When you think about Christmas and the baby Jesus, do you ever think why Bethlehem?
Bethlehem even today is a very small village just 4 miles outside of Jerusalem. In the days of Jesus, it had only one thing going for it, it was the place where king David was born, the most famous king of Israel.
Yet why did God send His Son to be born in Bethlehem? Why not in a palace or in Rome?
The answer is that God hundreds of years before said that was where His Son Jesus would be born.
In the Bible, in the Gospel account written by Matthew [chapter 2 verse 6], Matthew quotes a passage from the Old Testament which says, “But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler. Who will shepherd My people Israel. Here the Bible is telling us that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.
Does God say anything else about His Son Jesus?
Yes, He does; in the Old Testament we are told that He will die to pay for the sins of all who believe in God and in Jesus the Christ.
In the Old Testament part of the Bible, Isaiah, 600 years before the birth of Jesus, wrote: “But He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed” [Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5].
At Christmas, please don’t stop at the manger in Bethlehem, but move on to the cross at Jerusalem. If you want to know more, we will be glad to you tell the Good News about Jesus at our services.
Pastor Mike Leaves.