Jesus was to be Born in Bethlehem
Prophecy
"Now
gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops:
he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite
the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little
among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall
he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Micah 5:1-2
Fulfillment
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there
came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1 |
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With amazement the heavenly messengers beheld the indifference
of that people whom God had called to communicate to the world
the light of sacred truth. The Jewish nation had been preserved
as a witness that Christ was to be born of the seed of Abraham
and of David's line; yet they knew not that His coming was now
at hand. In the temple the morning and the evening sacrifice
daily pointed to the Lamb of God; yet even here was no preparation
to receive Him. The priests and teachers of the nation knew
not that the greatest event of the ages was about to take place.
They rehearsed their meaningless prayers, and performed the
rites of worship to be seen by men, but in their strife for
riches and worldly honor they were not prepared for the revelation
of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded the land of Israel.
Hearts selfish and world-engrossed were untouched by the joy
that thrilled all heaven. Only a few were longing to behold
the Unseen. To these, heaven's embassy was sent.
Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they journey from their home
in Nazareth to the city of David. The decree of imperial Rome
for the enrollment of the peoples of her vast dominion has extended
to the dwellers among the hills of Galilee. As in old time Cyrus
was called to the throne of the world's empire that he might
set free the captives of the Lord, so Caesar Augustus is made
the agent for the fulfillment of God's purpose in bringing the
mother of Jesus to Bethlehem. She is of the lineage of David,
and the Son of David must be born in David's city. Out of Bethlehem,
said the prophet, "shall He come forth . . . that is to
be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old,
from the days of eternity." Micah 5:2, margin. But in the
city of their royal line, Joseph and Mary are unrecognized and
unhonored.
 Weary
and homeless, they traverse the entire length of the narrow
street, from the gate of the city to the eastern extremity of
the town, vainly seeking a resting place for the night. There
is no room for them at the crowded inn. In a rude building where
the beasts are sheltered, they at last find refuge, and here
the Redeemer of the world is born. Men know it not, but the
tidings fill heaven with rejoicing. With a deeper and more tender
interest the holy beings from the world of light are drawn to
the earth. The whole world is brighter for His presence. Above
the hills of Bethlehem are gathered an innumerable throng of
angels. They wait the signal to declare the glad news to the
world. Had the leaders in Israel been true to their trust, they
might have shared the joy of heralding the birth of Jesus. But
now they are passed by.
God declares, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
and floods upon the dry ground." "Unto the upright
there ariseth light in the darkness." Isa. 44:3; Ps. 112:4.
To those who are seeking for light, and who accept it with gladness,
the bright rays from the throne of God will shine.
 In
the fields where the boy David had led his flock, shepherds
were still keeping watch by night. Through the silent hours
they talked together of the promised Saviour, and prayed for
the coming of the King to David's throne. "And, lo, the
angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord."
At these words, visions of glory fill the minds of the listening
shepherds. The Deliverer has come to Israel! Power, exaltation,
triumph, are associated with His coming. But the angel must
prepare them to recognize their Saviour in poverty and humiliation.
"This shall be a sign unto you," he says; "Ye
shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger."
The heavenly messenger had quieted their fears. He had told
them how to find Jesus. With tender regard for their human weakness,
he had given them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance.
Then the joy and glory could no longer be hidden. The whole
plain was lighted up with the bright shining of the hosts of
God. Earth was hushed, and heaven stooped to listen to the song,--
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14
Oh that today the human family could recognize that song! The
declaration then made, the note then struck, will swell to the
close of time, and resound to the ends of the earth. When the
Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings,
that song will be re-echoed by the voice of a great multitude,
as the voice of many waters, saying, "Alleluia: for the
Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Rev. 19:6.
As the angels disappeared, the light faded away, and the shadows
of night once more fell on the hills of Bethlehem. But the brightest
picture ever beheld by human eyes remained in the memory of
the shepherds. "And it came to pass, as the angels were
gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which
is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And
they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger."
Departing with great joy, they made known the things they had
seen and heard. "And all they that heard it wondered at
those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary
kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God."
Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than when shepherds
listened to the angels' song. Humanity is still as much the
object of heaven's solicitude as when common men of common occupations
met angels at noonday, and talked with the heavenly messengers
in the vineyards and the fields. To us in the common walks of
life, heaven may be very near. Angels from the courts above
will attend the steps of those who come and go at God's command.
The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden
"the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge
of God." Rom. 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice
in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship
of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and
self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was
but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have
been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take
man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden.
But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened
by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted
the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What
these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors.
He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations,
and to give us the example of a sinless life.
 Satan
in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of
God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He
hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet
into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His
Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity.
He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human
soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight
it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.
The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks
into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought
of life's peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan's
power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet
a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten
Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little
ones. "Herein is love." Wonder, O heavens! and be
astonished, O earth! Back |
