WEBVTT - Hour 1: Clearing Up Christmas Confusion 0:00:09.140 --> 0:00:13.700 700 years before the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, a 0:00:13.700 --> 0:00:17.900 Jewish prophet, foretold where he would be born. Stay with me. 0:00:17.930 --> 0:00:22.070 We'll talk about the significance of that prophecy in just 0:00:22.070 --> 0:00:25.310 a moment. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line. My name 0:00:25.310 --> 0:00:28.730 is Michael Riedel. I'm the academic dean and a professor 0:00:28.730 --> 0:00:33.290 of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute. It's 0:00:33.290 --> 0:00:38.720 time for our Bible study across America. I'm so grateful 0:00:40.070 --> 0:00:44.269 that you're here. Joining me around the radio kitchen table. 0:00:44.270 --> 0:00:48.800 And we're talking about your questions about the Bible, God 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:52.040 and the spiritual life. If you have a question and 0:00:52.040 --> 0:01:00.120 you'd like to call the phone number here is Seven five. 0:01:00.180 --> 0:01:08.280 Let me say it again a little slower. (877) 548-3675. You 0:01:08.280 --> 0:01:11.759 can write it down and call us anytime, but it's 0:01:11.760 --> 0:01:14.610 always good to call at the beginning of the program. 0:01:14.610 --> 0:01:16.709 If you think, how am I going to get through? 0:01:16.740 --> 0:01:20.640 Start now. Uh, this is the time to call because 0:01:20.640 --> 0:01:23.520 this is when the lines are open. Uh, otherwise it 0:01:23.520 --> 0:01:29.429 gets a little crowded for people. So call (877) 548-3675 with 0:01:29.430 --> 0:01:33.750 your question about the Bible, God or the spiritual life. 0:01:33.780 --> 0:01:36.869 Tricia McMillan is in the producer's chair. Ably assisted by 0:01:36.900 --> 0:01:40.560 Tara Ulmer. Mendoza's our tech guy today. And Gabby T 0:01:40.680 --> 0:01:45.569 is back answering the phones. Uh, well, go get yourself 0:01:45.569 --> 0:01:48.810 a cup of coffee. Open your Bible, because we're about 0:01:48.810 --> 0:01:54.180 to study the scriptures together. Where do you come from? 0:01:54.330 --> 0:01:58.320 I can't say how many times I've been asked that question. 0:01:58.320 --> 0:02:01.440 I always give the same answer. The Holy Land, Brooklyn, 0:02:01.440 --> 0:02:06.180 New York. I understand how knowing a person's hometown can 0:02:06.180 --> 0:02:11.850 give some insight and understanding of that person. Brooklyn has 0:02:11.850 --> 0:02:16.680 certainly shaped me in many ways. Nevertheless, where I come 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:19.560 from didn't identify me as anyone special. I think most 0:02:19.560 --> 0:02:23.040 of America has their have their roots in Brooklyn. It 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:26.010 wasn't a fulfillment of Bible prophecy that I was born 0:02:26.010 --> 0:02:30.570 in Bethlehem. Not so with the birthplace of the Messiah, Jesus. 0:02:30.570 --> 0:02:33.989 His birth in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of prophecy and 0:02:33.990 --> 0:02:39.000 identified him as the promised Messiah. The Hebrew prophet Micah 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:42.750 foretold where the Messiah would be born. And it wasn't 0:02:42.750 --> 0:02:47.010 just Bethlehem. There was much more to it. The prophecy 0:02:47.010 --> 0:02:50.519 of Micah five two reveals three truths about the Messiah's 0:02:50.520 --> 0:02:56.280 true origins. Here's what it says. Bethlehem, Ephrathah you are 0:02:56.280 --> 0:02:59.950 small among the clans of Judah. One will come from 0:02:59.950 --> 0:03:04.330 you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin 0:03:04.330 --> 0:03:10.510 is from antiquity, from eternity. Well, to begin, this prophecy 0:03:10.510 --> 0:03:15.820 reveals that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. It's very specific. 0:03:15.820 --> 0:03:21.160 Not that other Bethlehem that was in Galilee, but Bethlehem, 0:03:21.160 --> 0:03:27.700 Ephrata in Judah, David's hometown. Some have objected that Jesus 0:03:27.700 --> 0:03:31.210 didn't really fulfill Bible prophecy, but rather he just set 0:03:31.210 --> 0:03:34.660 it up. He knew the prophecies and then intentionally did 0:03:34.660 --> 0:03:38.500 those things predicted by the prophets to make it look 0:03:38.500 --> 0:03:43.420 like he was the Messiah. This prophecy shows that this 0:03:43.420 --> 0:03:47.290 can't be true. A person can't choose where he or 0:03:47.290 --> 0:03:50.740 she will be born. I had no say in Brooklyn 0:03:50.740 --> 0:03:55.060 as my birthplace, any more than my sister could choose. Berlin. 0:03:55.070 --> 0:03:58.250 But that's where the Lord determined it for both of us. 0:03:58.610 --> 0:04:03.350 Jesus birth in Bethlehem was not manufactured by him or 0:04:03.380 --> 0:04:07.400 even his parents. God in his sovereignty sent forth His son. 0:04:07.400 --> 0:04:10.850 Just when a Roman census required Joseph and Mary to 0:04:10.880 --> 0:04:14.810 travel to their ancient hometown, and just then, in the 0:04:14.810 --> 0:04:18.470 specific place predicted, the Lord Jesus was born not through 0:04:18.500 --> 0:04:24.080 his own manipulations, but as part of God's plan. The 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:26.840 prophecy also reveals that Messiah was to come from the 0:04:26.839 --> 0:04:30.260 line of David. It says he was to be ruler 0:04:30.290 --> 0:04:34.310 over all Israel for me, the only rightful ruler over Israel. 0:04:34.310 --> 0:04:37.669 According to two Samuel 712 through 16, what's called the 0:04:37.670 --> 0:04:41.000 Davidic Covenant had to be from the line of David. 0:04:41.029 --> 0:04:44.540 The Lord Jesus was born to a poor Galilean young 0:04:44.540 --> 0:04:49.130 Jewish woman, but both she and her husband, they were 0:04:49.130 --> 0:04:54.080 both from the line of David. Although born in obscurity, 0:04:54.110 --> 0:04:56.900 The Lord Jesus was born in the royal house to 0:04:56.930 --> 0:05:01.040 be the King of Israel. The most amazing aspect of 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:04.400 this prophecy is that it reveals that the Messiah was 0:05:04.400 --> 0:05:09.289 to be was to come actually from eternity past. It 0:05:09.290 --> 0:05:13.370 says his origin is from antiquity, from eternity. The literal 0:05:13.370 --> 0:05:17.420 translation would be this. This is the Michael translation. His 0:05:17.420 --> 0:05:21.770 goings forth are from the ancient past, from the days 0:05:21.770 --> 0:05:28.250 of forever. The Hebrew word for goings forth means appearances. 0:05:28.339 --> 0:05:32.540 Meaning that the Messiah actually made appearances in past times. 0:05:32.540 --> 0:05:36.350 This likely refers to all those times in the Hebrew 0:05:36.350 --> 0:05:39.950 Bible that God the Son appeared as the angel of 0:05:39.950 --> 0:05:43.100 the Lord. The words about the ancient past can mean 0:05:43.100 --> 0:05:47.390 long ago or ancient times, like the beginning of creation. 