God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

4. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST? The Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ was born a true man of the Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David. Luke 2. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son" - Isaiah 7:14. "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given" - Isaiah 9:6. "She brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped him" - Luke 2:7. 5. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH OF THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST? The Bible teaches that in His earthly life Jesus Christ suffered poverty, contempt and persecution. Hebrews 2:18; 5:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 8:20; Isaiah 53:3; John 8:40. Swaddling clothes and manger at birth, Luke 2:7; Herod sought to destroy the baby Jesus, Matthew 2:13; rejected at Nazareth, Luke 4:29; in the temple they attempted to stone Him, John 8:59. 6. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH ABOUT THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST? A. Under authority of Pontius Pilate, Christ suffered extreme agony of body and soul. They beat him, then nailed him to a wooden cross where He died. John 19:1-3; 16-18. B. David accurately foretold the crucifixion of Jesus. Psalms 22:6-8, 14 16; Psalms 69:17-21. C. The cross, as an instrument of death, was cursed by God. "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree" - Galatians 3:13. 7. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH ABOUT THE BURIAL OF CHRIST? A. The bodies of crucified criminals were dumped on the garbage pile in the Valley of Hinnon. Jesus, however, made His grave with the rich. The Virgin-born was placed in the virgin tomb that belonged to Joseph. B. The body of Jesus was to remain buried for THREE days - this was the sign of the prophet Jonah! Matthew 12:39; Luke 11:29. "The Son of man (shall) be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40. NOTE: Jesus was actually crucified on Wednesday, not "Good Friday." During the Passion Week were actually two Sabbaths: Thursday was a "High Sabbath" (the first day of Week of Unleavened Bread) and then the regular Sabbath on Saturday. Daniel 9:27; Leviticus 23:8; Numbers 28:18; Exodus 12:16; Mark 14:1; John 19:31.

124