“O Little Town of Bethlehem”

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Micah 5:1-2
Marshal your troops, O city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” (NIV) (658)[931]

From the time of the Prophet Micah, Bethlehem was in line to be the birthplace of Jesus, our Messiah.  To be more precise, Bethlehem was in the plans from the foundations of the earth.  When it was planned for Jesus to come as our Savior, Bethlehem was always to be the site of His coming.

Such a little town, with such a great honor.  The phrase Bethlehem, Ephrathah, would be like us saying, Bostwick, Morgan County.  Today the population is about 25,000.  However, during the time of Jesus birth the population was about 300, except for the times of taxation when the population ballooned to thousands.  Something like Bostwick hosting the Cotton Gin Festival.  We have just hundreds normally, until Angie brings in thousands of folks to celebrate with us.

Bethlehem’s prominence rose in the world first, because of being the City of King David.  If you follow Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew’s Gospel, you will see that Jesus is a direct descendent of King David.  Just as prophecy had foretold.  An interesting thought to me is that there were 14 generations in all from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile to Babylon, and 14 from the exile to the Christ. (Matthew 1:17) It has always interested me how God works in numbers to drop breadcrumbs for those who are interested enough to follow them.  How could 42 generations be so completely exact other than God orchestrated it?

As we read the Gospels in our Holy Bible we see that in Matthew Jesus’ genealogy is traced down from Abraham to his earthly Father, Joseph.  This is the genealogy of a King.  And the Gospel of Matthew reveals Jesus as King.

Mark has no genealogy in it because Mark reveals Jesus as a Servant and servants do not need genealogies.  However, in the Gospel of Luke, after the “Christmas Story” in Chapter 2 you will find Jesus’ genealogy traced from God through Adam and Joseph and David all the way to Jesus.  The genealogy of the Son of Man.

Every year when we read Luke Chapter 2 we see that And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) Luke 2:1-4 (KJV) (724)[1026]  

The importance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem can not be overstated.  It was written of when the Prophet Micha prophesied around 700 B.C.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2 (NIV) (658)[931]

whose origins are from of old, from ancient times  Now who might that be talking about?  Micah is, of course, talking about Jesus, who actually has no origin.  No beginning and no end.

Bethlehem… why Bethlehem?  Why not some larger city with better communications systems?  Or a later date so His birth might possibly be televised.  I know, I know!  I think it is the same reason he came in such a lowly estate.  Mary spoke of this in her Magnificat we find in Luke Chapter 1 – Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me —
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever
even as he said to our fathers.”  (Luke 1:45-55) (NIV)  (724)[1025]  

Mary knew the special blessing she had received and praised God for it.  However, little did she know she would make that trek up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.  You see, the small village of Bethlehem is so key to Jesus coming because of its “smallness.”  Jesus had to come in a way different from any other king.  Different from anyone of any fame or importance.  It goes back to what I feel is one of the most important details of Jesus’ coming.  He came in such a way that He is approachable to us, to anyone.

When I grew up in Chickamauga we had a population of less than 2,000.  And now in Bostwick we are even smaller than that.  So, I am amused when I hear someone on TV or radio mention a “small” town with a population of 25,000.  That’s not small, not as we know it.  And I like it that way.

I have tried to imagine small town Bethlehem.  At least it had an inn.  We know that because there was no room for Mary and Joseph.  Little did that innkeeper know the importance or what would happen in that small town that year – only the most momentous birth in history.

There was a “barnyard” of sorts, with cattle stalls and maybe a blacksmith.  Small towns back then were pretty well self-sufficient.  There was no great transportation system, aside from the donkeys, so they had to depend upon themselves.  There would have been some kind of a “mayor’s” office, probably where the tax collectors hung out.  If Mary and Joseph had gotten there in time to get a room at the inn, they might very well have been “evicted” to make room for the officials in town for tax collection.  After all, tax collectors are much more important that the Savior of the World.

Of course, the population grew a little as the shepherds arrived to see this newborn King.  And then a few weeks later the Magi began arriving.  It’s thought they could have numbered as many as a hundred.  With the gifts they brought, which included gold, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus would have had plenty of money to travel to Egypt, even though when they set out on this trip they had no idea that’s where they would end up.

Bethlehem, a small town, the City of David.  What a strange place for the birth of a King.  But then, that is exactly where the Trinity had determined it would happen.  Can you imagine Jesus, eons ago, knowing one day He would arrive in Bethlehem to the thunderous welcome of a few shepherds.  Even the Magi were low key so as to not alert Herod as to where the newborn King was.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of a King… The King!  Maybe you will think a little more about it when you sing the song.

Bostwick UMC 12/13/2020