0:05:47.390 --> 0:05:50.540 It's even used in the Bible for eternity past in 0:05:50.540 --> 0:05:56.430 places like Deuteronomy 3327 and Habakkuk 112. The words the 0:05:56.430 --> 0:05:59.400 days of forever, when used in the Hebrew Bible, can 0:05:59.400 --> 0:06:04.260 mean long ago or refer to eternity past. Now here's 0:06:04.260 --> 0:06:08.640 the key. When the phrase ancient times and the days 0:06:08.640 --> 0:06:13.950 of forever are used together, as in Proverbs 822 and 23, 0:06:13.980 --> 0:06:21.180 these two words always, always mean eternity past. So this 0:06:21.180 --> 0:06:24.780 prophecy is actually saying, this is the paraphrase. Although the 0:06:24.779 --> 0:06:28.589 Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, he will really come 0:06:28.589 --> 0:06:33.599 from eternity past. This indicates it's not just the birth 0:06:33.600 --> 0:06:38.460 of a special human king, but this king will be deity, 0:06:38.490 --> 0:06:42.479 the Eternal One God in the flesh. When you and 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:47.099 I come, where you and I come from is significant 0:06:47.100 --> 0:06:50.820 because it marks and defines us. But where the Messiah 0:06:50.820 --> 0:06:55.210 Jesus comes from is far more special. It identifies him 0:06:55.210 --> 0:06:58.929 as the much longed for Messiah, the King from the 0:06:58.930 --> 0:07:12.940 line of David. God in the flesh. Well, I am 0:07:12.940 --> 0:07:17.860 so grateful that Micah five two is in the Bible. 0:07:17.860 --> 0:07:20.740 That was one of the passages that convinced me personally 0:07:20.740 --> 0:07:24.550 to believe in Jesus. And I hope that it was 0:07:24.550 --> 0:07:27.520 an encouragement to you to look at it, too. We're 0:07:27.520 --> 0:07:30.280 going to go to the phones in just a moment. 0:07:30.280 --> 0:07:34.750 But what I wanted to, uh, to mention is our 0:07:34.750 --> 0:07:38.860 current resource. This is a great time to mention it. 0:07:38.890 --> 0:07:44.440 The books of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, those four books 0:07:44.470 --> 0:07:50.800 are filled with biblical truth. They're really significant. And, uh, 0:07:50.800 --> 0:07:53.320 sometimes they need a little. We all need a little 0:07:53.320 --> 0:07:56.170 help when we're reading them to unpack all the profound 0:07:56.200 --> 0:07:58.570 truths that we can find in them. And that's where 0:07:58.570 --> 0:08:03.220 the Moody Bible Commentary excerpt comes in. This is a 0:08:03.220 --> 0:08:07.150 trusted resource, and it offers clear explanations that bring the 0:08:07.150 --> 0:08:11.260 teachings of these letters to life. If you're preparing a 0:08:11.260 --> 0:08:14.230 Bible lesson or leading a home group discussion, or just 0:08:14.230 --> 0:08:16.960 want deeper understanding for your own time in the word, 0:08:16.990 --> 0:08:20.350 this excerpt from the Moody Bible Commentary will enrich your 0:08:20.350 --> 0:08:23.290 study of God's Word. And when you give a gift 0:08:23.290 --> 0:08:26.440 of any size, we'd like to say thank you by 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:30.340 sending you a copy of the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. 0:08:30.340 --> 0:08:33.790 Excerpt from the Moody Bible Commentary. Here's what you do 0:08:33.790 --> 0:08:37.300 if you want to give a gift, especially at this season, it's, uh, 0:08:37.300 --> 0:08:40.089 the last month of the year. It would really help 0:08:40.090 --> 0:08:43.240 us here at Moody at Open Line. Uh, if you 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:45.100 were to choose to say this is the month I 0:08:45.100 --> 0:08:46.479 want to give a gift, and we want to say 0:08:46.480 --> 0:08:55.579 thanks by sending, by sending you this excerpt, call (888) 644-7122 0:08:55.610 --> 0:08:59.480 or visit openline radio.org and click on the link there 0:08:59.480 --> 0:09:03.140 about this current resource. Be sure to ask for the 0:09:03.140 --> 0:09:06.770 excerpt from the Moody Bible Commentary. Well, we're going to 0:09:06.770 --> 0:09:11.360 talk to Carolyn in Bradenton, Florida, listening on Wqsm. Welcome 0:09:11.360 --> 0:09:13.520 to Open Line. Carolyn, how can I help you? 0:09:13.640 --> 0:09:16.790 Well, good morning Michael. I tried to get this question 0:09:16.790 --> 0:09:19.580 in last year and didn't. I waited all year to 0:09:19.610 --> 0:09:20.480 ask a whole year. 0:09:20.480 --> 0:09:23.390 You could have called the week after Christmas. It's okay, Carolyn, 0:09:23.390 --> 0:09:27.200 we can do Christmas questions after Christmas. Well that's. 0:09:27.200 --> 0:09:32.090 True. But anyhow, I'm so glad to to get to you. 0:09:32.120 --> 0:09:37.640 I do not agree with people who believe that Mary was. 0:09:37.670 --> 0:09:42.080 Mary was in her last stages of pregnancy and even 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:46.520 in labor when she arrived in Bethlehem. One of the 0:09:46.580 --> 0:09:51.350 verses that gives people that impression, I think, is Luke 0:09:51.380 --> 0:09:58.850 two five, which describes Mary as being great with child. Now, 0:09:59.150 --> 0:10:05.300 I've been thinking about this for a year. And in Matthew, 0:10:05.330 --> 0:10:10.130 every time Mary's pregnancy is referred to, it is always 0:10:10.130 --> 0:10:15.410 that she is with child. Luke uses an entirely different 0:10:15.410 --> 0:10:20.780 Greek word to describe her pregnancy use only by him. 0:10:20.780 --> 0:10:26.690 It's it's kind of medical, I understand, and I and 0:10:26.690 --> 0:10:30.530 I just feel I would just like to see if 0:10:30.530 --> 0:10:35.210 you feel the same way I do, that the translation 0:10:35.210 --> 0:10:40.610 of that word in Luke is, is not the best. 0:10:40.610 --> 0:10:45.079 That she was great with child. Because Luke also says 0:10:45.080 --> 0:10:50.310 that while she was there at the time was fulfilled 0:10:50.309 --> 0:10:53.699 that she should be delivered. I just don't believe that 0:10:53.700 --> 0:10:58.740 Mary would have made such a trip, or that her 0:10:58.740 --> 0:11:01.830 mother would have allowed her to make such a trip 0:11:02.100 --> 0:11:07.590 in her last stages of pregnancy. So what? What stage 0:11:07.590 --> 0:11:11.370 of pregnancy do you think she was in when she 0:11:11.370 --> 0:11:13.140 arrived in Bethlehem? 0:11:14.250 --> 0:11:17.790 Well, do you think that she was there for months? 0:11:17.790 --> 0:11:20.010 Is that what you're saying before she gave birth? 0:11:20.040 --> 0:11:24.449 I do, I do think so, but certainly certainly not 0:11:24.450 --> 0:11:25.770 the last month. 0:11:26.910 --> 0:11:30.270 I kind of think that you're pushing it a little 0:11:30.300 --> 0:11:34.260 bit with that. I don't know that it means great 0:11:34.260 --> 0:11:36.960 with child like the King James Version. I think it 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:40.140 just means with child and it means that she's pregnant. 0:11:40.140 --> 0:11:42.990 That's what that I don't see the word. 0:11:43.650 --> 0:11:47.170 That's what that Greek word means. And there are now 0:11:47.170 --> 0:11:52.330 the ASV uses great with child for Luke two five. 0:11:52.330 --> 0:11:56.290 But there are other versions the NIV. 0:11:56.320 --> 0:12:00.220 The wait, wait, wait. The New American Standard version says 0:12:00.220 --> 0:12:07.480 was with child. The Hcsb says that she was pregnant. Uh, 0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:11.740 and and uh, the Net Bible, which is a really 0:12:11.740 --> 0:12:17.650 good translation, uh, says that she was expecting a child. 