Place of Birth Foretold. Micah prophesied at the same time of Isaiah from about 750 to 690 B.C. He particularly worked in the smaller towns and villages. God spoke through him to foretell that the Messiah was going to be born in one of those small towns – Bethlehem. God spoke through him saying, “But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (5:2).
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, was not His origin. He had no beginning He is from eternity.
It is interesting that Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth and only by the providence of God, was Jesus born in Bethlehem. The government required a census be taken and everyone had to return to the town of their origin, which for Joseph and Mary was Bethlehem. Therefore, about the time for Mary to give birth, they made the 80 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5) and thus, the prophesy was fulfilled.
Significance of Being Born in Bethlehem. First, Jesus was from the lineage of David, so it was appropriate for Him to be born in the city of David (Luke 2:4). Second, it was in this area, which was six miles from Jerusalem, that the lambs that were offered as a sacrifice each day in Jerusalem, were kept. Those lambs were only a “shadow” of the real lamb, who was Jesus Christ (John 1:29; I Peter 1:18-19).
Second, the word “Bethlehem” is formed from two Hebrew words beth meaning house and lehem which means “bread” thus “house of bread.” That was the perfect place for one who is the bread of life to be born (John 6:32-35, 48). One partakes of that bread when one partakes of the word of God. In that same context Peter explained, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Jesus Himself said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).
Fiction
The Date of His Birth. The Bible does not indicate the exact date of Jesus’ birth. There are evidences that it would not have been during the coldness of December.
The Number of Wisemen and Were They Found Jesus. First, it is commonly believed that there were three wisemen who came to worship Jesus. All the text says is that there were wisemen, plural, who came (Matthew 2:1-5). The supposition that there were three comes from the fact that they brought Him three gifts: (1) Gold, (2) Frankincense, and (3) Myrrh. Of course, two or more wisemen could have brought those three items.
Second, it is usually taught that the wisemen came and worshipped Jesus when He was in the manger. Notice what the text says. “After coming into the house they saw the Child” (Matthew 2:11). Notice, Jesus was not in a manger, but in a house. Notice also that Jesus is not called a “babe,” but a “child.” Jesus was probably several month old and maybe even two years old because the wisemen said His star had appeared two years earlier (Matthew 2:16).
Third, it is commonly thought that the wisemen followed the star from the east to Israel. The text only says that they saw His star in the east (Matthew 2:2). If the star led them, it led them to the wrong city – Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1). After they learned from Micah 5:2-5) that the Messiah was going to be born in Bethlehem, then the star led them to the particular house where Jesus was staying (Matthew 2:9).
Mary a Perpetual Virgin. Because the Roman Catholic Church puts so much emphasis on Mary, they have promoted the idea that Mary was always a virgin. Again, notice what the text says, “And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son” (Matthew 1:24-25). The word “until” is the key word in this discussion. “Until” shows there is a time limit. He did not have a sexual relationship with her “until” after she gave birth to Jesus. Latter Matthew even names Mary’s other children, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” (13:55).
Honoring Jesus’ Birth Is Not a Command. There is nowhere in Scripture a command for us to honor the day of Jesus’ birth. Since there is no command to do so, the church cannot command us to honor Jesus’ birth. If an individual wants to honor the day of Christ’s birth as his or her own desire, that person has that right, but cannot bind that on anyone else (Romans 14:5).
Applications
First, Jesus Became the “God-Man.” What better way could God have brought His Son to earth than through a woman? Jesus is as human as could be because He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). Because He had an earthly mother, He had all the characteristics and needs of any other human.
Second, Because He Came with a Human Body, He Could Be Sacrificed for Our Sins. Sin brings death (Romans 6:23). To illustrate that, all through the Old Testament, animals had to give their life as a sacrifice for men’s sins. The Hebrew writer explained, “Therefore, when He (Christ) comes into the world, He says, ‘Sacrifices and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me’” (10:5). “You have not desired” simply means that those animal sacrifices did not satisfy the penalty of sin. Something greater was required. Therefore, Jesus was given a body to be that sin sacrifice.
Third, Jesus Became the Perfect Mediator. A “mediator” is one who stands between two parties in order to bring them back together. That is what Jesus did. The perfect “mediator” is one who is equally related to both parties he or she is trying to reconcile. Jesus is that perfect mediator because He is God and understands God’s holiness and at the same time, He is human and understands man’s weaknesses and needs. When Jesus returned to heaven, He continued to be a man. That was part of the sacrifice He made. Paul explained, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5). Notice – “the man Christ Jesus.”
Because He is that perfect mediator the Hebrew writer encourages us with these words, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:15-16).
Wayne Burger