August's Sermons

Church Period: Advent 2nd Wednesday
Sermon Title: Bethlehem Birthplace Of Jesus
Sermon Date: December 13, 1972
Rev. August Hauptman
Sermon Text: Micah 5:2

Dear Christian friends:

One of the most famous cities in the world is Bethlehem, especially during the Christmas season. It is as famous as London, Paris, Rome or New York. Perhaps the most famous city in the world. Tourists visit Bethlehem as much as they visit any other famous city. Of course, we all know why it is such a great city, not because of its size, for it is a very small city. It is not great because of manufacturing of a famous product like Detroit is famous because automobiles are made there. It produces little or nothing except novelties to sell to the many tourist who visit there each year. God made Bethlehem great because He decided to let His Son, our Savior be born there.

Jesus was not born in Bethlehem by accident, but in agreement with God's plan. In our text here we see God prophecy through Micah five-hundred years before Jesus was born that a great ruler or king would be born there (in that place). After Jesus was born the wise men came to Jerusalem and asked the people, "Where is He that is born king of the Jews? The Jewish teachers answered, "Bethlehem is the place because the prophet says so." They then quoted Micah 5:2, our text. So Jesus was born in Bethlehem because God Himself planned that long ago before God chose that town and not other cities. Other cities were larger and greater. But God chose small, lovely Bethlehem.

Why? Because Bethlehem was the city of David, Israel's greatest king was born in Bethlehem and grew up there. King David was little like Jesus. God promised David that one of his descendants would be the Savior who would sit on his throne and rule forever. When the angel Gabriel told Mary of the Savior, he explained it, "the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:32-33)

David's kingdom and rule ended, but Jesus' kingdom and Jesus' rule will never end because Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of God.

So God chose Bethlehem as the birth place of our Savior because of His promise to David and because David is little like Jesus. As David was a great king and saved his people from their enemies (enemy nations). So Jesus, David's Son and God's Son saves us from our enemies, the devil and all temptations, and brings us to His everlasting Kingdom of glory. God chose Bethlehem because that was the city of David.

He also chose Bethlehem because He wants to impress upon us that we are saved by grace, not by works. God saves us. We can't save ourselves. No matter how good we are or great that can't count (worth) with God.

So God uses humble things and things that proud men despise, those exact things God chooses and uses for His great work of saving sinners: He chooses small, humble Bethlehem as the birth place; He chooses a poor girl, Mary for the Mother, not a queen or a princess; chooses a lowly manger for the Baby's bed, not a princes golden cradle. He sends the angels to proclaim the Saviors birth to poor humble shepherds, not to proud priests and teachers of the Jewish Church.

Only the poor, and humble in spirit and heart can accept Jesus Christ for their Savior. Those who have a proud spirit and think themselves rich and good and comfortable and self-righteous and self-satisfied, can't accept Jesus for their Savior.

Mary said that, too! After the angle told her she would be the mother of God's Son, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth who was expecting John the Baptist and Mary praised God to Elizabeth and said, (Luke 1:47-55):

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, just as he promised our ancestors.


So God chose small, humble Bethlehem and made it a great city. He will choose you, too, and use you and make you great if you humbly confess your sins and believe in Jesus Christ for your Savior and Helper. God does not respect the rich more that the poor. God loves all people and wants them to come and learn His humble way of salvation.

May He open our eyes to help us see our sins before Him and to one another. May He lead us to be ashamed and sorry about our sins, and may He give us faith to believe in His Son, Jesus, our Savior. May He fill us with good things and satisfy our hearts to love and serve Him in humble ways.

Amen.