What’s So Special About Bethlehem?

A Prophecy

In an advent series, our pastor taught us interesting points about the birthplace of Jesus beginning with a prophecy made 750 years before His birth (around 750 BC.) The prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, wrote:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

~ Micah 5:2 NLT

Why the Prediction?

Our pastor pointed out that God predicted the place of Messiah’s birth in order to limit the number of individuals who could claim to be Messiah. One cannot control the place of one’s birth!

What’s So Special About Bethlehem?

• God often uses the weak to demonstrate His strength. Bethlehem was a small village. It could not even supply the required one thousand soldiers to defend Jerusalem (Micah 5:1.)
• God specified Bethlehem Ephrathah, which means “Place of fruitfulness” also “House of Bread.” At that time, there were two Bethlehems in Judah.  (The other Bethlehem was in the territory of Zebulun (Joshua 19:10-15.)
• Bethlehem stood about 6 miles southwest of Jerusalem and is 2300 feet about sea level. You can see all around it.
• Rachel’s tomb is nearby (Genesis 29:18.)
• Ruth and Boaz lived in Bethlehem (Ruth 1, 2, 4.)
• Jesse, the father of David lived in Bethlehem, and King David grew up there.

Prophecy Fullfilled!

God pulled His strings to cause two puppets, a king and a governor, to decree this census, ensuring that Mary and Joseph would be in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth. Both Joseph and Mary were descendants of King David. More on this in a future post.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.

~ Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.( All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, He had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

~ Luke 2:1-7 NLT

Despite Division and Unbelief

In John 7, beginning in verse 40, crowds were drawn to Jesus although they mistakenly thought he was actually born in Galilee, where he lived at the time. Their discussion affirms that the Jews believed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”

~ John 7:40-42 NLT

From the Days of Eternity

Bethlehem welcomed a special person – the Messiah would be born here. Micah said “His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” Jesus was active before He was born in Bethlehem. He always existed.

In John 1:1-18, John speaks about Jesus, the Word, existing in the Beginning with God. I’ve selected verses for brevity, but when you can, read the entire chapter.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through Him.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

~ John 1:1-3, 14, 16-18

In John 8:58, Jesus claimed to be eternal:

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!”

Enjoy a Merry Christmas, my friends. I hope you enjoyed these highlights from an Advent sermon. For further reading, read the complete accounts in Matthew chapters 1 and 2, Luke chapter 2, and John chapter 1.

About the New Living Translation (NLT.) I used this translation for the blog because it is more clear for many readers. I also enjoy the King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB1995), English Standard Version, and New International Version (NIV.) Comparing different versions gives me a fresh look on passages I’ve read before.

Dana McNeely

---

Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy.  She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.

WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.

Sign up for Dana’s newsletter HERE to get book updates, garden exploits, butterfly effusions, and writerly fiascos.

Purchase RAIN  |  Purchase WHIRLWIND