B is for BETHLEHEM.
At Christmas time, we remember the city of Bethlehem because Jesus was born here! Jesus’ family didn’t live in Bethlehem, but they had to travel there to be counted. Everybody had to return to the city or town from which their ancestors came. Mary and Joseph were both descendants of King David, and David's city was Bethlehem, so Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to be counted.
In order to fulfill Old Testament prophesy, Jesus HAD to be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says, “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.”
When the orders came from Rome for everyone to return to their ancestor's city to be counted, the rulers of the time had no idea that they were setting the stage for this ancient prophecy to be fulfilled, but God knew. God had planned this since the before the beginning of time, and the fact that the Roman rulers were used to accomplish HIS plan points to His sovereignty and faithfulness.
So when we read Luke 2:4, “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,” we are reminded that Jesus fulfilled all Old Testament prophesy, and we can be sure that every Word of God WILL come to pass.
No comments:
Post a Comment