Judas Iscariot is one of the most notorious characters in the Bible. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss, which led the authorities to arrest and crucify Christ. In a scene just prior to these events, Judas sat with the other disciples as Jesus washed their feet. Many people want to know if Jesus washed Judas’…
Jesus of Nazareth has many names in the Bible, such as Immanuel (Matt. 1:23), Lamb of God (John 1:36), and the Word (John 1:1-2). Some of his names are titles like Christ (Col. 1:15), Son of Man (Mark 14:1), and Lord (John 20:28). A name that doesn’t appear in the Bible is when people say…
The Apostle Paul’s declaration about being crucified with Christ is one of the most profound statements he makes in all his New Testament letters. It’s a staggering first-person revelation that unites him with the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, a man he once persecuted in unfathomable ways (Acts 9:4). To be crucified with Christ means…
Meditation has become a mainstream activity in popular culture. Medical doctors, counselors and therapists, self-help teachers, and celebrity influencers, champion meditation for various reasons. Jesus Christ is one of the most well-known spiritual teachers in history, so naturally many people want to know if he meditated. The Bible never mentions that Jesus meditated. According to…
The Gospels make clear that Jesus Christ was a remarkably gifted and effective teacher. People would abandon their work, risk social ostracism, upset their families, and miss meals just to hear Jesus talk about God, people, and life. Yet, Jesus was no self-help sage or trendy spiritual guru. His teaching reflected truths that were far…
One of the most fascinating scenes in the Gospel of John is when religious leaders bring a woman to Jesus who was guilty of adultery. The punishment for adultery according to the Law of Moses was death by stoning. Before Jesus said a word in response, John says that he bent down and wrote in…
Peter is one of the most important figures in the New Testament because of his devotion to Jesus Christ, his bold preaching, and his leadership role as an Apostle in the early church. But like all followers of Jesus, Peter was not sinless, which the Gospels clearly show. Perhaps his most well-known shortcoming was when…
Some of the most common questions people ask about Jesus Christ are related to his appearance. Some people are interested to know his skin color, hairstyle, and his physical features. Others are interested to know what kind of clothes he wore. A tunic, which is not the same as a modern dress, was likely a…
The arrest of Jesus Christ is one of the most intense moments in the climactic section of each New Testament Gospel. Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ innocence collide when the arrest occurs, resulting in one of the most dramatic scenes in the Bible. One of the most common questions people ask about Jesus’ arrest is what…
“This is a book about the heart of Christ.” So begins Dane Ortlund’s book Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. I am an avid reader of Christian books of all types, including, but not limited to, devotional, theological, historical, commentaries, apologetics, and more. Yet, only a few times in my…
One of the most common questions people ask about Jesus of Nazareth is, what did he look like? People wonder about the shade of his skin, his height and weight, his hair color and hairstyle, and the kind of clothes he wore. Another question people ask is what color Jesus’ eyes are. The four Gospels,…
In the field of Psychology, personality types are commonly defined as a collection of traits that are thought to occur consistently together in people’s thinking, behavior, and emotions. Since Jesus Christ was a real human being, many people are interested to know what his personality type was. Jesus’ personality, as it’s revealed in the Gospels,…
Baptism was an important part of Jesus’ ministry. Not only was he baptized (Matt. 3:13-17, but he instructed his disciples to baptize people to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:19-20). This is why in the New Testament new believers were often immediately baptized (e.g. Acts 2:41). A common question people ask is whether or…
What did Jesus look like? A lot of people ask this question because they want to know about his skin, hair, eyes, height, weight, and even the clothes he wore. While the four Gospels in the New Testament don’t describe Jesus’ skin, hair, or other physical features, they do refer to his clothes on multiple…
One of the most amazing aspects of Jesus’ life is that he didn’t minister in a public manner for very long before his death. His public ministry didn’t begin until he was about 30 years old (Luke 3:23) and it didn’t even last a decade or half of one. Many Bible readers are interested to…
Smoking marijuana is a popular topic in Western societies today as more voters legalize its use and regulators govern its sales. Denominations, churches, and Christians are involved in the discussion, exchanging different convictions and applications of the drug. One question that many people want to know is if Jesus smoked marijuana. Jesus didn’t smoke marijuana…
