Points To Ponder 12/25/2011

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POINTS TO PONDER:
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The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
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BIBLE QUIZ: COUNT DOWN THROUGH CHRISTMAS
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In the Christmas story when did the Wise Men arrive and see Jesus for the first time. How many Wise Men were there? How many gifts were given?

(pick one correct answer from each group of three before you read the answers at the end)

1.) The Wise Men arrived within a few hours of the birth of Jesus.
2.) The Wise Men arrived the day after Jesus was born.
3.) The Wise Men arrived up to a year later after Jesus was born.
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4.) There were three Wise Men.
5.) There were two Wise Men
6.) We don’t know how many Wise men there were.
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7.) The Wise Men brought one gift.
8.) The Wise Men brought two gifts.
9.) The Wise men brought three gifts.

It would appear that the Wise Men started out following the star when Jesus was born. However, they apparently had to travel a great distance (perhaps from as far away as India) to get to where Jesus was. Matthew 2:1 says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem”. Then in Matthew 2:11 it says the Wise Men came to the HOUSE to see the CHILD. They did not go to the manger they went to the house. Also, the Greek word used for CHILD is “paidion” (pahee-dee'-on); an infant, a childling (of either sex), or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl. Also, in Matthew 2:16 we read, “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
The Bible does NOT say how many Wise Men came to see Jesus. It just says they gave three gifts. Could have been three Wise Men, but not necessarily, could have been two or maybe a dozen…we don’t know.
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