As a service to you faithful folks who are here on this Sunday before Christmas,, a little Christmas trivia – call it the RHBC Christmas Fact Check (apologies to factcheck.org).
1. “Did the angels sing to the shepherds?” Answer: We don’t know. The Bible doesn’t specify if they spoke or sang.
2. Was Jesus really born on December 25? Answer: Not likely. The Bible doesn’t tell us the actual date, but it was probably not during the coldest time of the year since the shepherds were out on the hillside at night with their sheep. Many have suggested a late September date as more probable.
3. Were there three wise men? Answer: We don’t know how many wise men came to see Jesus. We only know it was a plural number. The legend of three comes from the list of three gi fts that they delivered.
4. Did Jesus really not cry? Answer: While “Away in a Manger” assures us that Jesus didn’t cry (“no crying He makes”), there is no reason to think that Jesus, as a human baby, didn’t cry at birth or when He was hungry or needed his “diaper” changed. It’s true He had no sin, but that doesn’t mean He didn’t ever cry.
5. Did the innkeeper sin by turning away Mary and Joseph? Answer: There is no indication that he sinned by denying them a room. The Bible simply indicates that there was no room for them in the inn. Scripture says nothing about the innkeeper’s motives.
6. Was Jesus born at night? Answer: The angels announced His birth to the shepherds at night, but the Bible doesn’t give us an actual time of birth.