0:12:17.770 --> 0:12:25.990 That's it. She was expecting. So she was pregnant for sure. Uh. And. Great. Okay. 0:12:25.990 --> 0:12:28.210 That's fine. That she's. But here's the thing in terms 0:12:28.210 --> 0:12:32.829 of timing, they arrive there. And while they were there, 0:12:32.860 --> 0:12:36.069 her days were completed for her to give birth. There's 0:12:36.070 --> 0:12:38.800 no basis for saying that. They were there for a 0:12:38.800 --> 0:12:41.380 long time. So it may have been a week. A 0:12:41.410 --> 0:12:45.460 few days, I don't know. But they arrived and then 0:12:45.460 --> 0:12:48.040 the time was complete for her to give birth. I 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:49.900 don't know why you would say that. They were there 0:12:49.900 --> 0:12:51.160 for a long time. 0:12:53.230 --> 0:12:57.550 Well, I don't know why people would would say that she. 0:12:57.580 --> 0:13:00.550 In fact, I heard somebody on Moody Radio that she 0:13:00.550 --> 0:13:04.120 was ten months pregnant when she arrived at Bethlehem. 0:13:04.150 --> 0:13:06.610 Well, I can't speak for that. It just sounds to 0:13:06.610 --> 0:13:11.290 me like she was near term when they arrived and 0:13:11.290 --> 0:13:13.870 there was no room for them, and they had to stay. 0:13:13.900 --> 0:13:16.930 Not in the guest room, in someone's house, but rather 0:13:16.929 --> 0:13:20.620 they had to stay in the in the barn, so 0:13:20.620 --> 0:13:25.480 to speak. Uh, in the stable, which was probably attached 0:13:25.480 --> 0:13:29.500 to the back of the house. Uh, and then, uh, 0:13:30.160 --> 0:13:34.569 but it doesn't I mean, if it were the case 0:13:34.960 --> 0:13:37.330 that she was there for a while, there wouldn't have 0:13:37.330 --> 0:13:39.640 been in the stable already. They would have had, you know, 0:13:39.670 --> 0:13:41.810 if they got there and there was no room for them. 0:13:41.809 --> 0:13:44.660 They would have. They would have not stayed in this. 0:13:44.750 --> 0:13:46.370 They might have stayed in the stable for a couple 0:13:46.400 --> 0:13:49.340 of days, but then they would have found a place 0:13:49.340 --> 0:13:52.880 to stay. So it sounds to me like they arrived 0:13:52.880 --> 0:13:55.880 when she was there near term, or she would not 0:13:55.880 --> 0:13:58.730 have been in the stable. So. 0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:01.940 Oh that's interesting. I appreciate that insight. 0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:05.660 Yeah. So but that that's it. Now, the thing is, 0:14:05.660 --> 0:14:12.080 she was, uh, she was definitely pregnant and, uh, that's 0:14:12.080 --> 0:14:16.910 that's I think what we what we can see, you know, 0:14:16.940 --> 0:14:20.690 from this, that's for sure. And, and the thing is 0:14:20.690 --> 0:14:26.330 that she was there, uh, to, uh, to kind of 0:14:26.360 --> 0:14:30.170 to give birth and think about it. She was from Nazareth, 0:14:30.170 --> 0:14:34.100 and yet she gave birth to fulfill the prophecy of Bethlehem. 0:14:34.130 --> 0:14:38.270 God arranged that whole thing right then for that to happen. Hey, Carolyn, 0:14:38.270 --> 0:14:41.100 thanks for your question. Thanks for studying the Bible so carefully. 0:14:41.130 --> 0:14:44.220 We're going to come back with more questions right here 0:14:44.220 --> 0:14:46.680 on Open Line with Michael. Stay with us. There's a 0:14:46.680 --> 0:15:10.230 lot more to come. Uh, can you just see them 0:15:10.230 --> 0:15:16.620 dancing right there? Trish is dancing along with them right now. So? 0:15:17.370 --> 0:15:21.390 So everyone in the studio is is dancing just like 0:15:21.390 --> 0:15:24.060 all the peanuts characters were. It's one of my favorite 0:15:24.090 --> 0:15:27.720 TV shows. Actually, that's the very first New Testament passage 0:15:27.720 --> 0:15:31.140 I ever heard. I was a little kid when that 0:15:31.140 --> 0:15:33.720 Christmas special came, and my parents let me watch it. 0:15:33.720 --> 0:15:36.780 And it's the first time I ever heard anything from 0:15:36.780 --> 0:15:40.200 the New Testament. It was pretty exciting. Uh, now, as 0:15:40.200 --> 0:15:43.110 I look back at it, uh, anyway, I hope what 0:15:43.110 --> 0:15:45.720 I love about that show is it's such a clear 0:15:45.720 --> 0:15:49.080 message about the good news of the birth of Jesus. 0:15:49.110 --> 0:15:53.370 It's not your typical, uh, Christmas cartoon. Uh, and if 0:15:53.400 --> 0:15:55.710 you've never seen it, I can't imagine there's anyone that's 0:15:55.710 --> 0:15:58.530 never seen it. Be sure to check it out and 0:15:58.530 --> 0:16:01.650 have your kids check it out, too. Uh, grandkids, show 0:16:01.650 --> 0:16:04.380 it to them. It'll be a lot of fun. Uh, 0:16:04.710 --> 0:16:07.950 we're going to go back to the phones right now 0:16:07.950 --> 0:16:15.420 and speak with Eileen in Ravenna, Ohio. I think it's Ravenna. Ravenna. Okay. Ravenna, Ohio. 0:16:15.450 --> 0:16:19.200 Listen on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line. How can I 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:20.370 help you today, Eileen? 0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:25.020 Um, thanks for taking my call. So I have a question. 0:16:25.020 --> 0:16:29.940 Is it true that newborn lambs were placed in mangers 0:16:29.940 --> 0:16:33.060 and wrapped in a cloth to keep them from being blemished, 0:16:33.090 --> 0:16:36.540 like for animal sacrifice in the Old Testament? 0:16:37.090 --> 0:16:38.140 No. 0:16:39.130 --> 0:16:40.540 Okay. Thank you. 0:16:40.570 --> 0:16:42.910 There's a book that came out a couple of years ago, 0:16:42.940 --> 0:16:46.660 a very popular book that talked about that. And, uh, 0:16:46.900 --> 0:16:50.260 I think it's a big stretch. I really here's let 0:16:50.260 --> 0:16:55.360 me just say, the reason the Messiah Jesus was placed 0:16:55.360 --> 0:16:59.080 in a in a manger was because he was born 0:16:59.320 --> 0:17:03.610 where the animals were rather than in the guest room. 0:17:03.610 --> 0:17:06.459 So there was no room for them in the house. 0:17:06.460 --> 0:17:10.960 And so he, they put him in the stable. And 0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:14.080 that's where a manger was, that they had no cradle 0:17:14.080 --> 0:17:18.940 that served it. And also all babies were swaddled just 0:17:18.940 --> 0:17:19.990 like today. 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:21.429 Uh, right. Do you have. 0:17:21.430 --> 0:17:23.560 Any do you have, do you have have you had 0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:24.850 any kids? I mean. 0:17:25.060 --> 0:17:28.870 Kids and grandkids. And yes, I swaddled all of them. 0:17:29.170 --> 0:17:34.930 Exactly. And so, uh, the I you know what? I'm 0:17:34.930 --> 0:17:40.220 all for using rabbinic backgrounds, but I'm not for reading 0:17:40.220 --> 0:17:44.840 into rabbinic backgrounds and seeing more there than ever was 0:17:44.840 --> 0:17:48.980 in there. And I think, let me just say that 0:17:48.980 --> 0:17:52.790 most 99.9% of the time. Do you know how we 0:17:52.790 --> 0:17:54.590 can understand the Bible best. 0:17:55.970 --> 0:17:57.169 By reading it? 0:17:57.410 --> 0:17:58.340 Yeah, exactly. 0:17:58.340 --> 0:18:01.760 You don't need any other kind of secret backgrounds. That's it. 0:18:01.760 --> 0:18:05.359 You got it. Eileen. Yeah. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. 