The Gospels provide readers with many details about the life of Jesus Christ, all of which are important to understanding his character, message, and mission. One question that arises in the minds of some people is, given Jesus’ divine and holy identity, was he a Nazirite according to the Old Testament law? There is no…
All over the world today, people have first and last names. A person’s first name is often unique to them, with the exception of juniors (e.g. William, Jr.) and the seconds (e.g. William II). Last names commonly identify a person’s family of origin. “Jesus” is clearly the first name of the Messiah, but what is…
The blood of Jesus is mentioned several times in the New Testament. Some references are to the blood that he shed on the cross when he was crucified (e.g. Col. 1:20). Other verses describe the theological importance of his blood (e.g. Rom. 5:9-10). This leads many people to wonder about Jesus’ blood type. The Bible…
Bible scholars agree that the Old Testament includes many prophecies about the person, life, and character of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Details about Jesus, foretold hundreds and thousands of years before he lived, are extraordinary examples of God’s sovereignty. Many people are interested to know how many prophecies Jesus fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled between 200…
The Gospels record that people referred to Jesus by several different titles, including Lord, Savior, Christ, the Word, the I Am, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. One of the most intriguing titles that people ascribed to Jesus is Son of David, which he is called in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Why…
After Jesus’ baptism, Matthew, Mark, and Luke report that the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness in order for the devil to tempt him. The Gospels say that Jesus fasted for 40 days prior to his interaction with the devil. A lot of people who read this story want to know why Jesus fasted….
Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, is one of the most fascinating people in the Gospel of John. Bible readers first meet him when he has a secret, nighttime conversation with Jesus about being born again. Did Nicodemus become a follower of Jesus after that? The details of Nicodemus’ story…
When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, telling him to turn stones into bread, the God-Man responded: “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (ESV). Bible reading plans help Christians to live on every word of God each day of…
When God became a man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, his purpose was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Before Jesus was crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to heaven, he promised he would return for those who belong to him (e.g. John 14:3). Many people want to know when…
The public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth lasted approximately three years. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe Jesus’ miraculous birth and a few stories from his early life like his family’s escape to Egypt. Yet the majority of the Gospels describe his public ministry. Many people want to know what Jesus’ age was when he…
Many people know that there was something special about Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels say he was a carpenter born into a poor and powerless family during the time of the Roman Empire; yet, 2,000 years later people worship him as God. One question about Jesus that a lot of people want to know is…
The virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most fascinating people in the Bible. For 2,000 years, people of different eras and cultures have marveled at her faith in God. Mary’s story in the Gospels begins with her pregnancy, which was a miracle that evokes a lot of curiosity. One question many…
Tattoos are common today in the Western world, and people in other cultures have been permanently marking their bodies with images, designs, and words for thousands of years. People had tattoos long before the life of Jesus Christ, which makes some wonder if he had one. Though the Bible doesn’t say whether or not Jesus…
When people think of crystals, they often imagine a colorful, glass-like mineral that has both flat and rigid surfaces. Some people like the look of crystals so much that they use them to decorate their homes. Others wear them as jewelry. Some people have metaphysical beliefs about crystals, too. So what does the Bible teach…
Addiction is a craving, habit, or dependency, which often has temporary physical or emotional gratification, but in the long term is enslaving and destructive. Examples of addictions that people succumb to include alcohol, drugs, and pornography. Given the power of the Word of God, many people want to know what the Bible teaches about addiction….
