Every now and again a Bible teacher will make reference to some detail associated with the exodus and will remark, “Moses really is more amazing than Charlton Heston.” That is true about all of the scripture. The REAL story is far more engaging that the made up versions.

To that end, I thought a quick quiz associated with the details of the Christmas story might be appropriate this week. You can take it yourself and then pass it on to friends. The bottom line is: do we know the Biblical account or the Hollywood version? Answers are below, but don’t cheat!

May the babe in the manger be your Savior and Lord this season!

Which two New Testament books give us an account of Jesus’ birth?
What does the name “Jesus” mean? What does the title “Christ” mean?
What was Jesus’ first clothing like? What does it signify?
How many wise men were there?
What gifts did the Magi bring?
Approximately how old was Jesus when the magi arrived?
What method did God use for warning Joseph of impeding danger?
Where did Joseph, Mary and Baby flee to?
Was Jesus the only child of Joseph and Mary?
How old was Jesus when He was circumcised?
Highlight the area next to the numbers below to see the answers:
1. Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

2. Jesus means Savior (Matthew 1:21), Christ is a title that means “Messiah” or anointed one.

3. “Swaddling clothes” (from the Greek word meaning “to Swathe”) or “cloths”: these were used as grave cloths to wrap dead bodies. It is an incredible pictorial account pointing to the fact that Jesus came to die for the sins of the world. (Luke 19:10)

4. There were three gifts, but the Bible does not say how many Magi came. For safety sake, they likely traveled across the Fertile Crescent in a large group. Otherwise, Herod would not have been so frightened and determined to kill the baby.

5. Gold (The monetary commodity of the day, a gift fit for a king.) Frankincense (A white gum that was used as an ingredient in the perfume used for the Most Holy place in the tabernacle or temple-Ex. 30:34-38) and Myrrh (A valuable spice used in perfume and in embalming. Again, we see a symbol referring us to the truth that Christ came for a purpose- to die for the sins of the world).

6. He was a toddler (not a baby). Two different Greek words are use for “baby” (Luke 2:6) and “child” (Matthew 2:9) and they signify a variation in age. Also, the Magi visited the child in a house (Matthew 2:11), not at the manger scene. He was living in Bethlehem somewhere for as much as two years. Remember that Herod set out to kill all the babies in the area under the age of two (Matthew 2:16).

7. God communicated four times with Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:18-24, 2:13, 2:19 and 2:22)

8. Egypt

9. No, (Matthew 12:48-50)

10. He was 8 days old (Luke 2:21, Gen. 17:12). I am told that vitamin K, which is major blood coagulator, is at a very high peak on the 8th day of a boy’s life.

By His Grace and for His Glory,
Sherry L. Worel