Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?

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MICAH 5:2-5a

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

 
 

The king will be born in Bethlehem.

Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
The above passage from Micah is what the scholars reference when the Magi show up in Herod’s palace asking to see the king of the Jews. Herod asks for expert opinion, and the scholars tell him that the Bible says that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Of course Luke tells us that the reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem is because Caesar made a decree for a census, causing Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem to be counted.

So, why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
Was it because the Bible foretold that’s where it would take place, or was it because Caesar wanted a census?

Yes.

God is always at work, even when we can’t understand it at the time. God is always at work, and he is using our free choices to realize his divine purposes.

“God works all things for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 

The Pharisees Should Come to Munger on Xmas Eve

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Some quick geographic notes. Galilee is the northern part of Israel; Jerusalem is in Judea, which is separated from the Galilee by Samaria. Bethlehem is a little town near Jerusalem.

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The Old Testament prophets had foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem; Jesus, however, was raised in Nazareth in Galilee, and did much of his ministry there. So, this is why the Pharisees are sure that Jesus can’t be the Messiah—since he’s from Galilee. But, we know what they don’t: that he was raised in Galilee, but born in Bethlehem.

The Pharisees should come to Munger on Christmas Eve, and then they would hear the Christmas story:

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. [Luke 2:1-7]

 

Today’s Scripture

John 7:45-52