Lessons from Bethlehem

Can we get past the holly and lights and even the carols for a moment to find something of God’s part in our Christmas celebrations? Please understand, I enjoy, even revel in so much of the peripheral expressions of Christ’s Advent in our holiday traditions – the songs and music, the movies and TV specials, the decorations, the gifts, the foods. However, I am wondering this year what Heaven thinks of Christmas. Or better, what does the King of Heaven really intend for us to get about His Incarnation? What does Jesus want for Christmas?

Last week I suggested three things I want to remember this Christmas. I wrote about making a call to remember a priority this Christmas and listed a few things we should remember this year:

1. Remember why Jesus was born, what His Advent and Incarnation mean for us, indeed, for all peoples.

2. Remember to prepare, to be ready for Jesus’ Second Advent.

3. Remember to make the most of every opportunity this Christmas to help every person you meet know why He came and how to be ready when He returns.

REMEMBER – We may remember, for instance, as we celebrate Advent this morning with the lighting of the Hope candle, the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ birth. We may recall Micah’s prophecy that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Ephrathah [“the fruitful”], you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity (Micah 5:2).

The religious leaders in Jerusalem remembered, when a troubled King Herod demanded of them, that God had revealed through Micah that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2). Frankly, their understanding of the significance of Messiah’s birthplace probably exceeded our appreciation today simply because of their ethno-religiosity (they were Jews). Hundreds of years of waiting, however, appears to have reduced even their remembrances of this prophecy little more than one of a litany of checkpoints on the list of messianic credentials. They knew where, but were not there themselves.

The average person in Israel also remembered that the prophet had identified the site of Messiah’s birth. We find the crowds wondering out loud about Jesus’ identity. Apparently, the people were not as familiar with the peculiarities of Jesus’ birth as Luke’s research made him. They thought Jesus was from Galilee, and they knew Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (John 7:40-43).

Religious leaders and common people both remembered the basic idea – Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They seemed to miss, however, something rich and wondrous just below the facts of the prophecy. Precious gems lingered untouched in the soil they had not plowed.

In the same way, we should do more than remember the facts of our Savior’s birth. Merely reminiscing in a warm and fuzzy, holiday sort of way, all too easily lures us to a shallow understanding of why Jesus was born and why He is coming again and why people must be prepared. We should investigate.

INVESTIGATE – The general question is “Where? Where will Messiah be born?” Good question – as far as it goes. The better question is “Why? Why would Messiah be born, and of all places, why in Bethlehem?” This is a better question because it takes us deeper, nearer to the heart of God and His intentions. Isn’t that where we want Christmas to take us?

A little bit of investigation could unearth priceless treasures just below the surface. Consider these jewels, for example:

1. God did not choose Bethlehem because it was a great town, but precisely because this village was small. Bethlehem did nothing to impress Heaven’s selection committee. Father did not chose Bethlehem to highlight anything special about that geographical locale but to manifest His own glory and to illustrate a wonderful, hope-filled truth for us. God uses little things to show His bigness (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31). His intent is that we declare with angelic hosts, “Glory to God in the highest!” Someone observed, “We get joy! He gets glory!” Amen!

2. God chose Bethlehem to demonstrate His commitment to keep His promise. He promised David that Messiah would come from his royal lineage and establish an eternal throne. Moreover, God reminded Israel of this promise through Micah when the nation was suffering and then brought it to pass when they were under the boot of Rome. God’s promises are reliable, even and especially in trying times, because God is Who He says He is, and He can do what He says He’ll do.

3. This reminds me that Messiah will come again – and I am persuaded Jesus will return soon. Investigate Micah 5 and we see that when Messiah returns He will protect His flock, including we sheep from foreign folds (John 10:16-17), secure our peace, and “extend His greatness to the ends of the earth!” (Micah 5:4).

O, joy! Joy to the world! He comes and calls to Himself unworthy worldlings through whom He displays His glory! How great our joy! He keeps His promises. Jesus Christ is the “Yes!” to each one (2 Corinthians 1:20). Joy! Joy to the world! Our Lord is come … and is coming again!

Remember, beloved, the hope Christmas brings. Investigate and discover the wealth of His Word. Rejoice and worship!

To the ends of the earth until the end of time!

Pastor Rob