Things in the Bible not really in the Bible...and a few surprises

Christmas Surprise of the Day

The wise men followed the star as it moved all the way from “the East” to Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1-2  –  Matthew 2: 7  –  Matthew 2: 9-10

Christmas Fact of the Day

Hate to be a scrouge again about our Christmas carols.  But “We three kings from Orient are…following yonder star”  is not 100% accurate.  When they arrived in Palestine, they went directly to Jerusalem and probably wondered why there weren’t any celebrations.  Then they found out from King Herod (who was half  Jew and half  Arab and had to find out from the priests) that the prophesied newborn King had been born in Bethlehem, six miles away.

And then, they headed out toward Bethlehem.  

And then…  And then…  And then, they saw it!  Again!  The star had returned.  And they rejoiced! 

Why would they rejoice when they saw the star if they had been following it all the way from the East? 

P.S.  Tomorrow I’ll tell you how they figured out to go to Palestine in the first place.

You’re smart.  Read the Bible for yourself.  Find out for yourself.