Bethlehem, Little Among the Thousands

Bethlehem was a tiny town with a big promise. In Micah 5:2, the prophet Micah foretells that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem in Judah:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Bethlehem, Little Among the Thousands

Bethlehem was not unused to famous happenings. It was here that Jacob's beloved wife Rachel was buried after giving birth to Benjamin. It was to here, that Naomi and Ruth returned after the death of Naomi's husband and two sons. The story of Ruth and her marriage to Boaz occur here. They become the great grandparents of King David. It was here that the great King David was anointed King of Israel.

The Difficult Journey

Mary and Joseph didn't live in Bethlehem, but had to return there from Nazareth because of the Roman census that required Joseph to return to the city of his fathers. This 90-mile journey probably took more than a week and it was probably quite difficult for the very pregnant Mary to make.

The Shepherds Behold Their King

The shepherds came here too. Blessed to have heard the announcement of Jesus's birth first from the lips of angels, they hurried to see this Prince of Peace that had been foretold from everlasting. So fitting that the first told were some of the humblest. They find their mighty King lying in a manger, an animal trough, in a stable. The setting could not be any more unlikely for the birth of a king. They glorified and praised God for what they had seen and been told, as should we.

The Wise Men Arrive

Much later, the wise men stopped in Jerusalem to ask where they must go next to find the new "King of the Jews", for all the learned scholars knew of Micah's prophecy. It was to Bethlehem that the famous wise men from the East traveled, following a star. The gifts they bore him, gold, frankincense and myrrh, were symbolic. The gold a symbol of Jesus's Kingship, the frankincense used in the temple as an offering to God and the myrrh would be used in death.

The wise men did not return to Herod because God had warned them in a dream not to. Herod, in his great insecurity and fear that this child would be declared King, decreed that all male children under the age of two be slaughtered. Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to safety in Egypt after Joseph was warned by God in a dream. They returned only after the death of Herod. Thus another prophecy was fulfilled found in Jeremiah 31:15:

"Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”

Bread of Heaven

In Hebrew, Bethlehem, means "House of Bread". A fitting name for the birthplace of the One who was the bread of Heaven come down to dwell among men.

" Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6: 32-33

Bethlehem Where God Came Down

Today Bethlehem is a small city in Palestine only about 5 miles from Jerusalem. The famous Church of the Nativity is here, built upon the spot where tradition says the baby Jesus was born. Bethlehem, where the Lord of Peace was born. Truly it can be said that of all places, Bethlehem is the only one where God Himself came down to be born of a virgin and live among men.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

descend to us, we pray,

cast out our sin and enter in,

be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

our Lord Immanuel!