0:18:05.390 --> 0:18:06.500 Clarifying that. 0:18:06.590 --> 0:18:10.909 Yep. Great. Thank you so much. Uh. Bye bye. Uh, 0:18:10.910 --> 0:18:14.480 we're going to speak next with Doug in Ohio listening online. 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:17.330 Welcome to Open Line. Doug. How can I help you? 0:18:17.990 --> 0:18:21.500 Oh, thank you, doctor. Nick, this is great. I I'm 0:18:21.500 --> 0:18:24.590 curious if we know anything about the wise men. After 0:18:24.590 --> 0:18:29.840 they visited Jesus, did they understand that he was their savior, too, 0:18:29.869 --> 0:18:32.780 or what became of them? 0:18:32.960 --> 0:18:36.780 Well, I think they understood something about who the Messiah 0:18:36.780 --> 0:18:39.090 would be. I don't think they just had a star, 0:18:39.210 --> 0:18:42.870 because why would they even listen to the star? Here's 0:18:42.869 --> 0:18:47.730 what what we know is that, and I'm convinced of this, 0:18:47.730 --> 0:18:51.600 that Daniel was one of the wise men of the East. 0:18:51.810 --> 0:18:57.150 500 years before. And he had a profound influence on 0:18:57.150 --> 0:19:02.310 those wise men there in Babylon and then Persia. And 0:19:02.310 --> 0:19:05.609 because of that, I'm sure he gave them the scriptures. 0:19:05.609 --> 0:19:10.590 And of course, as the scriptures were formed, there were 0:19:10.590 --> 0:19:14.430 still people there, Jewish people in those places of the world. 0:19:14.430 --> 0:19:17.370 They had the scriptures, and so did the wise men. 0:19:17.369 --> 0:19:22.530 And so hundreds of years pass. 500 years passed and 0:19:22.530 --> 0:19:25.439 they are still reading the scriptures, and they are reading 0:19:25.440 --> 0:19:27.900 about the coming Messiah. And, you know, the scriptures are 0:19:27.900 --> 0:19:32.760 very plain. Uh, the Lord Jesus talked about how the 0:19:32.760 --> 0:19:37.590 the scriptures foretold that the Messiah would suffer and die 0:19:37.590 --> 0:19:42.240 and be raised again to glory. Uh, and and so 0:19:42.240 --> 0:19:50.670 I'm sure they saw that and understood the significance of, uh, 0:19:50.700 --> 0:19:54.060 of the, the death, the coming death of the Messiah. Uh, 0:19:54.060 --> 0:19:57.149 some people have even suggested that the purpose of the myrrh, 0:19:57.180 --> 0:20:00.750 the gift of myrrh, was it's a burial spice to 0:20:00.780 --> 0:20:07.859 prepare him for burial. So I believe they did understand 0:20:07.859 --> 0:20:12.210 the the that the Messiah would come as a redeemer. 0:20:12.210 --> 0:20:17.370 And and because they wanted to worship him for that reason. Uh, 0:20:17.400 --> 0:20:21.179 I think they understood him as the Savior. So I 0:20:21.180 --> 0:20:24.000 think that, uh, I think you asked, uh, did they 0:20:24.000 --> 0:20:28.230 ever reconnect with the Lord Jesus again throughout his life? Doubtful. 0:20:28.380 --> 0:20:30.270 I think, uh. 0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:34.540 Come come back into the region? Or did they even 0:20:34.540 --> 0:20:37.420 start a church in their own home? 0:20:37.450 --> 0:20:41.650 Well, the church was not born yet. Uh, to be 0:20:41.890 --> 0:20:46.840 the church wasn't born until Pentecost. Uh, so that's, uh, 0:20:46.840 --> 0:20:48.940 some 37 years later. 0:20:48.970 --> 0:20:53.350 They were almost like pre disciples, like they understood that 0:20:53.350 --> 0:20:54.520 this was. 0:20:54.550 --> 0:20:57.850 They were like Old Testament believers, but they or like 0:20:57.850 --> 0:21:03.490 Simeon as well. Uh, they they were and, uh, the 0:21:03.490 --> 0:21:08.830 thing is, we have no evidence whatsoever that they, uh, 0:21:09.040 --> 0:21:12.340 that they came back to Israel and, and came to 0:21:12.369 --> 0:21:15.190 hear the public ministry of Jesus or anything like that. 0:21:15.220 --> 0:21:17.680 We have. No, that that would be, I think, pretty 0:21:17.710 --> 0:21:20.200 far fetched. But you know what, Doug? You should write 0:21:20.200 --> 0:21:24.100 a novel about it. Probably it'll sell a million copies. Okay. 0:21:25.090 --> 0:21:26.109 Okay. Well. 0:21:26.109 --> 0:21:30.370 Thank you. Sure. Thanks for your call. Appreciate it. Uh, 0:21:30.369 --> 0:21:35.740 we're going to talk with Craig in Midland, Texas, listening 0:21:35.740 --> 0:21:40.419 online with uh, to on Ktg. Hey, Craig, how can 0:21:40.420 --> 0:21:41.410 I help you today? 0:21:42.100 --> 0:21:44.740 Yeah, I'd like to do a follow up question to 0:21:44.830 --> 0:21:50.560 Genealogy's last week. Uh, I think in Matthew, it includes 0:21:50.560 --> 0:21:55.629 Jeconiah in Joseph's lineage. Uh, Jeconiah was an evil king 0:21:55.630 --> 0:21:59.619 during Jeremiah's time. God said none of your descendants will 0:21:59.619 --> 0:22:02.830 ever sit on the throne of David. And I think 0:22:02.830 --> 0:22:08.949 that the Pharisees understood that that indeed made Jesus the Messiah, 0:22:08.980 --> 0:22:12.369 because if Joseph had been his father, he would have 0:22:12.369 --> 0:22:16.360 been no threat to them. And I think that's a 0:22:16.359 --> 0:22:22.510 reason that Matthew wrote that genealogy was because the Pharisees 0:22:22.540 --> 0:22:25.240 are very knowledgeable with the old, what we would call 0:22:25.240 --> 0:22:28.030 the Old Testament. I just want to make sure that 0:22:28.030 --> 0:22:33.530 I'm not Extending rabbinic thought to something that should listen. 0:22:33.530 --> 0:22:36.290 I don't I don't know what the Pharisees thought about 0:22:36.290 --> 0:22:39.859 the Jeconiah curse. I don't know what they thought about 0:22:39.859 --> 0:22:42.680 the genealogy. I think that's a lot of speculation. Here's 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:47.600 what I think about this. Uh, Jeremiah 2230 is the 0:22:47.600 --> 0:22:52.429 passage where it says, right, this man childless. Uh, I'll 0:22:52.430 --> 0:22:58.070 read you the verse if I can find it. Jeremiah 2230. 0:22:58.100 --> 0:23:02.870 Here's what it says. Record this man as childless, a 0:23:02.869 --> 0:23:06.320 man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None 0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:10.310 of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne 0:23:10.340 --> 0:23:15.920 of David or ruling again in Judah. What this does 0:23:15.950 --> 0:23:21.110 is it sets up a catch 22. The catch 22 0:23:21.140 --> 0:23:25.610 is this the only person who has the right to 0:23:25.640 --> 0:23:31.379 reign would have to be descended from Jeconiah. And yet 0:23:31.380 --> 0:23:37.290 the line is cursed so that no one who is 0:23:37.290 --> 0:23:43.170 actually descended from Jeconiah can sit on the throne. Do 0:23:43.170 --> 0:23:46.860 you see? The catch 22 has to be from that 0:23:46.859 --> 0:23:50.580 line and then. But no one can be. So what 0:23:50.580 --> 0:23:58.050 we have is the physical birth of Jesus through his mother, Mary, 0:23:58.080 --> 0:24:00.000 who's also the line of David, but from the line 0:24:00.030 --> 0:24:03.570 of Nathan. So Jeconiah is not in there. That's recorded 0:24:03.570 --> 0:24:06.960 in the Gospel of Luke. So he is the Son 0:24:06.960 --> 0:24:10.950 of David, but he needs to be through the line 0:24:10.980 --> 0:24:17.369 of Solomon to be king. That's what Joseph was. Joseph 0:24:17.369 --> 0:24:20.790 adopts the Lord Jesus, so he has all the rights 0:24:20.790 --> 0:24:25.680 to sit on the throne, though adopted. However, he is 0:24:25.710 --> 0:24:28.950 literally of the line of David through Mary. He's adopted 0:24:28.950 --> 0:24:34.230 through Joseph. And because of that, because of that adoption, 0:24:34.230 --> 0:24:39.150 he's able to, uh, to at the same time have 0:24:39.150 --> 0:24:41.910 the right to sit on the throne. And also, he 0:24:41.940 --> 0:24:45.180 is not of the physical descent of Jeconiah, so he 0:24:45.180 --> 0:24:48.780 can still be, uh, the king. The curse does not 0:24:48.780 --> 0:24:51.150 apply to him. Is that what you're trying to get at, Craig? 