The "Star" of Bethlehem

 

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, From everlasting.  --Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

Bethlehem literally means "House of Bread."  As we wade into the Christmas season, we will be reminded often that Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus.  This same Jesus once called Himself the "bread of life."  In fact, at the Last Supper (the first Communion) Jesus broke bread, and told his disciples to "Take, eat, for this (bread) is My body which is broken for you."

So what do we know about the little town of Bethlehem?  Why was this village featured so prominently in the Bible? And what lessons can we learn from its most prominent residents?

The first mention of Bethlehem in Scripture is the place where Jacob, the Patriarch of Israel, buried his wife Rachel.  Rachel was the mother of Joseph, who was sold into slavery, falsely accused by the wife of Potiphar, thrown into prison, and was subsequently freed by Pharaoh when Jacob interpreted a dream.  You will recall that Jacob was then elevated to a high position in Egypt, and was instrumental in feeding thousands.  Jacob is sometimes referred to as a "type" of Christ, meaning there are parallels between his life and the life of Jesus.  Jesus was falsely accused and was taken prisoner.  Jesus was also highly exalted, and was instrumental in feeding thousands.  Just as Joseph saved his family from the famine, Jesus saves His people from their sins.

Another mention of Bethlehem in Scripture is the twelfth chapter of Judges.  A man named Ibzan from Bethlehem ruled Israel for 7 years.  Bible scholars are divided about who this man Ibzan was, and even whether it was the same Bethlehem that was called "the city of David."  Jewish tradition, however, says that it was the same village.  Moreover, Jewish tradition equates Ibzan with Boaz, another prominent resident of Bethlehem.  You will recall that Boaz was kinsman/Redeemer of Ruth.  Similarly Jesus is our kinsman/Redeemer.  Jesus paid the price for us.  We (as the Church) are His bride.

The last reference we will mention today is a combination of all the passages in Samuel and Chronicles involving David and his proximity to Bethlehem.  Before he was king, David watched his father's sheep in Bethlehem.  While he battled Saul for the kingdom, David longed for water from his hometown, so much so that three mighty men broke through the Philistine forces to get him a container of water.  David was impressed, but did not drink the water when the men brought it to him.  Instead, he poured it out on the ground as a sacrifice to God.  Jesus was broken and spilled out for us.  He poured Himself out as a sacrifice for us.

Of all the prominent sons of Bethlehem, there is none brighter than Jesus.  He is the Star of Bethlehem that shines so brightly it beckons wise men from the East, who shines so long that He calls to you and me some 2000 years after His sacrificial death and resurrection.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 

This is the preparation He made for His Advent.  He prepared a place called the House of Bread so that Mary and Joseph could travel there and give birth to the Bread of Life.  It is by this preparation that we can break bread in holy Communion, in remembrance of Him and in some way becoming a member of His body, the body that was broken for us.