Title O Bethlehem Ephrathiah (Luke 02:1-7)
Contents When God re-created the world, the Bible begins, saying, “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was deep” (Genesis 1:2). Just as the order of the world was divided by putting light in the world at that time. Even at that time, the turning point of the Gospel (New Testament) era, the world was spiritually chaotic, empty, and a world of darkness. At this time, Jesus came as the light (John 1:9). The Bible foretells that the world will be in chaos even when He comes again as the Second Coming Lord (Matthew 24:23-28, 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
The birth of Jesus, who came to Bethlehem, in many ways makes its mystery and the depth and scope of its teachings unfathomable. Above all, the background of the providence in which people living in lowly status in Nazareth were suddenly moved to Bethlehem in Judah, but the whole series of processes is mysterious and surprising.
1. Bethlehem, a city that is never small! (Micah 5:2)
The land of Israel is called the Middle East country because it is geographically the center of the earth where human beings live. Among them, Bethlehem is said to be the center of the center. The very seat of the manger... Therefore, the birth of Jesus, which was predestined there, is significant in many ways. Try concentrating on it.
Jesus' birth in Bethlehem is not accidental. Already 700 years ago, it was a town that drew attention to the prophecy of the Messiah through the prophet Micah (Mic 5:1-4). By the standards of the world, Rome, which had formed an invincible empire at the time, seemed to rule the world, and it seemed that many people had the authority to take a step toward asceticism at the command of the emperor, but the emperor's decree was actually living in Nazareth. It is just a providence around the world to accomplish God's will through Joseph and Mary. In hindsight, the ruler of history was not Caesar, but God.
2. Bethlehem, where everyone has fallen asleep! (Verse 7)
The thought of Joseph wandering the streets of Bethlehem, where his blood relatives live, in search of a place to give birth with Mary, who is full term, brings tears to my eyes. It is because the people of the small town of Bethlehem, who were nominated for the birth of the Messiah, were discolored with indifference and greed.
But what is even more bleak is that the Lord who wanted to make people's hearts a temple came, but He had to be in a manger outside the building. This refers to the heart of selfish and fortune-seeking people, and it is a tragedy that has not changed since then (Matthew 12:43-45). If you lose the place of your heart to the world through indifference and greed, your spiritual life will fall asleep and you will not be able to become the main character of that day even if Jesus comes. In the last days, it is easy for everyone to doze off (Matthew 25:11-12).
3. Bethlehem looking for the temple of the heart! (Luke 1:16-19)
Although Jesus was a member of the Davidic royal family, he did not come to the royal palace, nor did he come to the splendid and wealthy family. Although humble, Bethlehem, who came through an ordinary and faithful prospective couple, became a city where he met true people.
Even though the blood relatives and the people of the hometown had become dark and dry, it became a town that welcomed and comforted the visitors who had already been prepared for Mary and Joseph, who had the temple of God. Shepherds ran from the fields, wise men from the far east visited, and it was the temple of God's protection. Even if it was a manger, it was a place to meet the Lord for those who had a temple in their heart.
When a temple that can accommodate even a manger is prepared, the Lord will come.