Christmas Myths & Facts
We Invite you to take our Christmas Quiz and see how well you have resisted the onslaught of media, books, cartoons, carols, and Christmas cards by holding on to the truth of the Christmas Story as the Bible presents it.
01. The name of the mother of Yeshua was:
A. Martha
B. Mary
C. Eve
D. Deborah
02. Yeshua was born in what town?
A. Jerusalem
B. Nazareth
C. Bethlehem
D. New York
03. Joseph was a:
A. Carpenter
B. Doctor
C. Engineer
D. Fisherman
04. Why did Joseph and Mary not stay at the inn?
A. It was too expensive
B. There was no inn
C. There was no room
D. None of the above
05. How did Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem?
A. Colt
B. Mary rode a donkey and Joseph walked
C. Wagon
D. Who knows?
06. After being born, Yeshua was placed in a:
A. Basket
B. Manger
C. Pile of hay
D. On the back of a donkey
07. A manger is a:
A. Stable
B. Feeding trough
C. wooden table
D. Barn
08. Which animals does the Bible say were housed in the stable?
A. Cows, donkeys, and sheep
B. Lions, tigers, and bears
C. Goats, sheep, and cows
D. None of the above
09. The wise men, who visited Yeshua, came from what area?
A. The Orient
B. Persia
C. China
D. None of he above
10. What sign were the shepherds told to look for by the angel?
A. A lion and a sheep together in peace
B. A tree with a star on top
C. A star over Bethlehem
D. None of the above
11. With what words did the heavenly host of angels praise Elohim?
A. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”
B. “Glory, glory, hallelujah.”
C. “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
D. “Glory to Elohim in the highest.”
12. What is frankincense?
A. A form of gold
B. An incense from a tree
C. A jewel
D. None of the above
13. What is myrrh?
A. A musical instrument
B. A spice used for burial
C. A valuable wine
D. None of the above
14. How many wise men came to see Yeshua?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. The Bible does not say
15. What does “wise men” most likely refer to?
A. Magicians
B. Star gazers
C. Priests
D. Doctors
16. The wise men met Yeshua in a:
A. Manger
B. Castle
C. Stable
D. House
17. Who told Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem?
A. An angel
B. Cæsar Augustus
C. Herod
D. No one told them to go
18. The child Yeshua went to Egypt:
A. To meet the Pharaoh
B. Because Joseph was told in a dream to take him
C. Joseph did not take Yeshua to Egypt
D. None of the above
19. According to the Bible, the little drummer boy met Yeshua:
A. When Yeshua was in the manger
B. At a house
C. When Yeshua was about two years old
D. None of the above
20. In which books do we find the story of Yeshua’s birth
A. Matthew and John
B. Mark and Luke
C. Matthew and Luke
D. Matthew, Luke, and John
21. When Joseph discovered that Mary was expecting a child he:
A. Was very unhappy
B. Asked for a divorce
C. Prayed for Elohim to give him a sign
D. Brooded over it until he fell asleep
22. Before Yeshua was born:
A. Joseph left Mary
B. Mary left Joseph
C. Joseph and Mary led a normal married life
D. Joseph built a crib
23. How did Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem?
A. Mary rode a donkey and Joseph walked
B. They rode camels
C. They both rode donkeys
D. The Bible does not say
24. Which animals were present at the manger when Yeshua was born?
A. Donkey and ox
B. Sheep and cows
C. The Bible only mentions sheep
D. The Bible does not say
25. What did the shepherds see?
A. An army
B. A choir
C. A star
D. 3 kings
26. Who were the visitors from the East?
A. Magicians
B. Kings
C. Astronomers
D. Shepherds
27. The innkeeper...
A. ...sent Joseph and Mary away because they were Jews.
B. ...was angry because they woke him from a sound sleep.
C. ...offered them a place in the stall.
D. ...is not mentioned in the Bible.
28. Which book of the Bible has the most to say about Messiah’s advent (coming)
A. Revelation
B. Matthew
C. Luke
D. Isaiah
29. When Yeshua was born...
A. ...there was snow in Bethlehem
B. ...there was snow in Jerusalem
C. ...there was snow in Israel
D. ...the Bible does not mention snow
30. When was Yeshua baptized?
A. Shortly after his birth
B. On his first birthday
C. As a young boy of thirteen
D. A few years before his death
True & False Section
31. December 25th has been celebrated as Christmas since the Bible was written.
32. There are no records of Joseph speaking in the Christmas story.
33. The wise men were kings from the Orient.
34. The little drummer boy came to the manger after the shepherds.
35. The star did not appear above the manger.
36. Yeshua’s ancestors include a prostitute, an adulterer, a woman who committed incest, and a non-Israelite.
37. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first, and then appeared to Joseph.
38. Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
39. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a decree by Cæsar Augustus.
40. The wise men followed the star as it moved from their eastern land to Israel.
41. The wise men did not arrive on the night of Yeshua’s birth.
42. Elohim sent a choir of chubby angels to announce the birth of Yeshua to the shepherds.
43. Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation.
44. Both Joseph and Mary were told that the baby was to be named “Yeshua.”
45. When Herod heard about Yeshua, he was the only one concerned about this new king.
46. The wise men found Yeshua lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem.
47. After the angels announcement, the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to see Yeshua.
48. Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel appeared to him.
49. Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe the message they heard from the angels.
ANSWERS
01. The name of the mother of Yeshua was:
A — Mary Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Yeshua Messiah came about: his mother, Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, b ut before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
02. Yeshua was born in what town?
B — Bethlehem Matthew 2:1 “after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem in Judea...”
03. Joseph was a:
A — Carpenter Matthew 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary...”
04. Why did Joseph and Mary not stay at the inn?
C — Luke 2:7 “...because there was no room for them in the inn.”
05. How did Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem?
D — The Bible does not say. Some suppose that she rode something since she was so far along in her pregnancy.
06. After being born, Yeshua was placed in a:
B — Manger Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
07. A manger is a:
B — Feeding trough. It comes from a Greek word that means “to eat.”
08. Which animals does the Bible say were housed in the stable?
D — The Bible does not say.
09. The wise men, who visited Yeshua, came from what area?
D — None of the above. The Bible only talks about the wise men (magi) coming to see Jesus. THe Bible never describes them as kings. It is just the song that says, “We three kings of Orient are....” Matthew 2:1 says, “Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem.”
10. What sign were the shepherds told to look for by the angel?
D — None of the above. Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
11. With what words did the heavenly host of angels praise Elohim?
D — Glory to God... Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Most of these other songs were written long after the death of Yeshua.
12. What is frankincense?
B — A valuable incense made from the sap of a tree.
13. What is myrrh?
B — a valuable spice sometimes used in burials. John 19:39-40, “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”
14. How many wise men came to see Yeshua?
D — No one knows, but more then one. Some SUPPOSE that there were three since there were three gifts, but that is just a guess.
Matthew 2:1, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem.”
15. What does “wise men” most likely refer to?
B — Star Gazers. See most any commentary. Star gazers could often navigate, predict the best times for planting, knew math, astronomy, and calendar systems. They were very important in agricultural societies.
16. The wise men met Yeshua in a:
D — House. Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
17. Who told Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem?
B — Cæsar Augustus. Luke 2:1, 4, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Corneius was governor of Syria,) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David.)”
18. The child Yeshua went to Egypt:
B — Joseph was told in a dream to do it. Matthew 2:13, “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
19. According to the Bible, the little drummer boy met Yeshua:
D — None of the above. The story of a drummer boy meeting Yeshua is not in the Bible.
20. In which books do we find the story of Yeshua’s birth
C — Matthew and Luke only. Mark and John do not talk about the birth of Jesus.
21. When Joseph discovered that Mary was expecting a child he:
D — Joseph was not at all happy about Mary’s pregnancy. He contemplated “putting her away,” but, according to Matthew 1:18-20, Joseph brooded about the situation until he fell asleep, and an angel appeared to him in a dream.
22. Before Yeshua was born:
B — According to Matthew 1:25, they did not lead a normal married life until after the birth of Yeshua. Mary left Joseph when she made an extended visit with her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39, 56).
23. How did Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem?
D — The Bible does not say how Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem. Any other answer is purely a guess.
24. Which animals were present at the manger when Yeshua was born?
D — The Bible does not say.
25. What did the shepherds see?
A — The shepherds first saw a solitary angel, who was soon joined by a heavenly host (army).
26. Who were the visitors from the East?
C — Astronomers (Star Gazers)
27. The innkeeper...
D — The innkeeper is not mentioned.
28. Which book of the Bible has the most to say about Messiah’s advent (coming)
D — More is written about the coming of the Messiah in the book of Isaiah than in all four gospels. Correct answer is “D”.
29. When Yeshua was born...
C — Jeremiah wrote, “Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes?” (Jeremiah 18:14). There is a similar verse in Isaiah 55:10. The peak of Mount Hermon glistens with perpetual snow.
30. When was Yeshua baptized?
D — Jesus was baptized by John about three (3) years before his death.
Answers For True & False
31. December 25th has been celebrated as Christmas since the Bible was written.’
FALSE Although the Bible talks about the birth of Yeshua, it ever uses the word “Christmas.” As best we know, the earliest Christians did not even celebrate Christmas. Later, several different dates were observed by Christians but it was not until about the 4th century A.D. that December 25th became the common day of celebration. The fact is that no one really knows when Yeshua was born.
32. There are no records of Joseph speaking in the Christmas story.
TRUE There are no records of Joseph speaking in the Christmas story.
33. The wise men were three kings from the orient.
FALSE The wise men were Star Gazers from the East.
34. The little drummer boy came to the manger after the shepherds.
FALSE What little drummer boy? There is no mention of a drummer boy in the Bible.
35. The star did not appear above the manger.
TRUE The star did not appear above the manger. It appeared above the house where Joseph’s family was living (Matthew 2:9-11)
36. Yeshua’s ancestors include a prostitute, an adulterer, a woman who committed incest, and a non-Israelite.
TRUE Yeshua’s ancestors include a prostitute, an adulterer, a woman who committed incest, and a non-Israelite.
37. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first, and then appeared to Joseph.
FALSE Trick Question. Mary was first, and Gabriel appeared to her, but we do not know the name of the angel who appeared to Joseph (Matthew 1:20). It might have been Harold. You know, “Hark, the Harold angel sings.”
38. Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
FALSE A donkey does not appear anywhere in the Biblical account. She probably walked.
39. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a decree by Cæsar Augustus.
TRUE Yep. Luke 2:1-5
40. The wise men followed the star as it moved from their eastern land to Israel.
FALSE Apparently not. The wise guys saw the star in the East (Matthew 2:2), but it did not take them to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they asked for directions. Once leaving Jerusalem the star appeared again and led them to the house in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9).
41. The wise men did not arrive on the night of Yeshua’s birth.
TRUE The wise guys arrived sometime after Yeshua was born (Matthew 2:1). Yeshua is called a child, rather than a baby (babe) (Matthew 2:11). He may have been as old as two (2) (Matthew 2:7, 16).
42. Elohim sent a choir of chubby angels to announce the birth of Yeshua to the shepherds.
FALSE Actually Elohim sent an army of warrior angels. See Luke 2:13. “Company” and “Host” are military terms.
43. Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation.
FALSE In the first century B.C., shepherding was close to what what we would consider garbage collecting as a station in life. According to Pharisaic laws, shepherds were unable to remain ritually pure, and so were considered unclean. Yet Elohim chose them for his birth announcement.
44. Both Joseph and Mary were told that the baby was to be named “Yeshua.”
TRUE Yes. See Matthew 1:21 and Luke 1:31. Babies were always named by their fathers. Elohim, the Father, gave Yeshua his name.
45. When Herod heard about Yeshua, he was the only one concerned about this new king.
FALSE All of Jerusalem was disturbed by the news of a new king (Matthew 2:3).
46. The wise men found Yeshua lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem.
FALSE Yeshua was in a house by the time the wise guys found him (Matthew 2:11).
47. After the angels announcement, the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to see Yeshua.
TRUE They were excited! They did not hesitate . They did not pass “Go” and stop to collect their $200. Luke 2:15-16.
48. Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel appeared to him.
TRUE His obedience was swift, cheerful, and complete. (Matthew 1:24).
49. Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe the message they heard from the angel
FALSE The shepherds went to see the baby right away. They spread the word, and praised Elohim for what they had been permitted to see and to hear. There was no doubt at all. Luke 2:15-20.
