The Christmas Story Part 2 Jesus The Bread Of Life Was Born In Bethlehem, City Of Bread
The city of Bethlehem Judah figures prominently in Israel's history and the line of Messiah.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The name "Bethlehem of Judea" refers to a small town mentioned in Judges 17:7.
It is also called Ephrath, (See Genesis 48:7), or Ephratah, (See Micah 5:2), and its inhabitants were known as Ephrathites, (See Ruth 1:2; 1 Samuel 17:12).
Bethlehem of Judea is situated on the slope of a hill, about six miles from Jerusalem.
There is a wonderful meaning connected to the name Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is the place where Christ the true bread from heaven came down to give life.
John 6:32-33 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John's gospel devotes most of a chapter to Jesus feeding 5,000 with bread and then declaring "I am the bread of life."
We studied through John's gospel a few years ago.
You may recall that seven times Jesus said "I Am" and this was a deliberate act that connects Jesus to Jehovah, the great "I AM" who appeared to Moses at the burning bush (See Exodus 3:14).
Jesus declaring "I am the bread of life" is the first of Jesus' seven "I AM" declarations.
Remember that Jesus' name means Jehovah saves, and the name Jehovah means "I AM" or the "self existent God."
God gave the Hebrews manna from heaven every morning for 40 years as they wandered in the wilderness.
Manna is a picture of feasting on the Word of God as well as a picture of Jesus Christ.
The Jewish mind would immediately connect Jesus saying that "I Am the bread of life" with the life sustaining manna God sent down from heaven for 40 years.
Manna coming down from heaven pictures the miraculous virgin birth of Christ.
Gathering manna each day in the morning connects to people coming to be taught by Jesus each day in the morning.
Eating the daily supply of bread made from manna connects with believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
In contrast to manna which was given only to the Hebrew people, Jesus the bread of life is given to the whole world.
Jesus is the bread of life and this connects with His birthplace at Bethlehem, the city of bread.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Filling our soul with the true bread of heaven means believing, exercising repentance for our sins and trusting in Jesus to save us.
The soul that consumes (believes) the true bread of life (Jesus) will be fed and sustained forever (See Isaiah 55).
John 6:46-51 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Jesus fully explained what He meant by declaring of Himself that "I am that bread of life...which cometh down from heaven."
When Jesus told them they must eat of this bread, He said that eating the bread of life from heaven, means believing on the gospel Jesus preached and believing on Him for salvation.
Thus, Bethlehem means city of bread and this is the deliberate design of the Father to show the world His Son, Jesus Christ.
Bethlehem literally means city of bread and was the birthplace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is very fitting that the place where Jesus, the Messiah, the true bread that came down from heaven, was manifested, to give life to the world.
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Manna |
Jesus Christ as Bread of Life |
|
Manna came down from heaven |
Jesus came down from heaven |
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Manna sustained physical life |
Jesus gives eternal life |
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Manna must be gathered daily and
is sufficient for all |
Jesus must be believed on and
gives salvation sufficient for all humanity |
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Manna ceased to be provided when
Israel entered the promised land |
Jesus sacrifice is a once for
all time and all people eternal sacrifice |
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Manna was sweet to the taste |
Jesus’s sacrifice fills us with
joy and invites us to taste and see that the LORD is good |
Bethlehem was closely connected with Ruth, Boaz, King David and Jesus the Messiah.
Ruth 1:1-6 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
The city of Bethlehem also is connected with the story of Ruth and Boaz and as such, foreshadows the coming of Messiah.
This narrative took place during the time of Israel's judges (See the book of Judges).
A woman named Naomi along with her husband and two sons, traveled from Bethlehem Judah to the land of Moab.
Both her sons married Moabite women and both her sons died after ten years.
Naomi sent her daughters in law back to their respective families, but Ruth remained steadfast and loyal to her mother in law.
Both of them traveled back to Bethlehem Judah, the birthplace of Christ.
Ruth found work in the field's of Boaz so that she and Naomi had bread to eat.
Boaz was a kinsman redeemer and he redeemed the family and estate of Naomi's husband and married Ruth.
Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed. Obed had a son named Jesse and Jesse was the father of King David.
Thus, we see how significant a role Bethlehem, the city of bread, played in the line of Kings, and of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Again, Matthew's record of Jesus' birthplace is historical narrative so personal application of this truth is not the primary focus.
However, this narrative about the place where Jesus was born does teach us much about God.
Look back at creation and remember who God is, what He has done and hold on to His promises.
Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
We must look back to the beginning of all things.
No one was present at creation except God and He alone can tell us the truth about how life began, how all things came to be.
He spoke all things into existence with His Word.
What He plans to do will always stand.
What He says He will do He will bring to pass.
God made the heavens and the earth.
God made the sun, moon, stars, constellations and planets.
God put them into motion to govern day and night, provide changing seasons with predictable, regulated repetition.
God set laws in place to govern all creation.
The earth spins on its own axis at about 1100 miles per hour, yet we do not fly off the planet like the laws of motion say we should.
Why? Because God also established the right amount of gravity to keep us in our places.
"And God Said" reminds us that God's Word is irresistibly powerful, true and full of hope.
Genesis 1:14-15 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
We have sixty minutes to an hour, a 24 hour day, a seven day weekly cycle, a twelve month 365 day cycle.
Why? Because God set all these things in place.
The earth travels in an orbit around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour and the sun travels through space at 492,000 miles per hour in its orbit around the Milk Way.
The earth has precise measurements of time, days, weeks, years and seasons, and maintains a strict 365 day schedule while hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour while the sun travels through space at 492,000 miles per hour!
The probability of any of these things happening by random evolutionary processes, is statistically impossible.
God set all these things in motion and He governs it all by the Word of His power (See Hebrews 1:1-4).
Jesus was born of a virgin at exactly the right time and place in history.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Now, what does all this mean with regard to the city of Bethlehem Judah, the birthplace of Obed, Jesse, David and Jesus Christ the Messiah?
It means in the fulness of time, God sent His Son into the world through the miracle of a virgin birth.
It means that every strand of prophecy about Jesus Christ came together at the exact moment in time that it needed to, because the Father commanded it.
It means that God is always working out His good purposes in time and history, even when it seems like the world is exploding with depravity and hatred, even when all seems hopeless and we feel most helpless.
May these texts from the Psalmist and Isaiah fill us with joy and encourage us in our walk with the Lord.
He is faithful and will keep all His promises to us.
May this be central to our Christmas celebration this year.
Bob
Psalm 33:8-11 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Below is a YouTube link to an excellent performance of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and the lyrics are also given.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
May this Christmas hymn and this lesson bless you and your family this year.
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