Mary, the mother of Jesus and the wife of Joseph, is one of the most important and beloved figures in the Gospels. She demonstrates faithfulness to God throughout her life, even when her son Jesus dies on the cross for the world’s sins. One question people have about Mary is how old she was when…
Jesus performed many miracles during his public ministry. For example, he turned water into wine, healed people from physical ailments and diseases, and even rose people from the dead. Jesus also supernaturally multiplied bread and fish for people. These feedings are mentioned multiple times in the Gospels, leading Bible readers to ask how many people…
God loves color. He created a universe full of them. The colors that the Bible mentions the most are blue, red (including scarlet), purple, black, and white. Scripture rarely refers to green, yellow, orange, or gray. Sometimes Bible writers use colors literally; at other times, they use them symbolically. One question people often ask about…
The Bible calls Noah a righteous and blameless man (Gen. 6:9). Many people know him because he, along with his family, survived the flood that God sent to the world as a punishment for sin (Gen. 6-9). After the flood, Noah’s sons and wives began repopulating the earth. This story leads many people to which…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the Christian faith, according to the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:17). Along with the crucifixion, the resurrection is the climactic moment of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospel writers mention the day Jesus rose from the dead, and Bible readers want to understand when it…
Between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, he appeared to hundreds of people, taught Scripture, and performed miracles. He also forgave Peter, helped Thomas to believe, and told the disciples to await the Holy Spirit’s imminent arrival. These events cause many Bible readers to wonder how long Jesus was on the earth after his resurrection. According to…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with his crucifixion on the cross, is the climactic moment of all four Gospels in the New Testament. In each Gospel, the resurrection occurs near the end of the book, which can leave readers wondering what happened next in the story of Jesus and his followers. After Jesus rose…
One of the most well-known belief statements in Christian history, The Apostles Creed, states that Jesus Christ descended into hell after he died on the cross. The line reads, “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.” However, Bible scholars debate whether or not Jesus went to hell…
Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, is an important figure in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke. The Gospels depict Joseph as faithful, loving, and protective of his wife and son and sensitive to God’s guidance. Yet what many people want to know is where he was when Jesus…
When Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in a manger in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, he was on a mission. His arrival wasn’t random, as the Father purposefully sent him to earth. Jesus had a clear objective and reason for coming. So what was Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth? Jesus Christ came…
The New Testament teaches that before Jesus rose from the dead, some of his followers placed his body in a tomb, where it lay for three days. The tomb, which had been cut out of a rock, belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. Even though Jesus’ body was in the tomb for a short time, many…
Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, along with his resurrection from the dead, is the central event of the Christian faith. Not surprisingly, devout believers, and Bible readers of all kinds, study the details of Jesus’ death at the end of the four Gospels. Eyewitnesses testified that the authorities crucified Jesus next to two criminals, and many people…
Baptism is a meaningful ceremony in the life of a Christian. The water in which a person is immersed represents death, and being lifted out depicts new life (Rom. 6:4). In the early church, baptism was associated with repenting of sin and becoming a follower of Jesus (Acts 2:37-41). Because of what baptism means for…
Jesus is known in part for being a powerful, memorable, and persuasive teacher. Sometimes he rebuked people with his teaching; at other times, he comforted them. Jesus also spoke commands to people as he revealed truths about God, sin, salvation, love, and other important topics. Like the Old Testament has the 10 Commandments, people wonder…
People have been fascinated with Jesus Christ for 2,000 years. From his birth in a manger to poor Jewish parents to his resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion, believers and even some non-believers are curious about his life. A common question people have about Jesus concerns where Mary and Joseph raised him….