0:24:51.810 --> 0:24:57.780 Well, that okay, that that because I assumed I'm not Jewish. 0:24:57.780 --> 0:25:02.220 I don't have a background, but I just figured because 0:25:02.220 --> 0:25:07.229 Mary was through Nathan, who's through David, that that would 0:25:07.260 --> 0:25:10.440 have given him rights to the throne, but that would 0:25:10.440 --> 0:25:14.070 not then that it had to be adopted through Joseph. 0:25:14.100 --> 0:25:18.270 Yeah. Well, that's that's how it's one of the reasons, 0:25:18.270 --> 0:25:21.179 I believe, for the virgin birth is to give the 0:25:21.180 --> 0:25:23.760 right to rule from the line of David through Mary 0:25:23.760 --> 0:25:27.460 and the the right to the throne through his adopted 0:25:27.460 --> 0:25:32.410 father not and therefore not cursed. So that's that's how 0:25:32.410 --> 0:25:36.639 I understand it. So. Well, we're going to come back 0:25:36.640 --> 0:25:39.250 with the mailbag. You can always reach us by going 0:25:39.280 --> 0:25:42.580 to Open Line radio.org and clicking on Ask Michael a question, 0:25:42.580 --> 0:25:44.979 and then Tricia will put it in the mailbag. And 0:25:44.980 --> 0:25:47.080 that's what she's going to bring in. We're ready for 0:25:47.080 --> 0:25:50.230 the Febc mailbag. Don't go away. We're coming right back 0:25:50.230 --> 0:25:53.379 with the questions you've sent in. This is Michael Ray Dolnick. 0:25:53.380 --> 0:25:54.790 On Open Line. 0:26:07.810 --> 0:26:09.340 What child. 0:26:09.340 --> 0:26:17.890 Is this? Who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping? 0:26:17.920 --> 0:26:20.649 Whom angels greet. 0:26:20.650 --> 0:26:24.850 With anthems sweet while shepherds. 0:26:24.850 --> 0:26:27.220 Watch our key. 0:26:27.580 --> 0:26:32.470 Wow. Beautiful. What a wonderful version of that classic hymn. 0:26:33.490 --> 0:26:38.469 So grateful to be celebrating the season with you. You know, 0:26:38.500 --> 0:26:42.520 I'm getting ready for three holidays. Trisha Trisha is joining 0:26:42.520 --> 0:26:44.530 me right now. Holidays. Mailbag. Yes. 0:26:44.560 --> 0:26:48.100 Tell me, what are they? I know about Christmas. Christmas. 0:26:48.100 --> 0:26:50.949 And then Hanukkah starts the day after. 0:26:50.950 --> 0:26:55.060 Christmas, right? Yeah. Christmas at sundown. Yep. It's so late 0:26:55.180 --> 0:26:55.900 this year. 0:26:55.930 --> 0:26:59.320 Yeah, I know, and then every Jewish holiday is either 0:26:59.320 --> 0:27:03.640 late or early. It's never on time. So, uh. And 0:27:03.640 --> 0:27:06.460 so we've got. And then also my grandson was born 0:27:06.460 --> 0:27:08.590 on the 24th and that's a holiday too. 0:27:08.619 --> 0:27:09.159 Oh, yes. 0:27:09.190 --> 0:27:11.290 There we go. Yeah. So we're going to be celebrating 0:27:11.290 --> 0:27:17.260 his birthday on the 24th. Uh, celebrating the Messiah, as 0:27:17.260 --> 0:27:22.760 we call it, on the 25th. And then celebrating Hanukah 0:27:23.030 --> 0:27:26.719 on the 26th because Hanukkah lasts eight days. So. 0:27:27.050 --> 0:27:32.000 So you've got, like, a ten day celebration coming up here? Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic. 0:27:32.030 --> 0:27:33.020 I got I. 0:27:33.020 --> 0:27:35.389 Got partying, I don't know how much weight I'm going 0:27:35.420 --> 0:27:38.899 to gain. Going to eat a lot. That's what I'm 0:27:38.900 --> 0:27:39.650 going to do. 0:27:39.830 --> 0:27:42.080 That's a next day problem, right? Yeah. Yeah. 0:27:42.109 --> 0:27:46.190 Birthday cake. Latkes. Who knows what else? Uh, there we go. 0:27:46.220 --> 0:27:50.930 So candy canes. Anyway, I'm glad you're with me, and, uh, 0:27:50.930 --> 0:27:55.340 I it's time for the Febc mailbag. I'm so grateful 0:27:55.340 --> 0:27:58.520 at this season for all this past year. Far Eastern 0:27:58.520 --> 0:28:02.480 Broadcasting Company partners with Open Line to bring the weekly 0:28:02.540 --> 0:28:07.520 Febc mailbag. Febc is a wonderful organization. It brings the 0:28:07.520 --> 0:28:11.270 good news to people with media and also personal engagement. 0:28:11.270 --> 0:28:14.389 There are people there, not just it's just not radio waves. 0:28:14.420 --> 0:28:19.010 It's it's with people as well. And you should check 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:23.190 out the Febc podcast. it's called Until All Have Heard. 0:28:23.190 --> 0:28:27.270 The way you find it is by going to npr.org. 0:28:27.270 --> 0:28:29.610 And Tricia, did you notice how all these people in 0:28:29.640 --> 0:28:31.590 in the studio with you? 0:28:32.250 --> 0:28:33.930 Yes, yes I did. 0:28:34.530 --> 0:28:37.530 Yeah. We've got Omar sometimes. Merl is in there helping 0:28:37.530 --> 0:28:41.820 him out. And then we've got Lisa there. And to 0:28:41.850 --> 0:28:45.030 hear her. And you. What a team we got. 0:28:45.060 --> 0:28:46.140 Yeah, it's a great team. 0:28:46.200 --> 0:28:49.560 Yeah. And, you know, there's someone else behind this team. 0:28:49.560 --> 0:28:55.140 And that. Those are our kitchen table partners. They're part 0:28:55.140 --> 0:28:57.780 of the team too. I also think that every listener 0:28:57.810 --> 0:28:59.220 is part of the team, because we wouldn't have a 0:28:59.220 --> 0:29:01.770 program if no one was listening, so I'm grateful for that. 0:29:01.770 --> 0:29:04.350 But those kitchen table partners, they're the ones that give 0:29:04.380 --> 0:29:06.600 monthly so that we can be on the air weekly. 0:29:06.600 --> 0:29:11.910 And I so appreciate them, uh, doing that. They, uh, 0:29:12.450 --> 0:29:16.470 and I think at Christmas time, I need to mention this. Right. 0:29:16.950 --> 0:29:21.030 You can get if a person commits to $30 a month. 0:29:21.150 --> 0:29:25.200 Then they get 50% off everything in the Moody Publishers catalog, 0:29:25.200 --> 0:29:29.070 including what I think is the best Christmas present for everyone. 0:29:29.100 --> 0:29:30.720 The Moody Bible Commentary. 0:29:30.720 --> 0:29:34.830 So it's a great one, though, at this time of year, 0:29:34.830 --> 0:29:38.820 your your book about the messianic prophecies might be a 0:29:38.820 --> 0:29:41.490 good one for people to. But that you didn't say 0:29:41.490 --> 0:29:43.860 that I said that, but but as a general rule, 0:29:43.860 --> 0:29:46.440 the Moody Bible Commentary is great all year round. 