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Did You Know?
Nativity scenes don't accurately portray Christmas Eve.
Many nativity scenes feature 3 wise men, also known as magi. While the word “Nativity” refers to Jesus’ birth, the magi weren’t there at the manger on Christmas Eve. The magi came months and possibly years after Jesus’ birth. They were sent by King Herod to discover his location, and though he told the magi he wanted to worship the child, Herod's intent was to kill Jesus. Matthew 2
“Jesus Christ” isn’t Jesus’ full name.
Christ is the English translation of the Greek word, Χριστός, “christos” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew word for messiah, מָשִׁיחַ, “mashiah,” which means anointed one (specifically related to the line of King David). “Jesus” is the English version of the Hebrew name “Yeshua” יֵשׁוּעַ which means “he will save.” Jesus would have most likely been referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus, Joseph’s son. But, in recognizing His identity as the Son of God, Christians call him “Jesus Christ,” literally “Jesus the Messiah.”
Accurate predictions about Jesus’ life were recorded hundreds of years before His birth.
The Septuagint, or the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), is dated at 250 B.C. It contains predictions about the Jewish messiah.
These prophesies, along with many others, were all fulfilled by Jesus, and only by Jesus.
- From the seed of a woman (in other words, human). Gen. 3:15
- Of the family of Abraham. Gen. 12:3
- From the tribe of Judah. Gen. 49:10
- From the line of King David. Jer. 23:5-6
- Both God and man. Isa. 9:6-7
- Born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
- Preceded by a messenger, coming suddenly to the temple. Malachi 3:1
- Cut off (killed) in A.D. 33. Daniel 9:24-27
- Risen from the dead. Isa. 53:11
Many nativity scenes feature 3 wise men, also known as magi. While the word “Nativity” refers to Jesus’ birth, the magi weren’t there at the manger on Christmas Eve. The magi came months and possibly years after Jesus’ birth! Matthew 2:1
“Jesus Christ” isn’t Jesus’ full name.
Christ is the English translation of the Greek word, Χριστός, “christos” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew word for messiah, מָשִׁיחַ, “mashiah,” which means anointed one (specifically related to the line of King David). “Jesus” is the English version of the Hebrew name “Yeshua” יֵשׁוּעַ which means “he will save.”3 Jesus would have most likely been referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus, Joseph’s son. But, in recognizing His identity as the Son of God, Christians call him “Jesus Christ,” literally “Jesus the Messiah.”
Accurate predictions about Jesus’ life were recorded hundreds of years before His birth.
The Septuagint, or the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), is dated at 250 B.C. It contains predictions that the Jewish messiah would be:
- From the seed of a woman (in other words, human). Gen. 3:15
- Of the family of Abraham. Gen. 12:3
- From the tribe of Judah. Gen. 49:10
- From the line of King David. Jer. 23:5-6
- Both God and man. Isa. 9:6-7
- Born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
- Preceded by a messenger, coming suddenly to the temple. Malachi 3:1
- Cut off (killed) in A.D. 33. Daniel 9:24-27
- Risen from the dead. Isa. 53:11
These prophesies, along with many others, were all fulfilled by Jesus, and only by Jesus.
Sources
- GotQuestions.org. (2008, December 31). Home. https://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html
- G5547 – christos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (esv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5547/esv/mgnt/0-1/
- H4899 – māšîaḥ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (esv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4899/esv/wlc/0-1/
- H3442 – yēšûaʿ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3442/niv/wlc/0-1/
- Geisler, N. L., & Turek, F. (2004). I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Crossway Books, p. 334-335.