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.