0:29:46.470 --> 0:29:49.350 Yeah, it's great all year round. And then the what 0:29:49.380 --> 0:29:51.960 Tricia was mentioning was the Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, which 0:29:51.960 --> 0:29:54.600 is a labor of love that I was involved with 0:29:54.630 --> 0:29:56.790 for a number of years, and I'm really grateful for it. 0:29:56.820 --> 0:30:03.120 So with that said, uh, I appreciate all of you 0:30:03.120 --> 0:30:04.650 being part of the team. If you'd like to become 0:30:04.650 --> 0:30:07.170 part of the team by becoming a kitchen table partner, 0:30:07.200 --> 0:30:11.820 all you have to do is call (888) 644-7122 or go 0:30:11.820 --> 0:30:15.000 to open line radio.org and remember every other week. Then 0:30:15.030 --> 0:30:20.800 you'll get a special Emailed audio Bible study prepared exclusively 0:30:20.800 --> 0:30:23.560 for our kitchen table partners. Just a way of saying thanks. 0:30:23.860 --> 0:30:27.490 I've been really enjoying them. Recently we did a special 0:30:27.490 --> 0:30:30.400 Christmas and we've got a special New Year's one coming out. 0:30:30.430 --> 0:30:32.560 Eve has been helping me out with those and they're 0:30:32.560 --> 0:30:35.410 fun Bible studies. Again, if you'd like to become a 0:30:35.410 --> 0:30:41.800 kitchen table partner, call (888) 644-7122 or go to open Line radio.org. 0:30:41.830 --> 0:30:47.530 And it's greatly appreciated. Uh, okay. We've got a bunch of, uh, 0:30:47.530 --> 0:30:49.810 emailed questions. Let's see what we can do with those. 0:30:49.840 --> 0:30:52.840 All right. Our first question is from Lori. She wrote 0:30:52.840 --> 0:30:55.810 us on Facebook and says she had two questions. Can 0:30:55.810 --> 0:31:00.280 you talk about, first, Mary's knowledge of Scripture. I heard 0:31:00.280 --> 0:31:04.630 someone teach that her Magnificat in Luke one covers 14 0:31:04.660 --> 0:31:08.230 Old Testament passages. Was that empowered by the Holy Spirit, 0:31:08.230 --> 0:31:11.560 or did she know the scriptures? How unusual would it 0:31:11.560 --> 0:31:14.440 have been for a Jewish woman to know Scripture, because 0:31:14.440 --> 0:31:16.810 they were not taught the same way men were? 0:31:18.620 --> 0:31:21.920 She says here. Someone said it's highly unusual for Jewish 0:31:21.920 --> 0:31:27.680 women to know the scripture, right as I'm reading this question. Well, 0:31:27.710 --> 0:31:29.750 first of all, of course she was empowered by the 0:31:29.750 --> 0:31:35.000 Holy Spirit, but she did know the scriptures just to 0:31:35.030 --> 0:31:41.180 just saying, okay, uh, that, you know, there's she didn't 0:31:41.180 --> 0:31:44.360 write the the book of Luke. Luke did. So he 0:31:44.360 --> 0:31:48.500 was the one superintended by the scriptures to write the 0:31:48.500 --> 0:31:52.130 inspired text of Scripture. But it's an accurate reflection of 0:31:52.130 --> 0:31:56.000 what she said. And she knew the scriptures, and that's 0:31:56.000 --> 0:31:58.280 why she was able to compose her Magnificat the way 0:31:58.280 --> 0:32:01.760 she did. It was very biblical. In New Testament times. 0:32:01.760 --> 0:32:05.660 Jewish women were indeed educated in both the Bible and 0:32:05.660 --> 0:32:08.420 rabbinic law, because they had to keep the law in 0:32:08.420 --> 0:32:13.880 the home. In fact, among scholars, Jewish scholars like what 0:32:13.880 --> 0:32:18.320 we think of the scribes and Pharisees and lawyers. The 0:32:18.350 --> 0:32:20.150 that's what we read in the New Testament. The daughter 0:32:20.150 --> 0:32:23.810 of a scholar was considered the best prospect for marriage 0:32:23.810 --> 0:32:28.130 in Judaism in the first century because of her education, 0:32:28.430 --> 0:32:31.370 because she had even a better teacher than her, uh, 0:32:32.000 --> 0:32:36.470 than her father. Just an ordinary father. He was a scholar. Uh, 0:32:36.470 --> 0:32:39.170 there are, if you read the Talmud, there are many 0:32:39.170 --> 0:32:44.720 stories about women whose husband died and or maybe a 0:32:44.720 --> 0:32:47.870 husband was exiled or separated from his family. And yet 0:32:47.870 --> 0:32:50.900 these women were able to educate their children because of 0:32:50.930 --> 0:32:56.150 their own education. So this idea that Jewish women weren't 0:32:56.180 --> 0:32:59.780 taught the scriptures, I don't know where that comes from, 0:32:59.780 --> 0:33:01.850 but people say it all the time about Mary, that 0:33:01.850 --> 0:33:05.750 she was unusual because she knew the scriptures from the Magnificat. 0:33:05.780 --> 0:33:09.800 That's not true. All young Jewish women were taught the Bible. 0:33:10.490 --> 0:33:14.060 That's great. Yeah, I and I wonder how much is 0:33:14.080 --> 0:33:19.000 just the the assumptions of men versus women and where 0:33:19.000 --> 0:33:24.040 the care was in on scholarly learning or that type 0:33:24.040 --> 0:33:25.930 of teaching. Yeah. 0:33:26.050 --> 0:33:30.730 Some carried on actually because of their fathers became scholars. Wow. 0:33:30.760 --> 0:33:35.230 And and also, if you read rabbinic literature when mothers 0:33:35.230 --> 0:33:39.790 are so honored. Mm. Uh, because of their love for 0:33:39.790 --> 0:33:43.210 God and love for the word. That's what honors them. 0:33:43.210 --> 0:33:49.930 And so, obviously, in the Jewish world, knowing the scriptures 0:33:49.930 --> 0:33:51.969 was not limited to men. Then by the time you 0:33:51.970 --> 0:33:54.850 get to the Middle Ages, which is later, the greatest 0:33:54.850 --> 0:33:59.440 Jewish Bible interpreter of the Middle Ages, from about, uh, 0:33:59.770 --> 0:34:03.190 1040 to 1105. Ah, his dates, some people say 1110. 0:34:03.220 --> 0:34:08.020 His name was Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, and or sometimes he's 0:34:08.020 --> 0:34:12.610 called for short. Rashi. Okay. And Rashi's daughters became scholars 0:34:12.610 --> 0:34:17.920 as well. So I think yeah, that's that's important. 0:34:17.950 --> 0:34:24.070 Yeah. Well thank you for that. Um, her second question is, 0:34:24.100 --> 0:34:27.279 is there a resource to demonstrate all of the symbolism 0:34:27.280 --> 0:34:30.100 of Jesus birth? So we had a caller earlier in 0:34:30.100 --> 0:34:33.670 this hour who asked about the lambs. Were they kept 0:34:33.670 --> 0:34:38.830 in mangers similar to Jesus would have been. Um, and 0:34:38.830 --> 0:34:39.400 this this. 0:34:39.400 --> 0:34:42.609 Person says, are they like this thing about swaddling, swaddling. 0:34:42.610 --> 0:34:45.850 Cloths that they were wrapped in as baby lambs? Like 0:34:45.880 --> 0:34:49.810 some of these, uh, I'll call them extra biblical stories, 0:34:49.810 --> 0:34:54.520 but were that they get used as illustrations of how 0:34:54.520 --> 0:34:58.719 Jesus is similar to other things that existed already. Is 0:34:58.719 --> 0:35:02.620 there a resource or something that talks about those things? 0:35:02.680 --> 0:35:05.560 Here's what I would suggest. The best thing to do 0:35:05.590 --> 0:35:11.379 is to, uh, to read the Bible and not worry 0:35:11.410 --> 0:35:14.920 about all those other things. The Bible is quite understandable, 0:35:14.920 --> 0:35:17.830 I think. Like the swaddling cloth thing, there are people 0:35:17.830 --> 0:35:21.730 who always want to find mysteries. Secrets that only when 0:35:21.730 --> 0:35:27.549 you know the Jewish background will you really get it. Well, 0:35:27.550 --> 0:35:29.740 I don't think that's true. I'm reaching here to a 0:35:29.739 --> 0:35:32.200 book on my, uh. 0:35:32.230 --> 0:35:34.180 On your shelf behind you. Yeah. 0:35:34.210 --> 0:35:34.989 Talk for a second. 