God created food, which he uses to sustain the bodies of human beings (Gen. 1:29). It plays a part in many Bible stories, from the temptation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:2) at the beginning of time to the Tree of Life at the end of it (Rev. 22:2). And from fasting to miracles to…
The Gospels mention Jesus’ family members several times. His mother, Mary, and his father, Joseph, are the most well-known because of their roles in Jesus’ birth story. Mary also appears at other times in the New Testament, such as at the crucifixion. But what about Jesus’ brothers? Who were they? How many of them were…
Jesus performed multiple resurrections during his public ministry, reanimating lifeless corpses. Readers can find themes like mourning, humility, faith, and worship in the stories. Each resurrection miracle also foreshadowed the future resurrection of his followers and his own three days after his crucifixion. So how many people did Jesus raise from the dead? According to…
According to the Gospels, Jesus’ baptism was one of the most significant events in his earthly life. When John the Baptist performed the ceremony in the Jordan River and immersed his cousin in the water, all three members of the Trinity were present. The event began Jesus’ public ministry. A common question Bible readers have…
During the last week of Jesus’ life, his disciples overheard him speak to a fig tree. The unexpected moment occurred the day after he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey, and the same day he overturned the tables in the temple. Yet, Jesus didn’t merely speak to the tree. He cursed it. But why? Jesus cursed…
Jesus Christ’s public ministry, as recorded in the four New Testament Gospels, consisted of almost 40 miracles. However, he performed many others, too (John 20:30). The first miracle Jesus did has added significance because it foreshadowed his ministry and reflected his identity. These facts lead many people to wonder about when, where, and why Jesus’…
The night before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, one of his most devout followers denied him three times. In his Gospel, John the Evangelist brilliantly weaves the stories of Jesus’ faithfulness to God in the last hours of his life and the weakness and failure of one of his most passionate disciples. Many…
The cross is the most common symbol of the Christian faith. Though it was known as a device for execution in the ancient world, it represents love, sacrifice, and forgiveness to Christians today. This meaning is why crosses decorate churches, adorn necklaces, and emblazon t-shirts, Bibles, and even tattoos. Yet, what’s less alluring to many…
Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the Christian faith. Born approximately 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem, Jesus never traveled a great distance, wrote a book, or held political office. And while he only lived about 30 years, he changed the world. Jesus’ legacy leads many people to ask where…
The cross is one of the most displayed and recognizable symbols in world history. In the ancient world, its found on carvings, jewelry, and books. In the modern world, people see crosses on clothing, screensavers, and tattoos. Sometimes crosses are ragged, aged, and even blood-stained. At other times, people decorate crosses with flowers, colorful sashes,…
Many people know that Jesus Christ died on a Friday and rose from the dead the following Sunday. However, what’s unclear is where he was and what he did between those events. Where Jesus went after his crucifixion and why has been one of the most discussed theological issues in Christian history. The most common…
Christ the Redeemer is a colossal monument that is breathtaking to behold. The statue stands high on the sacred Carvacado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro and has become the city’s symbol. The statue was built in nine years, from 1922 to 1931. It was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, a Brazilian engineer, and artist…
Perched on the peak of Corcovado mountain, Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro and fascinates locals and visitors alike. So, what is its importance, and why was it built? Christ the Redeemer statue was built to promote Christianity among the people and to commemorate 100 years of independence from Portuguese rule. It has since…
The life of Jesus Christ continues to fascinate people more than 2,000 years after he walked the earth. The places where he called his disciples, preached about the Kingdom of God, and performed miracles are identified clearly in the Gospels, and their locations are well-known today. Bible readers today are often curious about where Jesus…
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the most dramatic moments in the Bible. Along with Jesus’ resurrection, it’s the climactic moment of all four Gospels in the New Testament. Yet, surprisingly, an unexpected figure entered the scene when Jesus became physically unable to carry his cross. Who helped Jesus carry his cross to…
Bible readers love the Gospel of John, partly because the stories within it are powerful yet easy to understand. However, a certain description, which appears in multiple stories, confuses many readers. For example, in some scenes, the Gospel refers to a certain individual as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and doesn’t use a proper name….
The tribes of Israel, such as the Levites, Benjamites, and Reubenites, have a fascinating history that readers love to trace throughout the pages of the Bible. The history of Israel also contains the story of Jesus Christ’s ancestry, which the genealogies in Matthew and Luke make clear. One question many people ask about Jesus’ ancestral…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. It’s so important that the Apostle Paul said that people should pity Christians if it’s not true (1 Cor. 15:19). Yet every year without fail Resurrection Sunday is permeated with images of the Easter Bunny. This makes many people wonder what the Easter Bunny…
The life of Jesus of Nazareth still fascinates people even 2,000 years after he walked on earth. In addition to his teaching and ministry, his family is of interest to many people. People want to know more about his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary. They also want to learn more about his brothers and sisters….
