paul tell us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”[3] and that we must rely on God’s grace rather than Read more…
A famous saying—said to be an ancient Chinese curse, but more likely the product of British diplomats—is, “May you live in interesting times.” Joseph and Mary certainly lived in interesting times. Both were visited by angels (although Joseph’s visitation was in a dream) to prepare them for an unexpected pregnancy Read more…