Introduction

Painting in the picture

James Tissot: The Magi Journeying (c. 1890), Brooklyn Museum, New York City

Did you know we don't know if there were three wise men? I don't remember if I read it somewhere or someone told me. We're used to reading about the three gifts they brought, and most Nativity Sets come with three wise men. So when it was suggested that there might not have been three, I thought that was rather interesting. Later on, my pastor was talking about if we set up the Nativity in the family room, that we should put the wise men in the kitchen possibly. This was because they didn't visit with the shepherds on His birth night, but several years later. All of this information I think of as "getting to know Him more". Even if it might have seemed trivial (what does it matter if there were not three magi?) it painted in the picture a little more.

Redeeming us to God

Another example I could think of, of knowing the Bible and Him, is John the Baptist. "...among those born of women there is no one greater than John [the Baptist]" Luke 7:28 Here was a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb, who officiated Christ's baptism, and who stood boldly before others proclaiming "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Yet in Luke 7, John sends messengers to Jesus to ask if He is the Coming One. What is going on here? Was John questioning Jesus?

John might have been thinking of Isaiah 61 which mentions a Redeemer coming who will release the captives, bring freedom to prisoners, make men ministers of God who will have everlasting joy, wrapping them in garments of salvation. Besides John's confusion, the people thought Jesus was marching into Jerusalem to free them from the Romans. The disciples couldn't understand why Christ said He would be killed. In their minds, what Christ was doing didn't make sense. Now we know He was Redeeming us to God, a much greater reward than being freed from Romans! And it helps me to think that John the Baptist, even though filled with the Holy Spirit, didn't understand this at first. I feel more comfortable with my own small knowledge of Jesus.

In closing

For this project, I am hoping to collect questions (and answers) about the Bible. I hope to put up material that can be used in defending the Christian faith, or for evangelism, or for those that are just curious.

The reason I am using wiki software instead of a blog format is because I hope to add/change/correct pages.

Also note most subjects are lightly touched upon. There are tons of materials elsewhere on the topics you will find here.

Contact

We can be reached at username howmanymagi at Gmail. We are also on Discord as @howmanymagi.