They would be aware, I'm sure, vaguely aware at the very least of Malachi's prophecy

that the Redeemer of Israel would come once again, just like he did before, from Bethlehem.

They had to know that.

So they probably put two and two together.

Hey, it's the end of Herod's brain.

Something strange has to happen.

And Bethlehem's the place.

So let's go.

Outstanding is a production of The Washington Stand, where you can find news and commentary from a biblical worldview.

Welcome to Outstanding, where we have critical conversations about the news of the day and the ideas that shape us.

I'm your host, Joseph, back home.

And this is yet another exercise in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

And today we're going to do that about the holidays and specifically about Christmas.

Because this is being released on Christmas Eve, many of you right now are in the minivan driving to Grandma's house.

And so instead of doing what we might normally do and talk about

fiat currency or gender reassignment surgeries,

we're going to talk about something happier, like Christmas,

why it's the greatest story ever told and why you should actually believe that it's true.

My guest today is Dr. Craig Evans.

Dr. Evans is a distinguished professor of Christian origins at Houston Christian University

with expertise in the historical Jesus,

the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Jewish context of early Christianity.

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