MICAH 5:2
“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.”
TO PONDER
There is some speculation if the Bethlehem 150km from Nazareth, near Jerusalem, is in fact the birthplace of Jesus.
Israeli archaeologists now say there is strong evidence that Christ was born in a different Bethlehem, a small village in the Galilee. Our verse for the day suggests that ‘small’ might be the key.
About 150 km from Jerusalem, shepherds still guide their flocks through green unspoiled hills, and few give notice to the tucked-away village with the odd sounding name: Bethlehem of the Galilee. But archaeologists who have excavated there say there is ample evidence that this Bethlehem is the Bethlehem of Christ's birth. It was the construction of a road that led to the discovery of the first evidence that Bethlehem of the Galilee may have had a special place in history. There is significant evidence that in early Christianity this Bethlehem was celebrated as the birthplace of Christ.
Scholars agree that is makes much more sense that Mary rode on a donkey, while she was at the end of the pregnancy, from Nazareth to Bethlehem of Galilee which is only 7 kilometres, rather than the other Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem in Jerusalem has been celebrated as the birth of Jesus from the 4th Century when Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Wherever Bethlehem was, doesn’t matter. It’s a nice talking point, but not relevant to people of faith – that’s you and me. It really doesn’t matter where you come from – but it does matter where you are going! Out of one of these Bethlehem’s, the reason to live will appear. The Saviour of the world, the one who reserves a spot for us in heaven, the one who comes to us, will be born.
How will you continue to live your life as someone whose future is assured?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thanks for keeping that spot for me in heaven with you. When I don’t deserve that spot, please let me know, so I can turn things around. In your precious name we pray. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping