Do you know what I know?

When I taught introduction to New Testament classes at community colleges and led Bible studies and Sunday School classes, I used “A Christmas Quiz.” The purpose of the quiz is to discover that what we “know” is in the Bible might not actually be in the Bible. Reactions ranged from “Wow, I never knew that,” to one man telling me I had ruined his Christmas. I told him I thought it was interesting that reading the Bible stories had such a negative effect on him.

​One question is, “Where do we find the Christmas story in the Bible?” Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John? If you tried to write a Christmas pageant or carol based on Mark and John, you wouldn’t have any material to work with. Matthew and Luke tell us about Jesus’s birth, each in his own way. Most of the time, we mix all of the characters from both gospels in our plays and carols. There’s really nothing wrong with that, but in doing so, we don’t appreciate Matthew and Mark on their own.

​A question that always sparks discussion is, “How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?” The answer choices are: by camel; by donkey; they walked; Joseph walked and Mary rode a donkey. Year in and year out, the large majority of people chose the last answer. However, the Bible doesn’t tell us. Luke simply says that Joseph and Mary went up from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Still, lots of people insist that Joseph walked and Mary rode on a donkey. After all, she was nine months pregnant.

​Here’s another question: “How many wise men were there?” Well, the answer is pretty obvious, because it’s right there in the Christmas carol, “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” This is question #19, and by this point, folks are saying, “Well, I want to say three, but you’re probably going to say that’s not in the Bible.” And they are right! Matthew only states that wise men from the East came looking for Jesus. We get the “three” from the gifts they offered: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

​The final question in the Christmas quiz is, “Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?” Was it an angel, Mary’s mother, Caesar Augustus, or Alexander the Great? You’re right, it was Caesar Augustus. In his story, Luke reminds us that Jesus was born into a world full of empires and political intrigue and all of the consequences that follow.

​Do you know what I know? That’s not a boast on my part, but a sincere question. Of course, I took that from the song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” in which the shepherd boy asks the mighty king, “Do you know what I know?” As part of your Christmas celebration this year, take time to read Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. You might be surprised at what you don’t find in the stories, but you will certainly be blessed by what you do find.

​Merry Christmas.

Philip Gladden is a retired minister who lives in Wallace.