WORD TODAY: Bethlehem

 

Christmas Prophecies: Bethlehem In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2 WHEN Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there was nowhere to spend the night. The inn was full. The only place that Mary and Joseph could find was a stable. BUT this was no ordinary stable! Bethlehem was a special city for the Jews. Bethlehem was where lambs were raised for the temple in Jerusalem. The temple lambs were specially selected and cared for in a facility that was just for them. The stables were located near an ancient tower, so it was called the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Eder.) Bethlehem had shepherds who were expertly trained to care for the temple lambs so they could be certified for temple use. Because the sacrificial lambs had to be perfect, the stables may have been much nicer than what we see on Christmas cards. The stables weren’t used year-round, however. They were only needed in the early spring when the lambs were born. So, the special stables at Migdal Eder could have been used for temporary housing during the time of the census. IS IT POSSIBLE that the Lamb of God - who would become atonement for us all - was born in the very same stables where the sacrificial lambs were cared for and certified? The prophet Micah actually predicted this very thing: You, tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come, yes, the former dominion will come, the Kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. Micah 4:8 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 Jesus fulfilled all the many prophecies regarding the Jewish Messiah, some of which were very specific. Mathematicians have told us the odds for such thorough fulfillment are statistically impossible: unless arranged by God.