The Birthplace of the Savior
Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Savior. God did not choose a well-known city with a large population. He could have easily chosen Jerusalem, so why Bethlehem? It seems that Jesus had a humble birth, life, and death (Philippians 2:7, Mark 10:45). Bethlehem was about eight kilometers (five miles) south of Jerusalem in the district known as Ephrathah in Judah (Micah 5:2). It was a region known for its fertile hills and valleys. Its name means “house of bread” or “house of the god Lahmu.” Later Jesus would say that He was the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).
The prophet Micah predicted that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2), a prophecy quoted in Matthew 2:6. Today, the Church of the Nativity, which marks the birthplace of the Savior, is one of the best authenticated sites in the Holy Land. The structure was built over the cave area that served as a stable for the inn, and goes back to the time of the Roman emperor Justinian (sixth century AD). This church replaces an earlier building, built in 330 AD by Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine. I want us to notice some things about the city of Bethlehem.
(1) The Information of Bethlehem - Bethlehem was the burial place of Rachel, the wife of Jacob (Genesis 35:19, 48:7). It was the home of Naomi and her family and the setting for much of the Book of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4, 22). Bethlehem was the ancestral home of David (I Samuel 17:12). Samuel anointed David as Saul’s successor in Bethlehem (I Samuel 16:1-13). David made Jerusalem his capital city, but he never lost his love for Bethlehem (II Samuel 23:14-17). Later the city was rebuilt and fortified by King Rehoboam (II Chronicles 11:6). Bethlehem was also the refuge for those after the exile (Ezra 2:21) and to them, the fertile hills and valleys of Bethlehem must have been a sobering sight. However, more importantly, Bethlehem was the birthplace of Christ (Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Micah 5:2). It is significant that the King of kings, who was of the house of David, was born in David’s ancestral home (Luke 2:11).
(2) The Importance of Bethlehem - Bethlehem was important because it was small place (Micah 5:2). Matthew tells of Jesus being born in this small town (Matthew 2:1). Luke tells of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem to be taxed (Luke 2:4). Bethlehem was also important because it was spiritual place and because something supernatural took place there. Jesus’ birth was nothing short of a miracle.
(3) The Impact of Bethlehem - The event that would take place in this city would impact all of mankind. Christ the Son of God became the Son of Man (Philippians 2:6-7). Now we can have eternal life because of faith in him (John 3:16). The event that would take place in this city would impact the forgiveness of man. The angel told Joseph, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), which is a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. The event that would take place in this city would impact the future of man. Through Christ’s birth, man would have abundant life (John 10:10, 11:25-26). Jesus also taught us about heaven, which will be a reward for those who are obedient to him (John 14:1-3).
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of OT prophesy. Had these prophecies not been fulfilled, the Bible would be a lie and Christ would have been a liar. God used Bethlehem, a small town, to fulfill the words of the prophets. In sending Jesus, the Lord fulfilled Genesis 3:15 and broke the power of sin. Have a great week!!!