Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem is today a city with a population of approximately 30 000 citizens located on the West Bank. It’s a place that fills up each Christmas season with people wanting to be in this historical place for this time, to go and see where Jesus was born. Let’s take a look at this city and why Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
The words of prophet Micah
So why was Jesus born in Betlehem? Around 700 years before Jesus was born there was a prophet named Micah that was active in Judah. He prophesied the words about the birth of Jesus and he also mentioned the location. He said the ruler over Israel with origin from the ancient times would be born in Betlehem Ephrathah. The name Betlehem means “House of bread” and Ephrathah means “fruitfulness”.
Right here in the “house of bread” Jesus, who later calls himself the bread of life, is born. He was the one that would give mankind the answer to the deep hunger of this world.
The birthplace of king David
Betlehem wasn’t only the birthplace of Jesus, but also of king David. The Bible clearly speaks of that the Saviour they all were waiting for was to come from the family of David, we can among other places see this in 2 Sam 7:12-16.
“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.“
How perfect isn’t in that the story would bring us back to Betlehem for the long awaited Messiah?
The Census of the entire Roman world – how Jesus ended up going to Bethlehem.
Ceasar Augustus issued a decree of a census for the whole Roman world. Joseph and Mary, pregnant with Jesus at this point, needed to travel from Nazareth, where they lived, to go Bethlehem. When they were in Bethlehem Jesus was born, and the prophesy of Micah ended up being fulfilled. Here we see the hand of God in the events of history as well, for Joseph and Mary to be moved to Bethlehem just in the right time.
Oh, little town of Bethlehem
This year is a special year for the city of Bethlehem, it’s a city in a country of conflict and unlike the years before the hotels are empty. It’s looking to be a silent Christmas, quite the opposite of how it was the first Christmas. Jesus was born in a stable because the city was so full of people.
Still, even after over 2000 years, the story of Christmas is as relevant as ever, maybe more than ever before. In a world of chaos and conflict, we need a Saviour. Let the call to come and seek Him go over the whole world as we worship Him this Christmas. He is here and He is still the answer to the hunger pains of this world. Jesus, King of Kings, born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread”.
