Introduction
Bethlehem, the Messiah’s birthplace, was such a small town that it was insignificant and overlooked. Yet, it became a marvel because of the phenomenal virgin birth of the Savior of the world. Indeed, God makes the irrelevant, relevant. Christianity teaches people to humble themselves, and they will be exalted at the right time by the Right One. What remarkable evidence of this teaching can be found in the unassuming but glorified town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was chosen to fulfill the great prophets’ words, to present Christ as the Bread of Life, and to showcase Christ for all the world.
Prophecy Fulfilled
Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” “Ephrathah” meant fruitfulness and was used to distinguish Bethlehem, the tribe of Judah, from Zebulun, another tribe that belonged to Bethlehem. Fruitfulness implies the city’s beauty as it was laden with vines and olive trees, but reflect a more incredible richness, that of spirituality, emanating from Christ’s Divine birth.
The emphasis of this prophecy is that the Messiah will be of the tribe of Judah, who had lost its prominence and former glory. Despite this, the birthplace of David, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, would also be that of the Messiah, Who is called the Son of David. Such an event demonstrates the miraculous nature of God; nothing is too inconsequential to emerge into an extraordinary destiny.
The birth of Christ promotes faith. Micah foretells that Jesus’ birthplace will be Bethlehem, and He will be a Mediator, Ruler, Protector, Peace-Giver, Priest, and King. He will protect His church from darkness, He will forgive people of their sins and reconcile them to God, He will give souls rest, and He will deliver people from suffering. Perhaps this is the most critical of prophecies arising out of the Old Testament, which speaks to the soul of the Gospel. Micah describes the very nature of God, His characteristics, and the world’s discovery of Him.
Isaiah 11:1 foretells the Davidic line of the Messiah, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” In 2 Samuel 12;16, God promises to raise Solomon to build the temple and establish His Kingdom forever, another King from David’s line. Jeremiah 23:5 reveals, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
These prophecies establish God’s connection to the house of David and the city of Bethlehem. The fulfillment of these events is verified throughout the pages of the New Testament. Bethlehem endorses the Holy Scriptures and authenticates the Divine revelations of God. Undeniably, His Word is truth.
Bread of Life
Ephrathah also means House of Bread. Readers of the Bible can attest to the significance of bread in Biblical times; it was a staple in the Middle Eastern diet that symbolized God’s provision. Perhaps the most brilliant example of God’s provision for the people of Israel was during their exile in the wilderness when God sent manna, “bread from heaven” to feed them (Exodus 16:4; John 6:31). We are also reminded of the miracles that took place in the New Testament when Jesus fed the thousands with bread and fish (John 6:11-13).
Bread is mentioned nearly 500 times in the Bible. That Bethlehem was called “House of Bread” is emblematic of its connection to the Messiah, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” “I am the bread of life” (John 6:41; 48). The Bible conveys that as critical as bread is to our bodies, it is incapable of total appeasement. Humans can only be made whole through Divine comfort (Matthew 4:4). We are not merely physical bodies with basic needs, but spiritual beings in need of spiritual satisfaction. God presents Himself as the staple of our spirits.
Representative of Christ being a Provider, Christians take the holy communion: Christ’s body and blood, where His body is represented by unleavened bread. This bread provides continuous nourishment from the Holy Spirit for this journey of life, “This is my body, which is for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24).
The Bread of Life came from the House of Bread to give us our daily bread (Matthew 6:1).
How fortunate we are to be provided for in every way by the Master Himself!
Blessing to the world
Unlike regular men who are not allowed to choose to whom they are born, their hometown, and their birth conditions, the Son of God ordained His nativity. He was born in the right place and at the right time under the right circumstances. The Savior’s birth was an act of Divinity and Providence, not coincidence or accident.
God could have chosen any great city in the world to bear His Son: Paris, Rome, London, New York, but He bypassed all of these and chose Bethlehem, the City of David. The Seed of David was born in the City of David to parents of Davidic lineage, and He inherited the throne of David. Christ silenced the voices of vain men who boast in the world’s extravagance. While men seek honor in the natural, God seeks glory in the eternal. God chose a poor virgin mother, a simple father, and an unpopular birthplace that we might acknowledge His transforming power on the face of the whole earth. The proud will be humbled, and the humble will be exalted because God uses the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Bethlehem was Christ identifying with the common man; He was not born to royal or popular parents. He was not of an aspiring or affluent city, but He was born ordinary in every way, to demonstrate the purpose of His Kingdom: that man would be liberated from sin and live forever. Christ is accessible to each person on this earth; He’s a personal and intimate Savior. No matter how insignificant you are, He has chosen you, but will you choose Him?
Most people spend their lives chasing happiness. They look for it in all the wrong places: trips around the world, expensive jewelry, massive homes, education, lucrative careers, the latest technology, and the finest clothing. They soon find out that such indulgences provide only a momentary illusion of pleasure, leaving them in pursuit of yet another adventure.
The answer to the world’s problems is clear: Christ is the Bread of Life Who promises eternity to those who eat His bread (John 6:58). He came, not only to give life but to support the life He gives. If not for Him, many would be dead in their sins. His power enables us to revisit our theories of this life, our existence, and ponder the other life of eternal happiness. Are you eating at the right table?
Conclusion
The Apostle Paul spoke to the world when he said, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Bethlehem was chosen to fulfill the prophecies of old, to communicate Christ as the Bread of Life, and to outline His coming as a blessing for the entire world. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). A seat at the throne of God awaits those who accept this offer. Choose Bethlehem, choose the Living Bread, and choose to be blessed!
