For the WHOLE FAMILY: Life-Enhancement, Biblical Historical Novels, Textual Studies, Story Books, Puzzles, Songs, & Scholarly Research Books
All the inns in Bethlehem were full, so Mary had to have her baby in a barn and lay him in a manger.
Luke 2:7
Partly true. But there were not a multitude of inns in Bethlehem. Actually, there was only one inn. Check it out! Read it for yourself.
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What did the Holy Spirit do when it “overshadowed” Mary? What does that mean?
Luke 1:35 – Genesis 1:2
The term Gabriel used to explain how Mary would become pregnant was “the Holy Spirit will overshadow you.” The word “overshadow” was also used when the Holy Spirit “hovered” over the universe at the creation and gave birth to the world.
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The moment Gabriel told Mary she would become pregnant with the Son of God, she agreed.
Luke 1:26-38 & 56
No! First, she “kept pondering” why he greeted her in the way he did – “favored one”.
Then she became afraid.
Then she questioned the logic of what he told her: She was unmarried.
Oddly, she did not question the baby being the Son of the Most High, so he repeated himself saying he will be the Son of God.
She must have pondered again.
So the angel added some reassurance; her elderly cousin, Elizabeth was pregnant too, and that should be proof to her that God can do the impossible. After accepting the “holy challenge” Mary rushed to see Elizabeth. If Elizabeth really was pregnant, then Mary knew she was too.
Mary stayed three months, long enough to hold Elizabeth’s miracle baby in her arms.
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The moment Gabriel told Mary she would become pregnant with the Son of God, she agreed.
Luke 1:26-38 & 56
No! First, she “kept pondering” why he greeted her in the way he did – “favored one”.
Then she became afraid.
Then she questioned the logic of what he told her: She was unmarried.
Oddly, she did not question the baby being the Son of the Most High, so he repeated himself saying he will be the Son of God.
She must have pondered again.
So the angel added some reassurance; her elderly cousin, Elizabeth was pregnant too, and that should be proof to her that God can do the impossible. After accepting the “holy challenge” Mary rushed to see Elizabeth. If Elizabeth really was pregnant, then Mary knew she was too.
Mary stayed three months, long enough to hold Elizabeth’s miracle baby in her arms.
YOU’RE SMART. READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF
DOWNLOAD HERE
The moment Gabriel told Mary she would become pregnant with the Son of God, she agreed.
Luke 1:26-38 & 56
No! First, she “kept pondering” why he greeted her in the way he did – “favored one”.
Then she became afraid.
Then she questioned the logic of what he told her: She was unmarried.
Oddly, she did not question the baby being the Son of the Most High, so he repeated himself saying he will be the Son of God.
She must have pondered again.
So the angel added some reassurance; her elderly cousin, Elizabeth was pregnant too, and that should be proof to her that God can do the impossible. After accepting the “holy challenge” Mary rushed to see Elizabeth. If Elizabeth really was pregnant, then Mary knew she was too.
Mary stayed three months, long enough to hold Elizabeth’s miracle baby in her arms.
YOU’RE SMART. READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF
DOWNLOAD HERE
He’s in the Bible? Who in the world was Theopholis? And how can anyone even pronounce his name?
Luke 1:3
Luke addressed his account of Jesus’ life and teachings to “Most Excellent Theopohilus.” This is a title meaning “Your Honor” and was given to men just below the title of Senator in the Roman Empire.
This third biography & teachings of Jesus in the Bible was written by a Roman physician named Luke who the apostle Paul seems to have converted. He was not a Jew. So, he investigated everything about Jesus – probably public records in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, etc. He dated every major event by who was Caesar at the time, etc. He may have even found all the apostles, then scattered around the world, so he could interview them.
Oh, and this is how you pronounce his fancy name: THE-OPH-IL-US.
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After Jesus came back to life, he sometimes appeared to people “in a different form” so that they did not recognize him until he spoke.
Mark 16:12 – John 20:11-16 – John 21:3-7
The two on their way to Emmaus thought he was a visitor to the city.
Mary Magdalene thought he was the gardener.
The 12 thought he was just another fisherman.
The 12 thought he was an old man (called them children).
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It took courage for Joseph of Arimathea to ask for Jesus’ body.
Mark 15:43 – Acts 10:27-29
Joseph had to break one of the Jewish traditions of never entering the home of a Gentile. Procurator Pilate was a Gentile. Also, as a member of the Jewish governing Sanhedrin, he would have been “disbarred” and excommunicated by the leading Jews.
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While Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross, Jesus walked along with him.
Mark 15:22 – Mark 14:65 – Mark 15:16-19
No! He seems to have collapsed after that. He had just been beaten by fists of the priests. Then soldiers beat him on his head and whip lashed his back so much, it was now pure raw meat. Then the soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha. The word “brought” in Greek is “carried” such as “carried a bowl”. Jesus was so weak, they had to carry him up the hill and keep him alive long enough to kill him.
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The Garden of Gethsemane agony was the only time Jesus was as “distress” and “troubled” as he was this night.
Mark 14:33 – Hebrews 5:7
No! His whole life Jesus begged God with “loud cries” to not have to go through with his death. (The Greek in Mark for “distress” is “horror”.) There was more to it than his just dying. He faced down Satan from the cross.
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