0:35:35.020 --> 0:35:37.359 I'm going to grab a second. I think I think 0:35:37.360 --> 0:35:40.120 sometimes he's not going to hear me, but I think 0:35:40.120 --> 0:35:45.370 sometimes we. It gives it can give extra meaning. It 0:35:45.370 --> 0:35:48.489 can give some extra meaning when we hear some of 0:35:48.489 --> 0:35:51.190 these things. Not because we can't understand it otherwise, but 0:35:51.190 --> 0:35:53.529 I wonder if it's like, oh, it has this extra 0:35:53.560 --> 0:35:57.550 dual meaning that I didn't understand before. I think sometimes 0:35:57.550 --> 0:36:01.060 there are things like that that maybe people are looking for. 0:36:01.120 --> 0:36:04.540 Yeah, they're looking for a lot of stuff in Jewish backgrounds. 0:36:04.540 --> 0:36:07.990 But if we want to get the cultural historical background, 0:36:07.989 --> 0:36:13.069 here's a really good book. It's written by a Jewish archaeologist. Uh. Uh, 0:36:13.070 --> 0:36:17.089 she's a professor of early Judaism at at UNC University 0:36:17.090 --> 0:36:20.719 of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The book is is written 0:36:20.719 --> 0:36:25.340 by Jodi magness. Jodi magness m a g n e 0:36:25.340 --> 0:36:30.020 s and the name of the book is Stone and dung. 0:36:30.050 --> 0:36:35.150 Oil and spit. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Stone and dung. 0:36:35.180 --> 0:36:39.260 Oil and spit. The subtitle is Jewish daily life in 0:36:39.260 --> 0:36:40.760 the time of Jesus. 0:36:40.910 --> 0:36:41.390 Mhm. 0:36:41.540 --> 0:36:45.710 And that might be a book that helps you understand 0:36:45.950 --> 0:36:49.819 just basic life. And then when we read in the Gospels, 0:36:49.820 --> 0:36:53.660 we'll understand, for example, what's the whole deal with wanting 0:36:53.690 --> 0:36:56.570 to wash their hands. There's a whole section here about 0:36:56.570 --> 0:37:00.650 how Jewish people would have a ritual washing of hands. 0:37:00.650 --> 0:37:05.750 And this explains it. So this is this is helpful. Uh, 0:37:05.750 --> 0:37:11.460 there's another book from a century earlier by Alfred Edersheim, 0:37:12.360 --> 0:37:16.350 called Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the days of 0:37:16.380 --> 0:37:18.270 in the Time of Christ or Days of Christ. Something 0:37:18.270 --> 0:37:23.790 like that. Sketches of Jewish Social Life by Alfred Edersheim. 0:37:23.880 --> 0:37:28.529 Uh e d e r s h e I'm. Uh, 0:37:28.530 --> 0:37:30.510 and those are some books that might help, but I 0:37:30.510 --> 0:37:33.480 really think that sometimes some of the more contemporary ones 0:37:33.480 --> 0:37:36.630 that you read about, they're trying to find things that 0:37:36.630 --> 0:37:39.510 aren't there. And I would just be really cautious. 0:37:39.540 --> 0:37:41.969 Okay. So and I will link both of those on 0:37:41.969 --> 0:37:43.980 our website for people who are looking for them or 0:37:43.980 --> 0:37:46.680 missed the titles. So I will link both of those. 0:37:46.680 --> 0:37:49.469 How do we know? I guess where's the difference between 0:37:49.469 --> 0:37:54.779 that symbol and prophecy and knowing that Jesus fulfilled those prophecies? How? 0:37:54.810 --> 0:37:57.569 How do we know if those are a stretch or 0:37:57.570 --> 0:37:59.580 if those are biblical? 0:37:59.610 --> 0:38:01.770 Well, the thing is, when you look at the prophecy 0:38:01.770 --> 0:38:04.740 that he would be born in Bethlehem, he's born in Bethlehem, right? 0:38:04.770 --> 0:38:05.370 Yeah. You know. 0:38:05.880 --> 0:38:09.660 It's it's, uh, but he really comes from eternity. Uh, 0:38:09.660 --> 0:38:13.320 when they the this whole thing, it doesn't say he's 0:38:13.320 --> 0:38:16.799 going to be wrapped in, uh, uh, it doesn't. 0:38:16.800 --> 0:38:18.779 Say he'll be wrapped in swaddling cloths. 0:38:18.810 --> 0:38:22.620 Yeah, it doesn't say that. And and every baby was 0:38:22.620 --> 0:38:25.950 wrapped in swaddling cloth and and and I will tell 0:38:25.950 --> 0:38:28.470 you this. If you try to wrap a baby lamb 0:38:28.469 --> 0:38:31.410 in a swaddling cloth, boy, they would be really unhappy 0:38:31.440 --> 0:38:36.360 with you. That's not true. So. Okay. Okay. All right. Well, 0:38:36.360 --> 0:38:37.890 we're going to take a break. All right. We'll take 0:38:37.890 --> 0:38:41.100 some next time when we come back. Next hour. Lightning. 0:38:41.130 --> 0:38:44.100 I'm going to answer quickly. Okay. Quickly. All right. Okay. 0:38:44.100 --> 0:38:47.339 And we'll get as many in as we can next hour. Uh, 0:38:47.340 --> 0:38:49.830 but we're going to come back with more of your 0:38:49.830 --> 0:38:52.800 called in questions in just a moment. That was Tricia McMillan. 0:38:52.830 --> 0:38:55.319 I'm Michael Ray Dolnick. This program is called Open Line, 0:38:55.320 --> 0:38:58.230 and we'll be right back with your questions. Mostly seems 0:38:58.230 --> 0:39:00.660 like about Christmas. Stay with us. 0:39:07.480 --> 0:39:10.600 Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells all seem to say. 0:39:10.630 --> 0:39:14.109 Throw cares away Christmas is here. Bringing good cheer to 0:39:14.140 --> 0:39:16.840 young and old. Meek and the poor. Ding dong, ding dong. 0:39:16.870 --> 0:39:20.290 That is their song. With joyful ring all caroling. One 0:39:20.290 --> 0:39:23.020 seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere. 0:39:23.050 --> 0:39:26.320 Filling the air. Oh how they pound. Raising the sound 0:39:26.620 --> 0:39:29.650 in the dark. Telling the tale gaily they ring while 0:39:29.650 --> 0:39:33.430 people sing songs of good cheer Christmas is here. Merry, merry, 0:39:33.430 --> 0:39:36.130 merry Christmas. Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas. 0:39:36.160 --> 0:39:40.989 Wow. You know what? What a wonderful season. I you know, 0:39:40.989 --> 0:39:45.489 I wasn't raised to celebrate Christmas. I remember the very 0:39:45.489 --> 0:39:48.460 first year after I came to faith in Jesus. How 0:39:48.489 --> 0:39:51.370 exciting it was. I'm not talking about a tree or 0:39:51.370 --> 0:39:55.210 anything like that, but to celebrate the birth of the King, 0:39:55.210 --> 0:39:59.830 that was very exciting. And then also the second time, 0:39:59.830 --> 0:40:03.970 it became especially exciting for me at Christmas season. I 0:40:03.969 --> 0:40:07.870 always like Christmas season. Always have. But when it was 0:40:07.870 --> 0:40:11.169 really special was when my firstborn was born, and there 0:40:11.170 --> 0:40:14.200 I was holding a two month old baby and to 0:40:15.160 --> 0:40:23.710 the amazement of God becoming incarnate enfleshed in a baby 0:40:23.710 --> 0:40:27.520 and taking on such limitation that just as I held 0:40:27.520 --> 0:40:30.430 that baby, I was just awed by the incarnation. And 0:40:30.430 --> 0:40:34.060 so that's a that's a great reminder. When we're celebrating, 0:40:34.060 --> 0:40:37.450 it's not just, uh, the caroling and the bells and 0:40:37.450 --> 0:40:39.700 all that. It's what it points to. The birth of 0:40:39.700 --> 0:40:43.210 the messianic king. Uh, who is God in the flesh? 0:40:43.210 --> 0:40:47.920 That's just amazing. Well, uh, you know, most people think 0:40:47.920 --> 0:40:53.860 of Hanukkah as the season's only Jewish holiday. But when 0:40:53.860 --> 0:40:57.910 Jesus was born to a Jewish virgin in Bethlehem of Judea, 0:40:58.270 --> 0:41:02.230 according to the Jewish scriptures. So it's in a Jewish town. 0:41:02.260 --> 0:41:09.440 Jewish scriptures. Jewish virgin. Jewish adopted father. What could be 0:41:09.440 --> 0:41:12.380 more Jewish about this story? I can't think of anything. Well, now. 0:41:12.410 --> 0:41:16.190 Chosen People Ministries, one of Open Lines partners, is offering 0:41:16.190 --> 0:41:19.880 a free book called Christmas Through Jewish Eyes. It's designed 0:41:19.880 --> 0:41:23.600 to help us understand and see the Jewishness of Christmas. 