“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.” — Micah 5:2
Born in Bethlehem
It is surprising sometimes to look at the hometowns of famous athletes. Not all great players were born in a large metropolis.
In a similar way, Jesus wasn’t born in the capital. The Wise Men traveled from afar as they followed the shining star. They didn’t know where they were going but trusted God to show them. They thought surely the Almighty was born in a big city. So they pressed on toward Jerusalem, but didn’t know about Bethlehem. God promised the Savior would be born in a small town and be hope for everyone all around. “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” (Micah 5:2).
Therefore, the religious leaders directed the Wise Men toward Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11).
Jesus is much more than a warm feeling or a little baby. Jesus is God in the flesh, and it is wise to worship Him. What does it mean to worship? We bow before God, ask God to direct our lives, and give back to God because we want everyone to have an opportunity to hear about this wonderful Savior.
Though the shepherds were different from the Wise Men, they also came to worship the Christ Child. Truly, Jesus gives eternal hope to all kinds of people. “When the angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:15-16). Then the shepherds told everybody about Jesus.
Have we told anyone about this Baby born in Bethlehem today?
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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