According to the modern self-help movement, a “soul tie” is a unique connection that a person makes with someone else, often as the result of having sex with them. The word “soul” in the phrase “soul tie” is meant to describe the inner person. “Tie” refers to a deep connection, bond, or attachment that a…
Substance abuse, whether in the form of drugs or alcohol, is a serious problem in many parts of the world. Drugs provide a dangerous momentary release from the world and its problems, but they destroy lives, families, and communities in the process. Thankfully, God’s Word isn’t silent on the issue. Bible contains strong warnings against…
The name “Mary” appears many times in the New Testament and in some of its most significant stories. Readers encounter a woman named “Mary” in the Gospels, the book of Acts, and in one of Paul’s letters. A “Mary” was at Jesus’ birth, his death, his resurrection, and in a passage that describes the first…
Christianity has always valued the Bible, but segments of the tradition haven’t always encouraged individuals to read and study it. Protestants have a reputation for Bible reading, but Catholics don’t. Is this reputation deserved? What does the Catholic Church teach today about its members reading the Bible? According to recent research, 25% of Catholics read…
Readers of the New Testament find the name Simon multiple times in the Gospels and in the book of Acts. “Simon” appears in important stories in the life of Christ, like in the description of Jesus’ family and in the calling of the twelve apostles. The name also appears in passages that describe the establishment…
Mediums are people who say they can communicate with the dead. In the Bible, those who attempt to interact with the dead are referred to as mediums, necromancers, spiritists, or sorcerers, depending on the context and translation. What does the Bible teach about mediums? The practice of mediums is strictly forbidden in the Bible. The…
Certain teachings of Jesus Christ can result in questions, and even some confusion, for readers who are 2,000 years removed from their original context. Matthew 5:22 is an example of this, as Christ uses the term raca, which is unfamiliar to most modern readers. Since committing raca can result in going to hell according to…
There is more than one John mentioned in the New Testament, and sometimes readers find it challenging to distinguish one from the other. John Mark is an important person in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Paul also mentions him in Colossians and Philemon. Who was he? John Mark is the author of the…
Some people are fascinated with numerology in the Bible, especially the symbolic meaning of certain figures. There is general agreement that numbers like 3, 4, 7, and 12 have significant symbolic meaning in Scripture. But what about the number 5? The number 5 doesn’t have a clear symbolic meaning in the Bible, according to scholars,…
Reading the Bible is an important part of the Christian life. It helps a person learn about God’s nature, character, and promises. The Bible, whose writings are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17), also has stories about faithful men and women, which convict and encourage believers today. But where should a person start…
As the History Channel’s series Ancient Aliens demonstrates, alleged encounters between people and extraterrestrials are popular stories, even if most people like them for entertainment value as opposed to serious history. Nevertheless, the Bible is one of the oldest books in human history so many people are interested to know if it refers to aliens…
Astrology is a worldview that people have practiced for thousands of years. Not to be confused with astronomy, astrology is the belief that stars, planets, and other phenomena in the solar system determine people’s emotions, finances, relationships, health, and more. Many people want to know what the Bible teaches about astrology. The Bible teaches that…
The Bible teaches that people of all races are descendants of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:20). Common ancestry and the fact that all people bear the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), unite the human race, even though it’s made up of people of different nationalities, cultures, languages, and skin colors. A question many people have…
There are 66 individual books in the Bible. There are 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Many readers can read the shortest books in the Bible in 5 to 10 minutes. The longest book takes an average reader a few hours to complete. Many people want to know what book…
The Bible is a long book containing 66 individual books. Some common-use Bibles can weigh between 4 and 5 pounds. Some decorative church and family Bibles can weigh much more. It’s not uncommon for Bibles to exceed 2,500 pages in length in a two-column format. All 66 books are divided into verses, but how many…
O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a beautiful Advent hymn that transports people back to ancient Israel before the time of Jesus Christ. It reflects the challenge of waiting for the arrival of the Messiah in a world that desperately needs him. It also expresses a faith that perseveres in the midst of suffering, grief,…
Unlike the Advent hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which expresses hope and longing for the coming of the Messiah, Joy to the World! celebrates his arrival. A time of mourning (the cross) lies in the future, but the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem to Mary is a time for dancing (Ecc. 3:4)….
When God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, into the world to seek and save the lost, it was the town of Bethlehem that first welcomed him. The hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem transports people back in time to the humble setting of Christ’s birth. The imagery of the stars in the sky, a…
The identity of the baby boy born in the humble town of Bethlehem to an unassuming young woman shocked the world. In that little boy, God became a man. He took on human flesh to save people from their sin. Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph, was also the Son of God, the long-awaited…