0:41:23.630 --> 0:41:25.670 If you'd like a free copy, just go to Open 0:41:25.670 --> 0:41:30.500 Line radio.org. That's our website. Scroll down and you'll see 0:41:30.500 --> 0:41:34.370 the link that says A free gift from Chosen People Ministries. 0:41:34.400 --> 0:41:37.670 Click on that and you'll be taken to a form 0:41:37.670 --> 0:41:39.950 where you can sign up for your own free copy 0:41:39.950 --> 0:41:43.520 of Christmas Through Jewish Eyes. And we're going to go 0:41:43.520 --> 0:41:45.470 right to the phones now, we're going to talk to 0:41:45.500 --> 0:41:49.580 Donna in Cleveland, listening on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line, Donna. 0:41:49.610 --> 0:41:50.629 How can I help you? 0:41:51.739 --> 0:41:55.460 Yes. Um, both Mary and Joseph were of the line 0:41:55.489 --> 0:41:59.750 of David, and I've always wondered why there weren't other 0:41:59.750 --> 0:42:07.230 relatives traveling with them to Bethlehem. And as a mother, 0:42:07.800 --> 0:42:12.839 if I had a daughter that was expecting that close 0:42:12.840 --> 0:42:16.020 to birth, I'd want to travel with her. 0:42:16.590 --> 0:42:20.220 Well, you know where there's a lot of conjecture that 0:42:20.219 --> 0:42:22.950 people have about the Bible, and we see the stories 0:42:22.950 --> 0:42:27.030 of Christmas. And so we always assume that the conjectures 0:42:27.030 --> 0:42:30.450 are true. So, for example, we don't know that they 0:42:30.450 --> 0:42:35.040 didn't come with other people from the house, from the 0:42:35.040 --> 0:42:38.339 line of David, from Nazareth. We don't know that. Or 0:42:38.340 --> 0:42:42.509 from Galilee. Uh, it just says that when they got 0:42:42.510 --> 0:42:47.430 to Bethlehem, there was there was no room for them 0:42:47.430 --> 0:42:51.450 in in the guest house. It is very likely and 0:42:51.450 --> 0:42:53.460 very possible that there were other people with them on 0:42:53.460 --> 0:42:57.779 the route coming down, and maybe even family members we 0:42:57.810 --> 0:43:05.609 don't know. Okay. That Mary's mother was alive. Yet at 0:43:05.610 --> 0:43:09.570 this point, we don't know that. Doesn't talk about Mary's mother. 0:43:09.570 --> 0:43:15.480 Maybe she had passed already. We don't know. Uh, so 0:43:15.480 --> 0:43:19.680 there's there's a lot of conjecture. Here's what we know. 0:43:19.680 --> 0:43:22.560 We know what the scriptures say. That they came to Bethlehem. 0:43:22.560 --> 0:43:25.440 How and with whom? We don't know. And there was 0:43:25.440 --> 0:43:28.109 no room for them, probably because there were so many 0:43:28.110 --> 0:43:31.110 people coming from other parts of the country to be 0:43:31.110 --> 0:43:34.979 in Bethlehem for this, from the house of David, so 0:43:34.980 --> 0:43:39.240 that they could pay this tax. And so as a result, 0:43:39.239 --> 0:43:41.940 there's no room for them in the guest house. The 0:43:41.969 --> 0:43:45.989 guest room. And so what do they do now? Now, 0:43:46.020 --> 0:43:50.640 maybe there's some relatives staying in in the house. And 0:43:50.640 --> 0:43:53.549 that's why there's no room for Mary and Joseph. We 0:43:53.550 --> 0:43:59.130 just don't know. So. Okay. Uh, don't don't don't presume 0:43:59.140 --> 0:44:01.299 that no one else was there. But we know in 0:44:01.330 --> 0:44:03.250 the in the stable there, there were a bunch of 0:44:03.250 --> 0:44:07.210 angels too. So. And shepherds and so all that kind 0:44:07.239 --> 0:44:10.210 of shows up. Okay, I should say shepherds, not angels. 0:44:10.510 --> 0:44:12.730 The angels are out in the field with the shepherds. 0:44:12.730 --> 0:44:14.800 So there we go. Okay. 0:44:15.910 --> 0:44:16.900 All right. Thanks. 0:44:16.930 --> 0:44:17.290 Good. 0:44:17.290 --> 0:44:20.560 Thank you for your call, Donna. Appreciate it. Uh, Eric 0:44:20.739 --> 0:44:23.770 in Chicago listening on Wmbi. How can I help you today? 0:44:25.600 --> 0:44:30.790 Hi. Uh, my name is Eric. And, uh, my question 0:44:30.790 --> 0:44:37.359 is because I have, uh, um, I can understand. Virgin. Virgin. Inception, uh, 0:44:37.360 --> 0:44:41.800 of Jesus in Mary's womb. Uh, but I still have 0:44:41.830 --> 0:44:45.730 a struggle with the virgin birth without breaking the purity 0:44:45.730 --> 0:44:46.330 of Mary. 0:44:47.350 --> 0:44:51.130 Well, uh, the only way to break purity is through 0:44:51.130 --> 0:44:56.650 sexual relations outside of marriage. And, uh, here's what we know. 0:44:56.680 --> 0:45:01.640 Here's what. Here's what we know. The prophecy of Isaiah 0:45:01.670 --> 0:45:11.330 714 doesn't just say that she would conceive as a virgin. 0:45:11.360 --> 0:45:15.320 It actually says the pregnant virgin. That's really how the 0:45:15.320 --> 0:45:19.340 Hebrew reads the pregnant virgin will give birth. So that's 0:45:19.340 --> 0:45:22.850 first of all, it was predicted that way. Uh, Mary 0:45:22.880 --> 0:45:25.910 says to the angel, how can this be? For I 0:45:25.910 --> 0:45:30.470 have not known a man. So she says, I'm a virgin. 0:45:30.469 --> 0:45:32.959 He says it's the Holy Spirit. And then it says 0:45:32.960 --> 0:45:36.560 in Matthew that, uh, Joseph kept her a virgin until 0:45:36.560 --> 0:45:41.690 she gave birth. So she wasn't a perpetual virgin. She, uh, 0:45:41.690 --> 0:45:44.900 had a normal marriage with with Joseph. And they had 0:45:44.900 --> 0:45:49.160 other children, but, uh, she was kept a virgin until 0:45:49.160 --> 0:45:52.760 she gave birth. And so she never had sexual relations 0:45:52.760 --> 0:45:56.150 until after the birth of Jesus. And that's why she 0:45:56.150 --> 0:45:59.270 was always a virgin. And that's. That's the best. I 0:45:59.270 --> 0:46:02.810 can explain it to you. Uh, no sexual relations until 0:46:02.810 --> 0:46:06.680 after the birth of Jesus, which is a great miracle, 0:46:06.739 --> 0:46:10.130 if you can. I mean, it's still a miracle. It 0:46:10.130 --> 0:46:13.040 was a miracle. It's amazing. Well, thanks for listening, everyone. 0:46:13.040 --> 0:46:15.650 That's the first hour. Keep listening to the second hour 0:46:15.680 --> 0:46:17.960 of Open Line coming up on most of these stations. 0:46:17.960 --> 0:46:20.600 And if you if your station doesn't carry it, you 0:46:20.600 --> 0:46:23.960 can always check out the podcast or Moody Radio app, 0:46:23.960 --> 0:46:27.080 or you can listen online. Check out our web page 0:46:27.080 --> 0:46:29.510 during the break. Open Line radio.org. It's got all sorts 0:46:29.510 --> 0:46:31.550 of links that you're going to find helpful, including how 0:46:31.550 --> 0:46:34.160 to get our current resource and how to become a 0:46:34.160 --> 0:46:38.450 kitchen table partner. The Bible study across America will continue 0:46:38.450 --> 0:46:41.540 in the second hour, so stay with us. Open line 0:46:41.540 --> 0:46:45.260 with Doctor Michael Melnick is a production of Moody Radio, 0:46:45.560 --> 0:46:49.400 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. We'll be right back, 0:46:49.400 --> 0:46:50.900 so don't go away.