According to one common definition, parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Jesus often spoke in parables and had a clearly-defined reason for doing so. Stories like the Prodigal Son, the Sheep and the Goats, and the Good Samaritan are three well-known examples. Yet, even those who love Jesus’ teaching wonder why he spoke in…
The same Jesus who stilled storms, exorcized demons, and rose from the dead, also became so welled up with emotion one day that he wept. The creator of the universe (John 1:3; Col. 1:16) cried tears with a heavy heart. Many people know the shortest verse in the Bible — “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) —…
Just the name “Judas” elicits thoughts of deception, unfaithfulness, and greed. The betrayer is one of the most well-known villains in the Bible, alongside the Pharaoh that Moses confronted, Goliath, who David killed, and of course, Satan himself. One of the most common questions people have about Judas concerns his motivation for the most infamous…
The birth of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most iconic events in the Bible and an essential date on church calendars. Christians love the story of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, staying in a manger, and having shepherds visit them. Most people think of the setting of the story as the…
A manger was a shelter for animals similar to what many people today would call a stall. Even if the manger was relatively clean, it was an unfitting place for a woman to give birth. Yet, according to the Bible, it wasn’t just anyone who started life in a manger, but a king who was…
Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ, is depicted in the Gospels as humble, law-abiding, and obedient. In many Christmas scenes, such as in displays of the manger, he is portrayed as being about the same age as Mary. Is this true? Was Joseph the same age as Mary, older…
From a cross to a fish to a dove, there are many visual emblems of the Christian faith. Many reflect biblical truth about God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit. Others represent the church, the Bible, or the Lord’s Supper. IHS is a prominent symbol but doesn’t have an obvious meaning…
The details of the life of Jesus Christ are fascinating to many Bible readers. Not only do they reveal more about him, but many people look to his way of life as a model for how to live today. Jesus’ orientation toward possessions is an important topic in the Gospels, but the descriptions aren’t always…
One of the greatest purposes that God has for every Christian is that they would reflect his son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:39). Becoming more Christlike is a life-long process that every Christian should commit to without reservation (Eph. 4:15). It must be the duty, priority, and passion of every follower of Jesus to become more…
The wise men (also called magi), who visited Jesus when he was an infant in Bethlehem, are often depicted as three in number, such as in the classic hymn, We Three Kings. However, sometimes well-known Bible stories develop legendary elements as a result of tradition. This leads people to wonder about how many wise men…
Martyrs are known for their conviction and testimony. They are models of faithfulness because they were willing to die for what they believe. Many traditions uphold martyrs as quintessential examples of devotion to God. A common question people ask about Christianity is whether or not Jesus Christ was a martyr. The Greek word for martyr…
How did Jesus Christ view money and possessions? How did he view the rich and the poor? Not only are many people interested to know what Jesus taught about wealth and poverty, but they are curious to know how he lived. Did he preach generosity and minimalism, but practice materialism and greed? Jesus was poor…
“Accepting Jesus into your heart” is a common Christian phrase that refers to how a person becomes a follower of Christ. Preachers, missionaries, evangelists, and other Christians often use the phrase when proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, not everyone is familiar with how to accept Jesus into their heart…
The visit of the wise men (also called magi) to Jesus is one of the most iconic moments in the early chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. Though they weren’t huddled in the manger with the holy family, the shepherds, and some barn animals as depicted in many Christmas stories, their visit to Jesus had…
Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine, which he performed at Cana, is one of the most well-known stories of his ministry. For many Bible readers, other miracles he performed, like healing the afflicted and multiplying food, are self-explanatory. Yet many people want to know why Jesus used his supernatural power to turn water into…
Theologians, historians, and anyone else who finds Jesus of Nazareth fascinating have discussed and debated his identity for 2,000 years. Jesus himself made clear claims about who he was, but that hasn’t stopped some readers from coming to their own conclusions about him. Some wonder if Jesus was just a human being, if he was…